The next big move in sports: First-person television

By Jon Marshall // Special Contributor

Imagine being able to experience in first hand fashion former NFL great Joe Montana’s pass to Dwight Clark in the back of the end zone or what it feels like to get hit by Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison. Or feel the breeze, running like Usain Bolt.

The next big move in sports will allow sports fans to get that close.

Sports fans may not be able to experience their favorite moments from the past, but with some great tech-savvy individuals and extreme innovation, viewers will be able to get a closer feel and look of athletic competition.

Through the years of television, the viewing experiences from sounds to different shots have improved greatly. Fans can get inside looks of the locker room and the huddle. They can even hear what is said during timeouts and competition.

If players can play mic’d up and heard, how long until miniature cameras are retrofitted for players to wear?

The idea is to give the audience a first-person look at whatever game they are watching. I envision outlets selecting a certain player (or maybe having a fan vote for which player they would like to be) to wear these cameras and during a certain part of the game, the main television shot will switch from the widescreen of play to the player’s camera.

Those at home will then get the ultimate viewing experience. With the camera safely placed at the shoulder level of the player, viewers will be really in the game. Every jarring hit, leaping catch off the wall for an out, ankle-breaking move and powerful serve will be experienced like never before.

The idea of first-person sports television viewing comes from the video game world. I grew up playing sports games. One of the aspects of this I enjoyed the most (and with other game genres) is the ability to play games from a first-person point of view.

Whether I was playing a Madden NFL or James Bond video game, the first-person view was always a favorite.

It feels like you are actually the character you are controlling, raising the level of gaming experience. The level of sports viewing would improve as well. The development of this idea may hurt ticket sales, with fans feeling they can get an even better experience at home. It does beat the nose bleed section. But I really don’t think it will hurt leagues or teams. Fans will always value the real thing. First-person sports television is not meant to replace the arena and stadium experience. I look at it as the two complimenting each other.

There could be many variations of this idea as well. Aside from the player view, another could be from a head coach point of view. This would work the same way with the players. A coach will be selected, or maybe both coaches can participate. The station will decide when to switch the cameras to the coach and the viewer will be the coach, well almost. The constant pacing of the sidelines, arguing with the refs and yelling at players will all be a part of the experience. It would be crazy to roam the sidelines with former college basketball coach Bobby Knight with chair in hand. The best thing about viewing the game in the eyes of a player or coach is not only will people see the action, but the sounds of the game will be heard as well.

This innovation should not be confined to just the field of play.

The full game day/night should be captured. This includes the post-game interview process. Giving fans an up close look in the press room and locker room would add even more. There are a few ideas that could be developed with this. Much like the first person camera view during the game action, a camera could be put on the player of the game or coach. Viewers would know what it feels like to have a bunch of reporters in front of you equipped with cameras, microphones and voice recorders whether in the locker room or press room.

However, when I really analyzed this particular aspect, I don’t like it as much as I thought.  The question I asked was, is this really giving viewers something to look forward to?  My guess is that after an exhilarating game, the last thing the audience wants is watching reporters stare at you. I am sure they would rather look at the players answering questions. So that is when it hit me. What if fans were actually able to ask questions? When it comes to the next big thing in sports, the key is innovation. Doing what has never been done before. This is something else that has never been done.

For the “Fans ask a Question” feature, the view will be the same as watching any other post-game interview, but the fan interaction aspect is totally different. There are two ways in which questions can transfer from the home sofa to locker room.

One way is having a designated person with the media outlet who has a device that is able to receive questions sent from around the world. For viewers to be able to send their inquiries, the media outlet that is broadcasting the game or maybe a cable system with their on-demand feature, will have a pop up box at the bottom of the screen that fans can type in questions with their remote. Once they hit send, the person who screens the questions will select a few to communicate to the player so they can answer the fan’s question.

The best way to handle this I believe is for fans to ask the questions themselves. With the Xbox Live feature where gamers can talk to each other while playing, today’s technology would certainly allow this to happen. Viewers will need a head set or some kind of way to broadcast their voice. There would still be a designated person to screen questions on a device, but the difference is instead of that person speaking for the fans, the fans will speak for themselves. Their voices will come out of a special device. A viewer being able to express themselves to their favorite athletes and teams is beneficial in many ways.

I can attest to how during interviews, there is always a question or two that never gets asked. As a fan, you are left wondering why something happened in a game. You may never know. The goal of this feature is to not leave fans out of the loop.

Also, maybe a kid has dreams of being a reporter.

This may not be the same experience of being in a malodorous smell-filled locker room or jockeying for position with other reporters, but this would be good practice of not only following the different trends and intricacies of the game but being able to communicate and formulate thoughts in a professional manner. The new innovation is not only giving fans a great television experience but it is grooming the next generation of sports journalists.

As with any new idea or technology, there may be some opposition with the first-person television experience. I feel most of it will come from the professional sports leagues, owners and organizers. Yes, viewers are given small snippets of game sounds, but offering an extended and more intimate view may raise concern. Professional sports leagues are businesses and they are all about keeping fans and getting new viewers. They are also about family, wanting to give the image of the full family fun experience at the ball park. But what if a player that has the camera on them says something offensive or even other players? There would have to be cooperation between the leagues, organizers, players and media outlets. Another area of concern is with the interviewing component. Maybe a fan asks a fair question. However, the athlete may be indifferent to it. What would stop them to lash out at the fan? This would spell trouble for not only the player, but the team and entire league. In order for this to work, it will take a concise effort with all involved to make it an enjoyable and profitable experience.

One thing I know this could be is profitable. If this were to happen in the future, the amount of attention to it would be unprecedented. A major strength of the idea is it does not leave anyone out. It can be used for any sport. It’s also for all ages, race and gender. Sports television and television in general is about the bottom line; making money. I can see right now the bidding wars to have the right to sponsor first-person sports television viewing on a particular channel. Even the professional sports leagues can get involved. The NFL Network, NBA TV or MLB Network can be trailblazers in this innovation, thus increasing their cable subscription and advertising revenue. It is a winning situation for everyone involved.

When answering what the next big thing in sports will be, whatever it is, it will have to be all about the fans. The money will always be there. But in order to have a profound impact, getting back to the fan aspect and ensuring a viewing experience like never before is needed. Not everyone can afford a ticket to the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox game at Yankee Stadium. Does this mean they don’t deserve an awesome experience as well? Nothing can duplicate being around millions of crazed cheese head fans at the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field or game seven of the NBA Finals. With the advancement of technology, there is no reason why those at home can’t get an intimate look at their favorite sports and athletes. Whether first-person sports television is the next big thing or not, one thing is clear. The next big thing needs to be all about the fans.