Live From Super Bowl LIX: Sony To Support Game, Studio, Halftime Show Production With 100+ Cameras

Live From Super Bowl LIX: Sony To Support Game, Studio, Halftime Show Production With 100+ Cameras FOX Sports will deploy Sony tech, including the HDC-P50A 4K HFR box camera on Skycam By Brandon Costa, Director of Digital

Wednesday, January 29, 2025 - 12:06 pm

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As FOX Sports descends on New Orleans for Super Bowl Week and live coverage of Super Bowl LIX, technology is rolling in to capture the biggest event in U.S. sports. One of the industry leaders in imaging technology will have equipment out in full force: Sony will have more than 100 cameras at the ready for game and onsite studio coverage, the halftime show, and beyond.

FOX Sports will use more than 100 Sony cameras on its coverage of Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans. (Photo: Sony)

For the game itself on Feb. 9, 97 Sony HDC broadcast cameras will be focused on the action inside Caesars Superdome, along with an FR7 Cinema Line PTX camera, three FX6 full-frame cinema cameras, a new HDC-P50A 4K HFR box camera on the high Skycam, and an Alpha 7 III mirrorless camera and VENICE 2 digital cinema camera affixed to on-field camera systems like FOX Sports' popular shallow-depth-of-field rig Megalodon.

This will be the largest Super Bowl for us with the most tech, inside and outside of cameras, says Theresa Alesso, president, Imaging Products and Solutions of America, Sony Electronics. This gives the fans at home the best reproduction of what the lucky folks that are in New Orleans get to see live. Over 100 video cameras will be capturing content one way or another to bring it into everybody's living room.

Said Michael Davies, EVP, field operations, FOX Sports, in an official release, The Super Bowl is not just the biggest game of the year; it is also the biggest production. Our job is to tell the story of the game, capturing the energy within the stadium and keeping billions of viewers engaged, and Sony is a key tool in reaching that goal.

Among the video-imaging innovations is the use of that Sony high-speed 4K camera on the second Skycam. The goal is to get a more tactical overview of the field. We can zoom in on certain areas of interest at 120 fps, explains Davies. It's an analyst's dream and works great for both telestration and highlights.

Says FOX Sports Director, Remote Engineering, Matt Battaglia, The camera brings a multitude of options to the production that we couldn't provide in the past. We have been testing this camera for the last couple weeks of the season and all through the playoffs on the high Skycam system. Its shoebox-like form factor allows us to put it on the Skycam, and the 4K resolution allows us to get a wider field of view. We process that through a Hawk-Eye server, perform a zoom extract at 1080p HDR for air, and can even do 120 fps, which is a big plus.

In addition to cameras, FOX Sports will use Sony-owned HawkREPLAY systems, the remote production and instant-replay broadcast solution from Hawk-Eye Innovations. Hawk-Eye tech will also be used by the game officials and for replay. Additionally, Sony's BVM reference-level monitors will be used in FOX's Game Creek Video production trucks for color gradation.

We are proud to play a critical role in Super Bowl LIX, says Neal Manowitz, president/COO, Sony Electronics North America, drawing on our decades-long record of imaging innovation and production expertise to ensure that every fan watching onsite or at home has the best seat in the house.

FOX Sports will deploy the new HDC-P50A 4K HFR box camera on the high Skycam covering Super Bowl LIX. (Photo: Sony)

The Super Bowl Halftime Show - this year, starring rapper Kendrick Lamar - will also have a strong Sony presence. Cinema-camera-technology provider Funicular Goats is working with longtime halftime show production lead RocNation and director Hamish Hamilton, deploying 13 Sony VENICE 2 digital cinema cameras (with a VENICE Extension System) and a Sony BURANO digital cinema camera (to cover the ASL interpretation of the performance).

The Super Bowl is the most-watched event of the year, says NFL CIO Gary Brantley. Delivering an authentic and immersive experience for coaches, players, and fans requires a wide array of advanced technologies. Sony has been instrumental in enhancing the game-day experience with its innovative solutions, and we are proud to have Sony play a key role in making Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans unforgettable.

Besides video and broadcast cameras, Sony's still-photo solutions will have a major presence in New Orleans. Associated Press will deploy approximately 55 cameras and lenses, according to Sony. And, shooting on the sideline, the NFL's photo team will have eight Sony cameras in its arsenal.

LINK:	https://www.sportsvideo.org/2025/01/29/live-from-super-bowl-lix-sony-t...
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