Fox Sports Re-Ups with Sportsvision for NFL, MLB, NASCAR Broadcasts
Story Highlights
Sportvision has extended its deal with FOX Sports Media Group (FSMG) to provide digital sports content and broadcast enhancements for FOX’s NFL, MLB, and NASCAR coverage. The deal runs through the 2013-14 NFL season, the 2013 MLB season, and the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, and covers telecasts on FOX Sports, SPEED, and Fox Sports Net’s 19 regional sports networks. The deal marks Sportvision’s network agreement to date.
Since 1999, Sportvision’s effects have played an integral role in sports programming on FOX, highlighted by the Yellow 1st & Ten Line, which has been incorporated into NFL on FOX broadcasts for more than 10 years.
“FOX Sports has a strong reputation for delivering the highest quality sports telecasts to their viewers, and their commitment to integrate technology into their sports programming has been integral to the growth and success of our Company,” says Hank Adams, CEO, Sportvision, Inc. “Sportvision shares a longstanding partnership with FOX Sports, and this agreement ensures that we will continue to collaborate with their
leadership, ultimately delivering a heightened sports-viewing experience to the fans for years to come.”
A winner of eight Emmy Awards for technical achievement, Sportvision’s effects will be used during coverage of NFL, MLB and NASCAR – FOX Sports’ three signature properties.
“FOX Sports, and all the networks in the FOX Sports Media Group, are committed to providing viewers the most entertaining and compelling sports television experience possible, and Sportvision’s ability to develop and deliver technological innovations has been instrumental in achieving that goal,” said FOX Sports President Eric Shanks. “We’re excited that this agreement also equips our colleagues at SPEED and our regional sports networks with Sportvision’s cutting edge technology.”
NFL on FOX Coverage
As the exclusive provider of the Yellow 1st & Ten™ Line to FOX since 1999, Sportvision will continue to provide the Yellow Line and a breadth of graphic enhancements for all NFL on FOX telecasts (regular season and playoffs) through the 2013-14 season.
In addition to the Yellow Line, the portfolio of enhancements will include:
- Down & Distance is an effect that made its television debut on FOX Sports in 2006, and has become a staple of all telecasts. This effect enables FOX Sports to virtually insert the actual down and distance, play clock, and other relevant information onto the playing field surface via an arrow graphic featuring the offensive team logo.
- The Red Zone graphic, which enables FOX Sports to virtually place data and graphics on the field between the 20-yard line and the goal line to highlight an offensive or defensive team’s proficiency within this zone.
- The Line of Scrimmage Line, which affords fans the ability to follow the duration of each play, knowing where the play originated.
- Video in Perspective, which enables virtual placement of a video billboard window within the venue displaying game highlights and other interesting video segments.
MLB Coverage
MLB coverage on FOX will be highlighted by the PITCHf/x pitch tracking system, which debuted for the first time ever on television during the 2005 All-Star Game on FOX, and is now operational at all 30 MLB ballparks. The PITCHf/x System, which measures every pitch thrown in baseball and generates comprehensive data for television broadcasts, as well as Internet and wireless applications, will be integrated into FOX’s coverage of the MLB All-Star Game, playoffs, and World Series coverage through the 2013 season.
Additionally, Fox Sports Net RSNs will incorporate a variation of the system in 1,900 game telecasts this season, and will continue to use the PITCHf/x System through 2013. Further, Sportvision will also continue to deliver Virtual Advertising for the FOX Saturday Baseball Game of the Week, All-Star Game, League Championship Series, and World Series throughout the duration of this agreement.
NASCAR Coverage
Since debuting the RACEf/x System advanced tracking system during coverage of the 2001 Daytona 500 on FOX, Sportvision played a major role in NASCAR on FOX broadcasts.
Sportvision’s RACEf/x System develops a complete “digital record” of a NASCAR race in real-time, delivering a broad array of visual effects for television, including 3D graphics and rich data. Using Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites, RACEf/x tracks and collects location information and car performance data from every car in the field – including acceleration, braking, lap position, speed, gear position and RPMs, and also delivers the data to the FOX Sports and SPEED telecasts, as well as Internet and wireless applications in real-time.
This agreement ensures that the RACEf/x System will continue to be incorporated into coverage of all Sprint Cup races, on FOX Sports and SPEED’s on-track NASCAR programming, including Sprint Cup qualifying and practice, and Camping World Truck Series events.
