Fox Sports Adds SPIDERCAM to Monster Energy Supercross Production Arsenal

FOX Sports and Feld Motor Sports team to put viewers in the middle of the action for the 2015 Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, season, adding SPIDERCAM to an already robust lineup of cameras covering the fast-moving, highflying motorcycle series.

FoxLogoWith 14 manned cameras, including two high-speed X-MO cameras, two robotic cameras, a jib, two point-of-view cameras and select “blimp-view” cameras already in place, the flexible control of SPIDERCAM, flying at speeds of up to eight meters-per-second, enables spectacular images, giving the audience a never-before-seen perspective and a feeling of being part of the race.

“We are very excited to add SPIDERCAM to our Monster Energy Supercross broadcasts in 2015,” said coordinating producer Pete Richards. “Year by year, we try to find ways to improve our shows by introducing the most current technical innovations and SPIDERCAM might be the best yet. It allows us to bring viewers closer to the action from angles that they have never seen before … If you can’t be there in person, this is the next best thing.”

Through the use of four motorized winches positioned in each corner of a defined flight range, SPIDERCAM allows any desired position to be achieved. Four catenary cables made of highly resilient Kevlar run through four deflection pulleys, which are installed above the four winches. In a stadium, the pulleys are usually fixed to the roof. The system is run by a pilot who controls the dolly and the flight path of the system, a camera operator, who specializes in aerial camera work, and a dedicated technician to ensure the overall technical functionality of the system. The highest safety standards are employed in combination with years of experience, allowing for a smooth flight.

In 2014, SPIDERCAM received the Sports Technology Award for best technology in professional sports, cementing its reputation as a great addition to any sports broadcast.

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