AMAZING Technology! From Yellow Line to skycam and Pylon Cam | NFL EXPLAINED Broadcast Innovations

Evolution of NFL Broadcast: From Yellow Line to Sky-Cam Innovations!
00:00 - Intro
01:28 - First Ever NFL Broadcasts
02:41- Replay
06:54 - Monday Night Football
07:37- Score Bug
10:50 - First Down Line
21:08 - High Definition
24:03 - Eyevision
26:12 - Skycam
35:10 - Enhanced Audio
45:52 - Pylon Camera
53:49 - Enhanced Augmented Reality
59:33 - Nickelodeon Broadcast
01:01:20 - Megalodon Cinematic Camera
01:03:23 - Failures
01:05:14 - Super Bowl
01:12:19 - The Future
01:21:16 - Wrap Up
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#NFL #Football #AmericanFootball

[@lowstrife]

This is WAY more in depth than I thought it would be - I'm flabbergasted. What an incredible rundown.

[@user-en9qd5nx8w]

I agree, this production was really good. It was great to see all those technologies we now take for granted. HD tv with the wide aspect ratio was by far the biggest thing to improve watching the NFL. Being able to track the ball through the air, was huge. I remember seeing that megalodon (low depth of field) camera when it was first used in that Seattle game and thought, whoa is that a new camera they're using, hell ya, I am familiar with aperture in SLR cameras and thought, what a great idea to bring that to the game. I barely notice it now as its so common.

[@Tjstevens_]

This kind of stuff is like a car. A crap load of small moving parts coming together to make the big picture

[@StoneSD]

As an avid fan of the original XFL, can't tell you how much I appreciate you giving that league respect for how it became a testing ground for NBC and their Sunday night broadcast.

[@1AMdoesSomething]

I’m glad that they’re trying things out in the USFL now such as the Ref Cam and Helmet Cam. I also hope that Nickelodeon’s Route Tracker can be used in more NFL broadcasts in the future.

[@CYBERVISIONSdotCom]

@StoneSD I sure hope those XFL “On-Field SteadiCam Guys” were more than just “well compensated”……

[@mark4m557]

I quit watching the NFL 3 years ago. If it wasn't for the XFL I wouldn't watch any football games.

[@Vorpal_Wit]

This is a documentary level production that deserves and Emmy. Well done, folks.

[@abathens]

Agreeance.

[@CasualShowoff]

Always nice to see the guys behind the scenes get the credit they deserve, and fascinating to actually see and follow the evolution of broadcast technology

[@kingdingaling2469]

The 3D thing was just financial Most people do not have the $ to spend $3500 on a TV just to watch an NFL Game(s) in 3D 3D TV’s were extra pricey a decade ago Still not cheap but when the technology goes up and the price comes down I’m sure we’d LOVE 3D NFL Football But it has to be good and worth it.

[@HighlightHeaven]

this is cool to see as a broadcasting major in college

[@gageoutkast4030]

hello alex fancy seeing you here

[@eXHackeR]

HH - Legend

[@failure4]

Yoooo w

[@davidhererra9313]

HH love your channel

[@profootballlowlights]

where do you go HH

[@headstrong52]

You guys went way harder and way nerdy-er than you had to in this video and I am so here for it. Really want to see more content like this!

[@juliewick]

Right?! I have no idea what half of it means from like a technical or mathematical standpoint BUT, I do know that it’s impressive AF and completely fascinating! The creativity and innovation is quite spectacular.

[@alwaysopen7970]

me 2!

[@ahgtrader]

I worked with SMT supporting the yellow line and next gen stats through a lot of these innovations. It’s wild to have millions of people watch your work, even if it’s a small part of the overall product. You click one button or mouse move wrong and everyone see it… LIVE. It was a crazy ride with LONG days filled with blood, sweat, and tears. This was a great video and brought back so many memories! However the stories from the guys on the road…. I wouldn’t even know where to begin.

[@RVDfanman1]

Tell us some, my dude.

[@kylefreitas8293]

odds are at -2500 that you ever bled at your job

[@TheirOwnWords]

Shhhhhh. Lol

[@TheirOwnWords]

@@RVDfanman1 here’s a little sneak peek at what I’m sure he’s referring to…the 2008 Thursday night football crew video. 2008 Thursday CFA kzbin.info/www/bejne/mpvWgmearciqnZo

[@zachgrenga4705]

@@kylefreitas8293 depends on if women work there👀

[@berr21able]

A feature length NFL Explained? You bet I'm watching that.

[@kz1000ps]

Yup I just finished. Worth every minute!

[@fafinaf]

Love this video. Would love to see some behind the scenes of gameday across different stadiums..

[@shonhenderson4227]

They’ve done I think 3! Check out 24 hours before kickoff! They have the Ravens, Raiders, Chiefs, and Packers!

[@fafinaf]

@@shonhenderson4227 Thank you for letting me know! I only saw the one from NFL Network a while back but didn't know about the others. I just love the longer, in-depth behind-the-scenes documentary stuff from the NFL! So fascinating to me.

