NBC Sports Chicago Implements Live Drone in Coverage of White Sox-Cubs Series

A DJI Mavic 3 Pro was used to acquire sweeping views above Guaranteed Rate Field

The use of drones in the live game broadcast continues to grow across the sports production industry. NBC Sports Chicago is the latest regional sports network to utilize a live drone shot during its game coverage, adding a DJI Mavic 3 Pro to the camera plan of two White Sox games this week versus the crosstown-rival Cubs.

It marked the first time in the network’s history that it used a live drone in a game broadcast. Shots were added to pre-game coverage and for overhead exterior shots of Guaranteed Rate Field during game action.

It was a hazy night in Chicago, captured by this drone video 📹 pic.twitter.com/iTWRC24wka

— White Sox Talk (@NBCSWhiteSox) July 26, 2023

“We felt our two Crosstown telecasts with the drone were really successful,” says John Schippman, VP of Sports Content, NBCU Local Chicago. “The captured footage was brilliant and was what we expected and more. I’m really proud of our entire team because this wouldn’t have been successful without continuous communication between everyone involved, including the White Sox.”

Schippman said the operations team didn’t run into any significant obstacles and the effort offered some never-before-seen looks of the ballpark for producer Chris Withers and director Dave Turner.

“We were fully aware ahead of time of all options and restrictions of what we could and couldn’t shoot during the broadcast,” Schippman said to SVG via email. “It was important to follow all the guidelines this first go-around so we’ll be able to do it again with experience and deeper knowledge in the future.”

In terms of advice for others looking to add a live drone to a baseball broadcast, Schippman emphasized open communication well in advance.

“It’s critically important to have on-going conversations with your team and the league,” Schippman says. “Let them know your expectations and goals. Working together makes it a smooth process and everyone wins in the end, as the RSN can deliver exciting visual content and their product is shown off in a fresh and different way.”