EPL
Sky Sports and the Premier League will trial an innovative new camera angle during the Arsenal vs Manchester City game this weekend.
The new camera angle, which will be called ‘Game Mode’, will track action from side to side in line with play not dissimilar to the angle you would see on a football video game.
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The aim is to give the viewer a greater appreciation of space as well as showing player runs and ball movement across the pitch from a different perspective.
It is the first time Sky has used a gantry level ‘railcam’ in football and the Premier League will be making the system available to all of its domestic and international broadcast partners.
Premier League head of media operations and innovation, Rachael Nightingale, said: “The Premier League is always looking for ways to enhance the broadcast experience for fans around the world.
“During this period of testing with Sky Sports and Arsenal, we hope ‘Game Mode’ will provide a new and exciting way to enjoy the action at home.”
Sky Sports director of production, Phil Marshall, added: “We’re very excited to see what ‘Game Mode’ can bring to the overall viewing experience for fans and believe it has great potential when it comes to in-game innovation.
“We thank Arsenal and the Premier League for their support in testing this innovation.”
The new angle was trialed during Arsenal’s Women’s Super League opening day defeat to Liverpool on October 1 and if the trial proves successful the camera could be utilised for all future Premier League fixtures at the Emirates Stadium this season.
The alternative feed of the match will air live on Sky Sports Football from 4.30pm BST on Sunday, where the usual ‘camera 1’ coverage will be replaced with the ‘Game Mode’ camera.
Standard coverage of the game will still be available for viewers on Sky Sports Premier League.
Arsenal head into Sunday’s game third in the Premier League with Manchester City one point ahead in top spot.
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Nnamdi Onyeagwara joined us in November 2022, initially helping us cover the World Cup before becoming a Junior News Editor in January 2023. Born in North London, Nnamdi attended Nottingham Trent University and previously worked at The Voice and the Barnet Post. Follow Nnamdi on Twitter @nnamdionye