Skycam
Garrett Brown created the Skycam system in the early 1980s. He was also the inventor of the Steadicam camera stabilizer. The patent for this new technology was assigned to a company named Skycam, Inc. This entity remained independent until 2004 when Winnercomm, Inc. acquired it. Winnercomm itself was purchased by Outdoor Channel Holdings, Inc. in 2009. Outdoor Channel later became part of Kroenke Sports & Entertainment after being bought in 2013. Kroenke owns several sports franchises including the Los Angeles Rams and Denver Nuggets.
Skycam first appeared publicly during fall 1984 at a preseason National Football League game. CBS televised the match between the Chargers and 49ers in San Diego. NBC debuted its first wire-flown remote-controlled camera in sports coverage at the 1985 Orange Bowl. Progress remained slow through the mid-1990s due to computer limitations and high costs. A 2001 estimate placed the cost to use the system at $30,000 per event. ESPN began using Skycam in 2001 for an NFL pre-season telecast. They then used it consistently for Sunday Night Football broadcasts starting in 2002. The XFL made extensive use of the system as a primary angle when it debuted in spring 2001. NBC required broadcasters to use Skycam angles on the 22nd of October 2017 due to heavy fog obscuring traditional views.
The system relies on three major components to function properly. These include reels, a mobile spar, and central control software. Four reels anchor at fixed points at corners of stadiums or arenas. Each reel is a cable spool with a motor and disc brakes. The cables are braided Kevlar jacketed single mode optical fiber. This construction allows support for significant weight on a single cable. The tall spar contains the Sony HD camera and stabilization sensors. It weighs less than 40 pounds yet travels at speeds up to 50 miles per hour. Central control uses an industrial grade Linux computer workstation. Operators use custom software to manage motion, video, and obstacle avoidance simultaneously.
High winds forced the removal of Skycam during the 20th of December 2009 Las Vegas Bowl. Gusts were reported at over 60 miles per hour that day. A crash occurred during the 2011 Insight Bowl between the Iowa Hawkeyes and Oklahoma Sooners. The camera fell onto the field with 2 minutes and 22 seconds remaining in play. It almost struck Iowa receiver Marvin McNutt before being removed from the field. A FOX Skycam cable snapped during the 2013 Coca-Cola 600 NASCAR race on the 27th of May 2013. The falling cable injured 10 fans and damaged multiple racecars. Another cable snap caused a 12-minute delay during a Week 9 game between the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets. This incident happened on the 6th of November 2022 at MetLife Stadium.
Nic Salomon filed a federal lawsuit in 2015 as former President of Skycam. He claimed intentional interference with contractual relations following the 2013 acquisition by Kroenke Sports & Entertainment. The court in the Northern District of Texas allowed the case to proceed in August 2017. The judge dismissed the case in February 2019 just weeks before a scheduled jury trial. Salomon appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in March 2019. The Court of Appeals ruled in favor of Kroenke Sports in April 2021. Despite this legal battle, Skycam remains an important technology for football content presentation today.
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Common questions
Who created the Skycam system and when was it invented?
Garrett Brown created the Skycam system in the early 1980s. He is also known as the inventor of the Steadicam camera stabilizer.
When did Skycam first appear publicly during a sports event?
Skycam first appeared publicly during fall 1984 at a preseason National Football League game. CBS televised the match between the Chargers and 49ers in San Diego.
What are the three major components that make up the Skycam system?
The system relies on reels, a mobile spar, and central control software to function properly. Four reels anchor at fixed points while cables connect to a tall spar containing the Sony HD camera.
Did any accidents occur involving Skycam during sporting events?
A crash occurred during the 2011 Insight Bowl where the camera fell onto the field with 2 minutes and 22 seconds remaining in play. A FOX Skycam cable snapped during the 2013 Coca-Cola 600 NASCAR race on the 27th of May 2013 injuring 10 fans.
Who filed a federal lawsuit against Skycam after its acquisition by Kroenke Sports & Entertainment?
Nic Salomon filed a federal lawsuit in 2015 as former President of Skycam claiming intentional interference with contractual relations. The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit ruled in favor of Kroenke Sports in April 2021.