Broadcast Sports Inc.'s (BSI) revolutionary wireless Ref Cam technology will be the production highlight during tonight's Major League Soccer (MLS) All-Star Game at Sporting Park in Kansas City (9 p.m. ET, ESPN2/UniMas/TSN/RDS).
VIDEO: Preview Ref Cam as MLSSoccer.com's Jason Saghini and Matt Doyle discuss the impact of the technology on the game.
The wearable wireless camera system designed to capture the point of view of the referee during live broadcast productions will be used throughout the night by the ESPN2 production team.
Ref Cam has been seen on other televised sports events this year, including a WNBA regular-season game on June 8. According to BSI GM Peter Larsson, the system setup is similar to that in an indoor arena, and the larger, outdoor space offers few differences.
With the actual technology of the microwave, if it gets into a much larger stadium, really the only thing you have to do is put an extra receive site out there, he says, noting that two previous soccer tests of the system had gone successfully.
The wireless HD camera - which shoots in 1080i HD resolution and has full remote capabilitiy - is paired with an HD mini transmitter and positioned at eye level. The camera angle brings viewers onto the pitch with a first-person perspective that the game director can switch to in real time.
MLS VP, Broadcasting, Larry Tiscornia believes that it's important to enhance the telecast with new technologies at signature events like the All-Star Game.
We are always looking for ways to enhance our broadcasts, bringing the viewer closer to the game, he says. Ref Cam is that perfect tool that lets the audience see that interaction between the referee and the players on the field during a live game.
Tiscornia adds that MLS was interested in the technology and had tested it on a couple of reserve-league games over the past month. The league views it as not only a fun production element for TV but also a valuable tool for the Professional Referees Organization (PRO). The camera allows the group to study the movement of the officials and also get to see what they see on the field of play during a game.
Ref Cam includes iris and paint functions, allowing the video operator to adjust color balance, saturation, black level, detail, and iris live during the game depending on the shot. The camera is small - 1.75 in. high by 1.125 in. wide by 3.5 in. long - and light, weighing only 3.77 oz.
The components are mounted on the referee using a customized vest and head strap. Many of the ref features can be customized. In June, WNBA referee Lamont Simpson chose to wear a set of glassless frames with the camera mounted to the side. In soccer, it's more common to use a headband to keep the device in place.
The guys who do a lot more running prefer that band because it allows their head to breathe properly as they run as opposed to having those goggles on, says Larsson.
Transmitting the signal is done simply via radio-frequency (RF) technology built into a wireless transmitter worn on the referee's body. The receive antennas are set at a high level in the stadium, facing down over the pitch to an RF-to-fiber box that delivers the signal to the production truck via TAC-4 fiber. There, the receiver converts the signal back to microwaves and spits out the HD-SDI and two audio signals.
Larsson says these profile events are critical in attracting the attention of viewers - especially when FIFA does not allow this type of technology to be used on any regular FIFA-sanctioned event. The friendlies are the only place BSI can make an impact, and company officials hope that, on nights like this, fans can get used to seeing these types of unique angles.
It's great to be able to get out there and try different technologies, says Larsson, and, hopefully, you will whet the viewing public's appetite, and they will request these types of technologies be used during the regular season as well.
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
04/08/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
04/07/2026
April 7 2026, 19:00 (PDT) Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway Opens in...
01/06/2026
January 6 2026, 05:30 (PST) Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026
Throughout the week, Dolby brings to life the latest innovatio...
13/05/2026
New Adobe Premiere Color Grading Mode Accelerated on NVIDIA GPUs
Joel Pennington May 13, 2026
0 Comments
New NVIDIA RTX-accelerated features streamlin...
13/05/2026
Grass Valley announced that dB Broadcast has delivered new IP-based outside broadcast (OB) trucks for Cloudbass, featuring Grass Valley LDX 100 Series cameras a...
13/05/2026
Ikegami will exhibit the latest additions to its wide range of broadcast production cameras, control units, viewfinders and monitors on stand 5D3-1 at Broadcast...
13/05/2026
FISE, working with the founding members of the XR Sports Alliance (XRSA), Accedo, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and HBS, have collaborated to develop an immersive...
13/05/2026
Canon Unveils New EOS R6 V Full-Frame EOS Camera and RF20-50mm F4 L IS USM PZ Bu...
13/05/2026
Boston Conservatory at Berklee Honors Beth Morrison and Moses Pendleton at Comme...
13/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
13/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
13/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
13/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
13/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
13/05/2026
Creative software developer Foundry today announced the latest developments on Nuke Stage. A purpose-built application for end-to-end virtual production and in-...
