
Sony and the NFL Announce New Technology Partnership Hawk-Eye tech, new official coach's headset, Sony's Beyond Sports tech are components By Dan Daley, Audio Editor
Wednesday, July 31, 2024 - 10:28 am
Print This Story | Subscribe
Story Highlights
The National Football League has named Sony Corp. an official technology partner and the new official headset provider for the league. The partnership covers an expansion of Sony's Hawk-Eye Innovations sports technology to support league officiating and development of on-field and sideline technologies.
One major element of the deal is a new coach's sideline-headset design, supporting coach-to-coach communication on the field and debuting for the 2025-26 season. The NFL and Sony will work jointly to develop the headset, which will be powered by Verizon Business's Managed Private Wireless Solution running on Verizon's 5G network.
Other partnership elements include greater involvement of Sony's Beyond Sports AI-based data-analysis and visualization technology using digital animation for real-time fan engagement.
Opportunity for Fan Engagement It's a broad collaboration, says Maya Wasserman, director, marketing. personal entertainment, home entertainment, and brand marketing, Sony. We have been working collaboratively with the NFL already. [Besides] expansion of the Sony Hawk-Eye innovation, this partnership includes the Sony imaging ecosystem, including [Sony broadcast cameras] and video, to bring fans closer to the game-day action. It also includes Sony's Beyond Sports for real-time visualization, which is a new opportunity to engage a new generation of NFL fans, a new coach's sideline headset, and then future collaborations and developments.
NFL Tracie Rodburg: You will see [the partnership] come to life not only through Hawk-Eye [and] our alt broadcast with Toy Story but also through those headsets on-field and the premium product that Sony will be creating for us.
NFL SVP, Global Partnership, Tracie Rodburg notes that the league has already been using Sony broadcast technology for game production, as have its network-broadcast partners CBS Sports, ESPN, FOX Sports, and NBC Sports.
But this really came about [because] there are so many different areas of our game that we want to continue to grow and innovate, she explains, noting that the broadcast partners were consulted during development of the new partnership. Since we had already been working with Sony in some of this capacity, it just made sense for us to make a commitment to continue this innovation and to make it encompass even more of our ecosystem, including our coaches, the players, the fans, and all of our clubs.
That's what really expands this partnership, she continues. You will see it come to life not only through Hawk-Eye [and] our alt broadcast with Toy Story but also through those headsets on-field and the premium product that Sony will be creating for us for the 2025 season. Everybody will understand that Sony is our technology partner and really advancing our game.
Hawk-Eye for Officiating and More Sony's Hawk-Eye tracking services will be deployed to further enhance the accuracy of game-critical items, along with development of new on-field sideline technologies. Hawk-Eye's technology has supported the NFL Officiating Department in reviewing and making critical rulings on plays. For coming seasons, Hawk-Eye and NFL will develop a next-generation officiating technology based on Hawk-Eye's state-of-art line-to-gain optical tracking technology.
NFL's Aaron Amendolia: We are continuing testing of our virtual measurement system: six cameras used to measure the ball for a moment, like the line-to-gain.
According to NFL Deputy CIO Aaron Amendolia, enhancements planned for the league's deployment of Hawk-Eye include the number of cameras in NFL stadiums. The first tests took place at the Las Vegas Raiders' Allegiant Stadium last season. The enhanced camera deployments will be rolled out in four stadiums for preseason play next month and are expected to be brought into full use for the 2025-26 season.
This year, 12 cameras will be dedicated to boundary lines to improve replay officiating. Those will be NFL-dedicated cameras to look at the boundary lines when they come into scope for a specific play review, he explains, adding, We are continuing testing of our virtual measurement system: six cameras used to measure the ball for a moment, like the line-to-gain.
Additionally, pairing the technology and the Hawk-Eye-captured data with player-tracking data from the NFL's Next Gen Stats powered by AWS and Sony's Beyond Sports visualization technology will create new avenues for real-time content creation, such as ESPN, Disney and the NFL's Emmy Award-winning Toy Story Funday Football alternative game presentation during the 2023 season. That effort brought a younger, more global audience to the game and has been the biggest live event on Disney+ streaming to date.
An Ecosystem and Opportunities for Development Sony products and technologies are already used extensively in many NFL stadiums across the country. Additionally, the new NFL Network studios in Inglewood, CA, have recently shifted many key operations and cameras to Sony technology.
Enhanced camera deployments are part of the partnership between Sony and the NFL.
Sony and the league expect the components of the deal to act synergistically. Matthew Parnell, senior director/head of brand and community marketing, and imaging solutions, Sony, calls it an ecosystem opportunity with continued development.
We're going to continue testing the Skelet track system, he says. This may unlock the opportunity for an official to have something like a wearable on their wrist and that wearable would receive data fro
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
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...
02/05/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
01/05/2026
January 5 2026, 18:30 (PST) NBCUniversal's Peacock to Be First Streamer to ...
01/04/2026
January 4 2026, 18:00 (PST) DOLBY AND DOUYIN EMPOWER THE NEXT GENERATON OF CREATORS WITH DOLBY VISION
Douyin Users Can Now Create And Share Videos With Stun...
16/03/2026
DAZN will allow fans in select international territories to watch the NCAA men...
16/03/2026
IDM and The Skate Board Association (SBA) have announced a partnership with Coop...
16/03/2026
Solid State Logic (SSL) will debut the Net I/O ST 2110 Bridge at NAB 2026 (booth C6907), a standalone unit that converts between ST 2110 and Dante audio formats...
