Panasonic AW-HN40H TV Technology: Guide to Sports Production - Page 8

NBC'S KENTUCKY DERBY COVERAGE SHINES DESPITE SOGGY CONDITIONS Network deploys 'BATCAM' drone to cover the back stretch By James Careless CHURCHILL DOWNS, KY.-The 144th running of the Kentucky Derby on May 5 was the wettest Derby in the event's history. By the time the field of three year-old thoroughbreds (including race winner Justify) thundered down the legendary Churchill Downs track, more than 2.8 inches of rain had fallen at nearby Louisville Airport, breaking the previous Louisville May 5th rainfall record of 2.31 inches, which had stood since 1918. For NBC Sports, whose Kentucky Derby coverage capped three days of horse racing on NBC and NBCSN, the working conditions were extremely difficult. The relentless heavy rain turned the Churchill Downs track into NBC Sports' "BATCAM" is a cable-supported, self-powered moving Panasonic AK-HC1500G HD box camera that goes from 0 to 60 mph in 1.5 seconds, reaching speeds in excess of 100 mph. muddy, sloppy muck that splashed skywards wherever the horses ran (sheets of mud spray can be FROM NASCAR TO REAL HORSE POWER seen in the Derby race video) while drenching crews and equip- Initially used by NBC Sports to cover high-speed NASCAR ment. Granted, NBC Sports had weatherproofed cameras and races, BATCAM is a cable-supported, self-powered moving operator positions before the race, but the rain still made life Panasonic AK-HC1500G HD box camera that goes from 0 to tough for personnel to work outside. 60 mph in 1.5 seconds; reaching speeds in excess of 100 mph. "It was a miserable, miserable day, all day," said John Roche, BATCAM's combination of quick acceleration, high speed and senior technical manager for NEP, which provided the mobile unobstructed suspended camera angle made it well-suited to units and related equipment to NBC. "Just to try to keep 52 cam- cover Churchill Downs' back stretch. (Top horse speeds at the eras up in rainy weather that continued all day was a feat in itself." Derby typically hover around the 40 mph mark.) Despite the damp weather, NBC Sports was able to break The decision to use BATCAM came after long discussions new ground with a never-before-seen camera angle on the between NBC Sports and Churchill Downs managers. "Our pro- track's distant back stretch, thanks to "BATCAM." "It was a ducers' desire was to get a different shot of the back stretch that true innovation at the Derby," said Tim DeKime, vice presi- we've not seen before," said DeKime. Eventually, everyone opted dent of sports operations for NBC Sports. for the high-speed BATCAM after considering "various types of [8] GUIDE TO SPORTS PRODUCTION | MAY 2018