13/05/2026
A definitive portrait of one of Ireland's most influential musicians
New TV documentary airs Monday 18 May on RT One and RT Player at 9.35pm
Watch the...
13/05/2026
Agentic AI is changing the way users get work done. Following the success of OpenClaw, the community is embracing new open source agentic frameworks. The latest...
13/05/2026
Reinforcement-learning agents - AI systems that learn by trial and error - can c...
12/05/2026
Beyond the Hype: A Strategic Post-Hoc Analysis of NAB 2026 If NAB Show 2026 had an underlying theme, it was a quiet, industry-wide pivot from the high-energy sp...
12/05/2026
Guntermann and Drunck (G&D), a Panoptec Technologies Group company, and CT Square, led by Chandresh Shah, have announced a joint venture to distribute G&D and V...
12/05/2026
With 30 days until the start of the FIFA World Cup 2026, Telemundo, the exclusive Spanish-language home of the tournament in the United States, has announced th...
12/05/2026
The NHL has announced the return of Stanley Pup for its third consecutive year, a 90-minute special featuring adoptable rescue dogs competing on a miniature rin...
12/05/2026
NBCUniversal presented its 2026 Upfront to advertisers at Radio City Music Hall, detailing upcoming programming across NBC, Peacock, Bravo, and Versant properti...
12/05/2026
FOX Sports has announced funding for the Fandom and Social Connection Initiative at Harvard Kennedy School's Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics, and Publ...
12/05/2026
TNDV and Live Media, both divisions of Live Media Group, supported live broadcast coverage around NCAA Final Four weekend in Indianapolis, including the March M...
12/05/2026
The European Football Alliance (EFA) has announced a content distribution agreement with Fubo Sports Network, the free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) channel ...
12/05/2026
For the first time, Spanish-speaking fans in the U.S. will have two separate tel...
12/05/2026
CP Communications led a comprehensive spectrum management initiative on behalf of Churchill Downs during Kentucky Derby week, coordinating RF assets across the ...
12/05/2026
LiveU has announced a strategic partnership with DRONERESPONDERS, a 501(c)3 non-...
12/05/2026
Open Broadcast Systems has announced that BMC TV, a specialist in IP transport of broadcast content, has selected the Open Broadcast Systems 5G Flyaway solution...
12/05/2026
NEP Europe, part of NEP Group, has announced it will deliver broadcast solutions...
12/05/2026
Grass Valley has announced continued collaboration with Ravensbourne University ...
12/05/2026
Stats Perform has announced the launch of Opta Pulse, an AI-assisted video creation and distribution platform for leagues, rights holders, and broadcasters. The...
12/05/2026
FOX Sports has announced a collaboration with Sesame Workshop to integrate Sesame Street characters into FOX Sports' FIFA World Cup 2026 programming. Conten...
12/05/2026
To date, NHL Productions has produced 19 broadcasts with commentary in American Sign Language
NHL in ASL (American Sign Language) may be just one show, but the...
12/05/2026
Google's Brian Albert: creators, athletes, highlights, nostalgia, second-scr...
12/05/2026
A still from Past Lives by Celine Song, an official selection of the Premieres program at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. (Courtesy of Sundance Institute | p...
12/05/2026
Spotify is where fans and artists come together, turning discovery into somethin...
12/05/2026
Features patented Marco-MMC clocking technology
Black Lion Audio's latest release combines the company's expertise in clocking with their renowned p...
12/05/2026
New Track Panel, sequencer upgrades & more
Following their recent public beta release, Reason Studios have announced the full release of Reason 14. With the...
12/05/2026
One month to go! SBS reveals expansive FIFA World Cup 2026 lineup beyond the pi...
12/05/2026
Rohde & Schwarz presents its advanced solutions for power electronics testing at...
12/05/2026
aconnic AG (ISIN: DE000A0LBKW6), Munich, has developed a modified fund raising p...
12/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
12/05/2026
Tyrell Corporation, specialists in high-end live sports and entertainment broadcasts, was tasked with delivering compelling broadcast coverage of premier equest...
12/05/2026
Registration is now open for IBC2026 as the global media, entertainment and technology community prepares to converge on the RAI Amsterdam from 11 14 September ...
12/05/2026
Ross Video, a global leader in live video production technology, will present its latest innovations and integrated production workflows at BroadcastAsia 2026, ...
12/05/2026
500 selected leaders from around the world across start-ups, corporates, and venture capital. Over 50bn in assets under management among attending investors, a...
Broadcast Sports Inc.'s (BSI) revolutionary wireless Ref Cam technology will be the production highlight during tonight's Major League Soccer (MLS) All-Star Game at Sporting Park in Kansas City (9 p.m. ET, ESPN2/UniMas/TSN/RDS).
