TNT Sports and EPL trial AI-powered player bodycams in groundbreaking collaboration
TNT Sports and the Premier League are embarking a groundbreaking venture by testing player bodycams during the clash between Tottenham Hotspur and Wolverhampton Wanderers on November 11. This innovative move aims to bring fans closer to the on-field action than ever before.
During the pre-match warm-up, each team will have a player equipped with an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered stabilisation bodycam, courtesy of technology company Mindfly. The live broadcast of this Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off (GMT) will be exclusively featured on TNT Sports in the UK and Ireland, as well as on Premier League partner channels globally.
This trial of Mindfly’s bodycam marks the first instance of such technology being tested on a Premier League pitch. The coverage will incorporate the bodycam footage as a unique tool, offering viewers a firsthand perspective of the players’ warm-up routine.
“We are thrilled to partner with the Premier League to develop innovative access, taking viewers to places and experiencing moments, they would not otherwise experience,” said Scott Young, Senior Vice President of Content and Production at Warner Bros. Discovery Sports, Europe.
“We are particularly excited for what opportunities this may present for sports broadcasting in the future and we thank the Premier League and both Wolverhampton Wanderers and Tottenham Hotspur for their cooperation in facilitating this activity.”
“Finding new ways to bring our fans closer to the action on the pitch is a key focus for us,” enthused Rachael Nightingale, the Premier League’s Head of Media Operations and Innovation.
After the success of the bodycam trials at the Premier League Summer Series, we are looking forward to seeing what results this test will deliver for TNT and our audiences around the world.”
It is clear that the use of AI tools, exemplified by Mindfly’s innovative bodycam, is not just a glimpse into the present but a significant leap toward the future of sports entertainment. The collaboration between technology, sports leagues, and broadcasting entities marks a pivotal moment in the evolution of how we experience and enjoy sports, setting the stage for exciting possibilities in the realm of sports coverage.
