Nearly 250 Sony Cameras Will Capture Super Bowl LIX’s Biggest Plays
Super Bowl LIX on February 9 in New Orleans is among the most anticipated sporting events of the year. Sony is pulling out all the stops to ensure that every exciting play is captured in incredible detail, whether for the broadcast on FOX or through the still images photographers capture from the sidelines.
Sony, an official technology partner of the NFL, has worked alongside the major broadcasters for the Super Bowl for over a decade. Last year, CBS Sports used 165 Sony cameras for its wide-ranging Super Bowl LVIII coverage, a then-record amount. This year, that number is up to a new high watermark of more than 240 cameras.
“We’ve been partnering with the broadcasters for a very long time, and what’s consistently happening every year is they want to outdo each other, they want to expand the game, they want to make it a more interactive, engaging game,” Sony Electronics North America President and COO Neal Manowitz tells PetaPixel. “We’re continuously seeing more cameras, better cameras, new shots, new ways of capturing the game.”
“The Super Bowl is not just the biggest game of the year, it is also the biggest production,” adds Michael Davies, FOX Sports EVP Field Operations, in a press statement. “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.”
The Sony cameras that will capture all the action at the Caesars Superdome run the gamut, ranging from Sony’s professional broadcast models to more versatile cinema cameras and interchangeable lens Alpha camera models.
FOX Sports, together with production company Game Creek Video, will have more than 100 cameras covering the usual pre-game, in-game, and post-game action and studio content. Specifically, FOX Sports is using 97 Sony HDC Series Broadcast System Cameras, one Sony FR7 Cinematic PTZ, three Sony FX6 full-frame cinema cameras, a Sony a7 III, and a Sony Venice 2. There will also be cameras at each end zone, along both sidelines and located in carefully selected positions throughout the stadium to deliver additional angles. Sony adds that there will also be 14 cameras used exclusively for streaming content.
Sony Cameras Cover Every Angle of the Super Bowl
Sony is involved with the imaging at the Super Bowl in four key ways, Manowitz explains.
“The first is the broadcast side. Sony will have over a hundred cameras broadcasting the game from virtually every angle. That’s the first big piece.”
The second component is the halftime show, which Funicular Goats will produce for the fifth consecutive year. This production, a significant component of the Super Bowl for many viewers, will rely heavily upon Sony’s Venice 2 cinema cameras. Among the 14 total cameras designated for the halftime show production are also Sony Burano cameras.
“The Super Bowl Halftime Show is a challenge unlike any other project we’ve been a part of,” says James Coker, Head of Engineering and Technical Management at Funicular Goats. “There are less than five minutes to set up and deliver a cinematic concert to millions of people, and the Sony Cinema Line cameras provide the perfect combination of full-frame sensor with broadcast compatibility to work seamlessly within the show’s structure and achieve this challenge.”
Manowitz says that the third piece is on the photography side. The Associated Press exclusively uses Sony cameras, and the AP is a major player when it comes to sports photography and the NFL. And since Sony is an NFL technology partner, the NFL’s in-house media team, photo and video included, uses Sony gear.
“We have 65 cameras we bring and about 140 of our lenses [for our professional support team],” Manowitz says. There will be 14 600mm f/4 primes, 10 400mm f/2.8 lenses, and six of Sony’s new 300mm f/2.8 GM in the mix. Of course, the AP’s photographers will also have a wide variety of Sony cameras and lenses, and Sony will be on-site to help out with gear when needed.
Manowitz tells PetaPixel that professional sports photographers are especially enamored by the a9 III thanks to its 120 frames-per-second shooting and the new a1 II and its blend of resolution and speed. When it comes to choosing one or the other, Manowitz says many photographers choose both.
The final piece of the imaging technology puzzle is Sony’s Hawk-Eye, which powers FOX Sports’ HawkREPLAY system. This remote production and instant replay system is critical to support both in-game officiating and replay services and the at-home spectator experience.
“The Super Bowl is the most watched event of the year, and delivering an authentic and immersive experience for coaches, players, and fans requires a wide array of advanced technologies,” says Gary Brantley, Chief Information Officer of the NFL.
“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.”
Photography at the Super Bowl
When considering the sideline photographers who will capture the iconic moments of the Super Bowl — and perhaps even the next all-time great sports photo — Manowitz says that many will be utilizing Sony’s PDT-FP1 transmitter on-site. This wireless transmitter ensures photographers can wirelessly send images to editors as they shoot, and photos can be published as fast as possible.
“You’ll see more of the PDT-FP1 than ever before. It’s a tool that’s really redefining what’s happening at these games, not only at the Super Bowl but throughout all the major sporting and news events,” Manowitz tells PetaPixel. He adds that being first to the wire with a great photo is more important than ever.
Making Sports More Cinematic
One thing that stands out in sports broadcasts in recent years, backed up by FOX Sports’ gear list for the upcoming Super Bowl, is that broadcasters are utilizing more full-frame cameras, whether a cinema-oriented model like the FX6 or Sony Alpha series bodies.
As for why there are more shots during broadcasts with shallow depth-of-field, Manowitz believes it’s the result of two primary trends.
“One is the advancement of camera technology. So if we think about small handheld Alpha cameras, they’re going to be used for the broadcasts. These large-sensor cameras have incredible, really fast lenses and it’s enabling producers of the game to get these shots that couldn’t have been gotten before.”
“As an example, you can have the small camera, really tight shots, really shallow depth of field with the probable auto focus. So that empowers the creativity.”
The other driving factor is that fans strongly engage with these types of shots. These cinematic views are more dynamic and immersive.
“These complementary pieces are really empowering the game to be that much more intimate and engaging,” Manowitz says.
“At the end of the day, sports is an entertainment field, and what [broadcasters and the NFL] want to do is make the best, most engaging [product] — get you as close to the field as possible. That’s our intention as well.”
Sony and the Future of Sports Broadcasts
Fans most acutely feel imaging technology improvements through more cinematic and dynamic broadcasts, but better technology plays a key role behind the scenes. Although Sony’s Hawk-Eye technology is used for instant replays and officiating, which impacts the fans every game, the system also has optical tracking that isn’t always visible.
Sure, it is apparent through special alternative broadcasts like Disney’s recent Simpsons-themed Sunday Funday broadcast, but the optical tracking also impacts player safety initiatives and data tracking. Hawk-Eye is utilized by nearly all of the world’s foremost sports leagues and is being integrated more all the time.
Manowitz is excited about how this data could be used to make sports broadcasts more engaging and interesting. “I’m encouraged and excited about all of the opportunities to bring the fans closer to the game,” he says.
Kickoff Can’t Come Soon Enough
Although the imaging technologies of tomorrow aren’t quite yet ready today, there is no doubt that Super Bowl LIX on February 9 will feature the best possible Sony imaging equipment, from the broadcast to the sidelines.
“We are proud to play a critical role in Super Bowl LIX, drawing on our decades-long record of imaging innovation and production expertise to ensure that every fan watching on-site or at home has the best seat in the house,” Neal Manowitz says.
Super Bowl LIX kicks off on Sunday, February 9 at 6:30 PM ET (3:30 PM PT). It will be broadcast on FOX and streamed on FOX Sports and other live television services.
Image credits: Sony
