ESPN Deploys Pair of MindFly BodyCams on Referees for UFL Semifinal Matchup on ABC
The forthcoming College World Series will utilize advanced technology on umpires as well.
As ESPN's first-ever United Football League (UFL) season nears its end, the crew responsible for producing the broadcasts is ramping up their creativity. During this Saturday's UFL Semifinal game between Detroit and Birmingham, AL, which will be televised on ABC, two referees will be wearing a MindFly BodyCam. This technology will also be used again later this month for the College World Series coverage, where first- and second-base umpires will wear the wearable-camera devices.
According to the manager of remote operations at ESPN, Jarrett Baker, innovation is one of their top concerns. He believes that it can be challenging to fully grasp the speed of plays during a game. However, through the use of wearable cameras, the viewers get a much closer experience to what it's like being on the field instead of just watching it on a screen.
MindFly created a POV camera that is sustained by AI and has a built-in microphone. This camera is compact and can fit into a chest vest, and it is even smaller than a credit card. The camera, battery, and transmitter are secured by D30 Decell padding to keep athletes and officials from harm. Referees wear this rig beneath their jerseys, with a small opening made in the material for the lens.
The jersey of an official has been cut to make space for a lens from a MindFly POV camera which has been attached to a vest worn on the chest.
According to Baker, MindFly provides an innovative way for fans to experience being on the field. While there are other alternatives available, the AI stabilization technique looks similar to a lens that is stabilized by a gimbal.
The MindFly system uses two receivers on the field and one at the midfield camera position in the stands to send Wi-Fi signals in either the 5 GHz or 6 GHz spectrum. This system is capable of delivering the feed to the cloud, but ESPN has opted to receive a baseband 1080p/59.94 feed directly at the site. ESPN's facility in Bristol, CT, receives two camera feeds as part of its REMI mux.
The main purpose of MindFly is for reviewing past plays and highlighting collisions, however, the team behind the scenes can switch to live footage anytime, especially when there is a struggle to recover the ball after a mistake.
UFL's Fertile Ground For Perfecting Your Skills
During the game on May 18 between the Houston Roughnecks and Birmingham Stallions, ESPN put their new BodyCam system to the test by attaching it to the side judge and umpire. The experiment was successful, and ESPN plans to keep using two cameras on officials but might switch them up for better views of plays. A few moments from the test were shown on TV, and ESPN predicts that there will be even more to see this coming weekend.
He says that our allies have aided us in commencing with referees. Our aspiration is for athletes to eventually don body cameras during gameplay. Other sports departments within ESPN are delving into this matter with the appropriate governing bodies. The rise in technology has facilitated an increase in fandom, and sports teams and leagues are becoming more and more popular.
Scott Harniman, who serves as the SVP of Technology for the UFL, has emphasized the use of technology to improve the fan experience for those watching at home and those attending games in person. One example of this is the league's decision to allow broadcasters to access coach-to-coach and coach-to-player communications during games. Additionally, fans can enjoy live video talkbacks with the centralized replay team and accurate TrU Line first-down measurements. Despite some initial testing by ESPN being conducted offline, all of their requests have been approved by the league, potentially leading to the implementation of a new system during this year's football season.
Baker expresses his satisfaction with UFL's inaugural season and eagerly anticipates the next one. He's thrilled at the prospect of utilizing the latest technology throughout the season and mentions that although there weren't many technical issues, they were resolved promptly. During the summer, they'll meet with the league and FOX to evaluate the past season and devise a plan to improve Season 2.
Upcoming: College World Series, NHL, College Basketball
In the coming weeks, ESPN intends to use MindFly BodyCams on umpires stationed at the first and second bases at the College World Series games. Such an approach follows a similar attempt at the SEC baseball tournament. ESPN's VP of Production, Phil Orlins, anticipates that the umpires' flawless positioning will result in detailed and consequential footage of crucial moments in the game.
The gentleman mentioned that they will obtain images of players taking action around the bases, and this will be possible because the umpire will be standing in an advantageous spot to monitor the situation. Lastly, he added that they may also capture some amusing moments with these cameras.
Orlins stated that ESPN is presently looking into the possibility of utilizing MindFly BodyCams for different types of sports. Thus far, the innovation has been employed in the game of PLL lacrosse and tested during NHL and college basketball matches.
According to Orlins, the technology used in BodyCam vests produces excellent image resolution. The stability of the 4K capture ensures an easy-to-watch footage. What matters most is that the vest is comfortable for athletes and referees, and they have adopted it willingly. The paramount factor is that the camera wearer feels at ease.
