Live From NBA All-Star: AVS Pylon Cameras Take Center Stage on Saturday Night

RF cameras are used in variety of configurations for skills test, tonight’s game

One of the technological stars of last night’s NBA All-Star Saturday Night was a pair of RF pylon cameras used during the Skills Challenge. Turner Sports, the NBA, and AVS worked together to offer fans a new perspective in the three-round obstacle-course competition, in which the players dribbled down the sidelines, weaving in and out of pylons.

The AVS pylon camera system

The two RF cameras were attached to one pylon on the left side of the court and to one on the right. The system featured a GoPro/Vislink Herocast miniature camera that sat atop two of the pylons along with a mini transmitter.

“[Turner and NBA] wanted something very low-profile without cables hanging out,” says AVS tech Collin Hermes. “They shipped a pylon to our shop ahead of time so we could see where they wanted the camera. We were able to drill a hole, feed the wire through, and get it done. It’s actually a pretty simple [system] with a standard camera battery, and it’s working really well.”

AVS’s system was used for ShaqCam.

AVS also brought along a new proof-of-concept RF mini camera integrated into a pair of glasses, similar to a ref-cam system. On Thursday night, Shaquille O’Neal wore them during an Inside the NBA segment dubbed ShaqCam. The same GoPro and mini transmitter used for the pylon camera were used for this system.

In addition to the pylon cameras and the ShaqCam, AVS is supplying one RF Steadicam and RF video return for Turner Sports’ game coverage, one RF Steadicam (also used by Turner), and an RF handheld for NBA Entertainment, and an RF handheld for NBA TV at the L.A. Convention Center.

The AVS team on site at NBA All-Star (from left): Michael Tritt, Mike Ribas, William Whitaker, and Collin Hermes

“It’s exciting and rewarding to use our technology to give the viewers and new and unique perspective at the NBA All Star Events,” says AVS President Randy Hermes.

For more of our coverage from the 2018 NBA All-Star Weekend, CLICK HERE.