FOX Sports Taps GoPro for First-of-its-Kind, On-Field Perspective at Big Ten Football Championship Game

FOX Sports Lab, the designed approach to exploring technical partnerships that give viewers a fresh perspective and ad sales teams more targeted sports integrations, is teaming with GoPro (NASDAQ: GPRO) to offer a unique in-broadcast viewpoint from Saturday’s Big Ten Football Championship Game on the FOX broadcast network. Pregame coverage begins at 7:00 PM ET live from Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

After a successful test at last weekend’s Wisconsin-Minnesota Big Ten matchup, FOX Sports will offer a completely new championship game viewing experience for fans by featuring live, in-game footage captured from the perspective of the referees, thanks to a collaboration with GoPro. GoPro worked closely with FOX Sports and Big Ten officials to design a referee-worn hat that delivers a unique POV perspective from the heart of the action, available for use during the FOX game broadcast.

Take a peek: FOX Sports-GoPro Referee Hat Cam

“This is the continuing challenge we’ve taken on all year,” said Michael Davies, FOX Sports Senior Vice President Technical & Field Operations. “It’s in our FOX Sports DNA to constantly challenge our team to come up with new and interesting ways to enhance the viewing experience, bring fans closer to the action and make the story of sports even more compelling … this project with GoPro accomplishes all of that.”

The GoPro footage will not only be seen on-air, but viewers can also find video clips digitally. Throughout the game, FOX Sports’ social media accounts and FOXSports.com will capture and share footage caught from this exclusive point of view, which also will be available during the game as an isolated stream on FOX Sports GO. FOX Sports Digital works hand in hand with FOX Sports Lab in an effort to bring sports fans experiences that go well beyond the best seat in the house.

“GoPro changed the world by unlocking new perspectives of sports that put viewers into the middle of the action," said Todd Ballard, Vice President of Global Sports Entertainment Marketing at GoPro. “We’ve been looking forward to enabling the GoPro POV from the gridiron, and are excited to see how FOX Sports chooses to showcase these perspectives during the Big Ten Football Championship — both in the broadcast and on social media."

In 2016, FOX Sports, through its FOX Sports Lab continues to be a leader in sports television production, working with aerial drones, virtual reality and big data analytics in cutting edge ways, highlighted by high-profile VR productions from major events throughout the year, including the Daytona 500, U.S. Open Championship, Big East college basketball tournament, college football, Bundesliga soccer, PBC boxing and Monster Jam monster truck races.