The Super Bowl is gearing up for it’s debut in the Big Apple – well at least that’s how everyone is treating it! Just across the river in East Rutherford, New Jersey the Seattle Seahawks’ leading defense will take on Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos.
Between the hype over a Super Bowl next door to the city that never sleeps, weather concerns after a record cold January and the highly anticipated team match-ups, FOX should hardly be concerned about finding an angle to run with. However, it’s worth exploring some tech tips to ensure FOX trots to the finish line leaving the Puppy Bowl in the dust.
One of the most perplexing stories of the postseason is Peyton Manning’s use of the word Omaha in his play calling. There is no doubt this will be thrown around during the Super Bowl as well. The Omaha phenomenon has brought attention to the city in Nebraska, the steak company and beyond, and can be a simple tool for FOX to engage its fans. This is easily a premise for social media interaction and can ultimately be intertwined into the broadcast. For instance, in the pre-game show and just before kickoff, sportscasters can direct fans to Twitter to estimate the number of times Manning will reference Omaha over the course of the game, also offering their own predictions.
Many already took to Twitter during Media Day in anticipation of the Super Bowl, noting Manning’s mention of his use of Omaha. There is no doubt more people will be live tweeting in the coming days and throughout the game. This is a light and airy way to give casual viewers an opportunity to be more immersed in the broadcast instead of anxiously awaiting the commercials, halftime show and pigs in a blanket.
More hardcore fans strive for the personal intimacy that social media platforms like Twitter provide and would gladly welcome the opportunity to interact directly with broadcasters and former players and coaches who are often involved in pre-game rituals. Quarterly predictions can help keep fans tuned in for the duration of the game. In the ultra-competitive society we live in, there is no doubt that people will keep their eye on the Omaha results for, if nothing else, bragging rights amongst their friends.
Fans not only enjoy the camaraderie associated with conversing with athletes, broadcasters and others involved with the game, they also want to share in the excitement of the fans who are at MetLife Stadium – once their jealousy subsides, of course. Everyone dreams of being at the Super Bowl, but the reality is that most of us will watch it from the comfort of our couches.
One way to give the viewer a more personal experience is to take advantage of portable video cameras. Though the crowd may be too rowdy to wire up, sending an undercover member of staff into the stands posing as a spectator can be very insightful. Exposing television viewers to the good, the bad, and the evil – and everything in between – will provide a taste of the atmosphere at the game.
The real feel of being submersed into the action and seeing the views as if present in the stadium offer a more authentic version of reality. Infrared cameras, which will be used to show how players’ body temperatures vary throughout the course of the game, can be implemented further to shed light on the comfort levels of the fans and give perspective on how their bodies are handling the cold. Given the potential chilled and windy nature of a Super Bowl played in the northeast, many at home may be curious to see if their decision to stay indoors was wise.
Although the mid-40 degree forecast looks promising, wind is always a key factor to take into account. FOX Sports, in collaboration with Autodesk, will be using Fox Weather TRAX to document wind patterns and relay them to its audience.
On TV, it is often difficult to visualize the weather’s impact on the game. A wide field goal can leave a fan baffled when viewed on screen, because elements like wind and rain can be impossible to detect. This technology will give fans a detailed explanation of the air-flow patterns, relieving pent up frustrations that can be misconstrued as errors by the athletes, when in reality the weather played an integral role in the outcome of the play. Not only can it help explain errant throws or other miscues on the field, it may prevent broken television sets and eliminate unnecessary roughness calls on the spectator.
FOX Sports certainly has the expansive New York City market and marquee lineup of the Seahawks and Broncos working in its favor for the upcoming Super Bowl. Even so, FOX can take advantage of technological advancements to go the extra mile in providing a memorable experience for spectators outside of MetLife Stadium.
Engaging viewers in Twitter interaction with sportscasters and former players, providing live fan experience documentation via portable video cameras and offering advanced coverage of the potentially game-changing weather are all avenues worth exploring in broadcasting this unpredictable extravaganza.