FOX Sports Continues Drone Evolution Program, Adds Newly Developed Package to NASCAR Coverage
Network to Showcase FreeFly Alta 8 Drone with New FreeFly Carbon Assembly this Weekend at Talladega
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – FOX Sports continues to expand its use of aerial production drones this weekend, teaming with Chapman Aerial Production at Alabama’s Talladega Superspeedway, the longest and fastest track on the NASCAR racing circuit, to unveil coverage from the newly developed drone/camera unit with five-axis stabilization.
“We started experimenting with aerial drones as part of our live-event coverage more than three years ago,” said Brad Cheney, FOX Sports VP of Field Operations. “With NASCAR, we used a tethered drone at Daytona in 2018, and our first untethered drone flew at Daytona earlier this year, but this Talladega drone-camera combination is the most-advanced to date.”
The team will be flying the FreeFly Alta 8 drone with the newly developed FreeFly MoVi Carbon camera gimbal with five-axis camera stabilization. The camera is equipped with a Fujinon 20-120mm lens, with the crop factor of the sensor elevating it to a 40-240mm lens.
“It’s been the vision of our production and technical teams at FOX Sports to have drone cameras as part of our industry-leading FOX NASCAR race coverage,” said FOX Sports multi-Emmy Award winning director, Artie Kempner. “It will provide the viewer with dynamic views, not seen before in motor sports.”
Pre-race programming begins Sunday with NASCAR RACEDAY at 12:30 PM ET on FS1 and the FOX Sports App, moving to the FOX broadcast network at 1:30 PM ET, followed by the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Geico 500 at 2:00 PM ET.
–FOX SPORTS–
About FOX Sports
FOX Sports is the umbrella entity representing FOX Corporation’s wide array of multi-platform US-based sports assets. Built with brands capable of reaching more than 100 million viewers in a single weekend, the business has ownership and interests in linear television networks, digital and mobile programming, broadband platforms, multiple web sites, joint-venture businesses and several licensing relationships. FOX Sports includes the sports television arm of the FOX Network; FS1, FS2, FOX Soccer Plus and FOX Deportes. FOX Sports’ digital properties include FOXSports.com and the FOX Sports App, which provides live streaming video of FOX Sports content, instant scores, stats and alerts to iOS and Android devices. Additionally, FOX Sports and social broadcasting platform Caffeine jointly own Caffeine Studios, which creates exclusive eSports, sports and live entertainment content. Also included in FOX Sports’ portfolio are FOX’s interests in joint-venture businesses Big Ten Network and BTN 2Go, as well as a licensing agreement that established the FOX Sports Radio Network.
