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July 11th, 2023
SEATTLE — Viewers at home tuning into the 93rd All-Star Game will get the most unique look yet at a Midsummer Classic on television, thanks to the use of drone technology from FOX that will offer angles not seen before on a baseball game of this scale.
FOX will deploy four aerial cameras for the telecast: a helicopter drone high above, a two-point wireless aerial running from home plate to third base and out to left field, another drone outside the stadium that will encompass shots from first base to home plate and another from the bullpens that will fly out over the field.
The drones, which are FAA approved, will only be in use outside of game action, specifically between innings and occasionally between outs. An example would be following a reliever entering the game or a fielder running to the dugout after making a third out.
“As much as we can, because we really believe that drone technology that we have gives people unique, different shots of what’s going on,” said Brad Cheney, FOX’s vice president of field operations and engineering.
One of the devices is called Bumblebee and is the size of two faced-up palms next to each other, and it moves incredibly fast. It has been used in other live-action sports, including at the MLB Draft Combine last year in San Diego.
“The whole goal is to provide unique angles, and the drone really is fully enclosed, the blades are enclosed,” Cheney said. “It’s a safe device from that side, and it’s miniature and it’s able to do a lot of really amazing things.”
FOX used similar drone coverage at the Field of Dreams Game each of the past two years, and outside the London Series matchup between the Cardinals and Cubs last month. But neither were on the scale that will be on Tuesday. FOX has also heavily incorporated drones into its coverage of the USFL.
“As partners with MLB, our goal is to continually have a conversation about how we promote the game better,” Cheney said. “Because the more that we can promote the game, the better the game does, the better the game is for us. And so that’s that collaboration that really lets us continually drive baseball and be a true partner.”
The unique angles and new vantage point into the game has also resonated with the players themselves.
“The players love technology as much as the rest of us do, and so they are intrigued by it,” Cheney said. “Obviously, many of them have their own. And so just every bit of it just becomes more of a conversation piece on what we’re doing, what they do and how this can impact and help them promote the game.”
