Last weekend, at the FCS Championship game and College Football Playoff Championship, ESPN introduced the world to the Pylon Cam – a project that ESPN Technology, Production and Operations teams have been developing for months. Comprised of a custom-built pylon, a multi-camera housing with a fan and a wireless transmitter, the games marked the first live-environment testing.
“We first used it in [the FCS] game on Saturday, where it gave us a great shot on a near touchdown,” said Ed Placey, senior coordinating producer, college football. “However, we went into the CFP Championship knowing this is still very much in development – but wanted to make it an option if we could. We didn’t use it in main coverage, which was simply an editorial decision. We didn’t have ‘that moment’ where it was the best shot. We were really pleased with how it went and we got some great learnings and we’ll continue to refine and improve on it.”
Despite not using Pylon Cam footage in the main coverage, thanks to the many aspects of Megacast it did get used on the Command Center channel.
In the video above, Marc Rowley, director, ESPN production enhancements and Chris Pond software engineer, ESPN Technology) take viewers “inside the pylon.”
Video produced by Dave Williams