16/03/2026
Marshall Electronics (Booth C8339) is introducing its first all-IP 4K POV camera, the CV574-WP, at NAB 2026. The camera carries an IP67 weatherproof rating for ...
16/03/2026
Sony Electronics' Camera Verify (beta), a feature of its Camera Authenticity Solution which enables news organizations to share content authenticity informa...
16/03/2026
FloSports has announced a partnership with Storied Sports, a content and IP studio founded by former espnW and The Players' Tribune executives, to develop s...
16/03/2026
Montreux Jazz Festival has announced a multi-year collaboration with Gravity Media, who will become the Festival's Audio Visual Production Provider followin...
16/03/2026
USSI Global, a provider of customized network, broadcast and digital signage systems and services, has announced Ralph Annunziata joined the company on Jan. 5 a...
16/03/2026
Boland Communications (booth C3519) will exhibit at NAB Show 2026 in Las Vegas, ...
16/03/2026
Built in partnership with Diversified, the system
As the sports broadcast indus...
16/03/2026
Global FAST (Free Ad-supported Streaming TV) viewership grew 21% year-over-year ...
16/03/2026
Behind The Mic provides a roundup of recent news regarding on-air talent, includ...
16/03/2026
A still from Mr. Nobody Against Putin by David Borestein and Pavel Talankin, a...
16/03/2026
Promises studio-grade fidelity for the stage
Cloudvocal have announced the launch of a new instrument mic designed for professional live performers and engi...
16/03/2026
Popular MIDI/CV converter & interface overhauled
Kenton have announced the launch of the USB Solo Mk2, a new and improved version of their compact MIDI to C...
16/03/2026
Running from 16-29 March 2026
Starting from today (16 March) and running until 29 March 2026, Sonarworks are offering discounts of up to 40% across their ra...
16/03/2026
Dr. Robert H. Goddard and a liquid oxygen-gasoline rocket in the frame from which it was fired on March 16, 1926, at Auburn, Massachusetts. Credit: NASA....
16/03/2026
Precision-guided munitions shown in production illustrate one of many operational systems benefiting from modernized M-Code GPS, supporting assured positioning,...
16/03/2026
NEW YORK - March 16, 2026 - A E Global Media and Nielsen today announced a new,...
16/03/2026
aconnic AG (ISIN: DE000A0LBKW6), Munich, is delivering the first commercial 100-Gigabit systems following successful validation and certification for customer n...
16/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
16/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
16/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
16/03/2026
Shotoku USA, Shotoku Broadcast Systems' North American operation, will unveil significant additions to its platform at NAB 2026. Topping the list is the wor...
16/03/2026
Ikegami USA will demonstrate the latest additions to its wide range of broadcast-quality cameras, controllers and monitors on Central Hall booth C3819 during th...
16/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
16/03/2026
ELEMENTS launches GRID at NAB Show 2026
Brie Clayton March 15, 2026
0 Comments
North Hall, Booth N1717
ELEMENTS returns to NAB Show 2026, with an exp...
16/03/2026
Blackmagic Design Cameras Capture Artist Salavat Fidai's Micro Sculptures
Brie Clayton March 15, 2026
0 Comments
6K sensor and open gate capabilit...
16/03/2026
DHD to Introduce Latest Generation Broadcast Audio Mixers at NAB 2026, Las Vegas
Brie Clayton March 15, 2026
0 Comments
Hero image: Front of DHD RM1 P...
16/03/2026
16 Mar 2026
VEON Files its 2025 Annual Report on Form 20-F Dubai and New York, March 16, 2026 - VEON Ltd. (Nasdaq: VEON), a global digital operator ( VEON'...
16/03/2026
Six Couples. 100 Days Apart. One Question: Does Absence Make the Heart Grow Fond...
16/03/2026
Monday 16 March 2026
Tina Fey, Jamie Dornan and Riz Ahmed announced as first th...
16/03/2026
Back to All News
Netflix Has Released the Trailer for Love at Last, Starring Ed...
16/03/2026
The reporting option was introduced following extensive consultation with publis...
16/03/2026
After a nail-biting Grand Finale, Rose of Tralee Katelyn Cummins has been announced as the winner of Dancing with the Stars 2026.
The four finalists each dance...
16/03/2026
Welcome to Moore Street will begin on RT One and RT Player on Thursday 19 Marc...
15/03/2026
Visit ToolsOnAir at NAB Las Vegas 2026
More Details:From April 19-22, join us at NAB Show Las Vegas in the North Hall, Booth N1258, for an exclusive preview of...
15/03/2026
Latest dark drama, thrillers & tension library announced
The Very Loud Indeed Co.'s latest Kontakt library has just arrived, delivering a third instalme...
15/03/2026
Johannesburg, 14 March 2026 - On 13 and 14 March 2026, the 19th Annual South Afr...
15/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
14/03/2026
Combines mic, USB interface & wireless IEMs
Following a successful Kickstarter campaign, HISONG have announced that their innovative AirStudio S1 device is ...
14/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
14/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
14/03/2026
Yospace, the trusted leader in Dynamic Ad Insertion (DAI), stitched 5.4 billion one-to-one addressable OTT advertisements across the 17 days of Milano Cortina 2...
14/03/2026
Telestream Advances Production-Ready AI Across Its Product Portfolio
Brie Clayton March 13, 2026
0 Comments
New AI capabilities drive smarter automati...