[@originalfujimonster]

@@shonhenderson4227 cool, have to find them -- would be cool if they did that every week and choose a difference stadium. start from when they arrive all the way until the wrap it all up

[@Gogettor]

I’m 36 and since I was a kid I’d proud myself whenever I’d figure out / learn how a specific piece of technology works (an engine, wifi, a wing’s lift). I’ve never stopped being amazed / fully understood how the 1st down line overlay (not an overlay) and the skycam work. This video is amazing.

[@eXHackeR]

This is absolutely insane. You don’t realize the intricacy that goes into these “simple” things like the first and 10 line and SkyCam etc. This is awesome, thank you.

[@butenbremer1965]

What a great piece of art! I watched my first NFL game during my student exchange year in the US back in 1981 - the viewing experience back then was, uuh, different! 🙂 I believe the overall presentation of the NFL with its technical progress has been playing a major role in the gain in popularity of NFL football across the globe. Greetings from GER!

[@ST0NE_206]

the skycam is brilliant for replays and unique views of the field

[@TeamHeapMI]

Ya it really gives a great way to break down the x's and o's from a coaching aspect of transcending the image on the whiteboard into the actual field.

[@account6416]

It should be the default view

[@mikel9567]

I was an EMT in Seattle for a number of years. I can remember doing standby's for the Seahawks and you sit down there in the tunnel and just see the sheer number of tv trucks and production personnel. The entire area behind the stadium where we would drive our ambulance would be packed with semi trailers from whatever network was broadcasting the game. it's really impressive to see and if anyone gets the chance to go behind the scenes for a sporting event, they should do it. There are a ton of people working to put those games on.

[@ClayGordon]

I was a part of the team that supported the ‘cast of the World Cup in LA in 1994 in HD. For soccer one of the main attractions of the widescreen format was being able to see so much more of the play at any given time. Better situational awareness for the viewers. Sharp images and great color helped, too, of course, as did the audio quality. It was like watching the games from a stadium box.

[@theVHSvlog]

Man, I've been curious about this stuff for a decade. Thank you NFL for sharing the tech behind the incredible productions put on every week

[@unclejakejake5855]

I want more behind the scenes videos like this. This was awesome

[@johnnycoolguy9554]

Garrett Brown put his mark not only on the NFL we love today, but throughout all of television and cinema. More people should know his name.

[@jveezy209]

Love this channel. Love the long videos. Love the respect shown towards all the people who helped make the modern day presentation of the NFL what it is today.

[@evanallen1542]

It’s 2am on a Saturday and I’ve never been more intrigued by behind the scene of the NFL

[@skittlecar1]

Glad the XFL was acknowledged as the league that really showed the world SkyCam.

[@tombirkland]

Great video. I totally agree that HD was the real game changer. The higher resolution and the aspect ratio allow you to see way more of the line play more clearly than in the pre-HD days. This video is a lot of fun and I learned a lot.

[@michaelgillman2505]

Whilst the quality of the image was definitely an advantage for everyone (except maybe the guys who had to make the tech work with upto 10x the data) it is more the aspect ratio than the resolution. 16:9 as standard has done so much for the media world.

[@CaptCovfefe515]

7:37 My favorite graphics package was from Fox Sports in the mid-2000s. The ticker at the top of the screen, the simulated, colored dot matrix indicators for the teams, the electronic noises, and the way it lit up when there was a touchdown. I loved that. I also think that sports like football would benefit from having some graphic that would indicate on-field personnel changes the way soccer does it. It might be difficult but I think it’s doable and would make the game a bit easier to follow. Other sports like hockey or basketball should do the same.

[@TheUpNorthExperience]

Personally I liked FOXs 2020 graphics package (the condensed one in the center of the screen).

[@DJTEDDY507]

wow.. this was a whole documentary. The timeline of broadcasting innovations in the NFL and all the storylines were so compelling. Thanks for putting this together.

[@brianharman82]

I'm old enough to not take this stuff for granted, it's an amazing experience just watching a football game on Sunday. Well done!

[@johnshields6852]

The first down line is an amazing addition from viewers perspective

[@jamiemcdonald4279]

I didn't think there was any chance I would watch this whole thing but here I am, 10 minutes from the end still very interested. This has been really good. We take a lot of this stuff for granted.

[@carlloud1187]

Just finished watching the video myself. Like you, I never thought I'd be able to watch the whole thing. Incredibly informative and very interesting. I wasn't around to watch the very first broadcast of an NFL game, but I have seen a lot of games in my time because well, I'm old! LOL, Love the NFL!

[@simtek3475]

Oh my god! It’s so cool and amazing to see footage from those first two HD CBS games from 1998! I really hope you guys can upload highlights from those HD CBS games from 1998, or even the HD ABC games from 1999!

[@theweatherdude]

Underrated comment right here! I first read about those initial HD broadcasts probably 12 or 13 years ago and have assumed ever since that no actual HD recording of them exists. After all, HD recording technology at the time was primitive, at best. D-VHS had just come out in 1998 - which I’m assuming was used to preserve these games. Barring some obscure NFL video I’m unaware of, this may very well be the first time clips from those HD broadcasts have surfaced since the games aired. And I definitely want MORE!

[@Dazwell]

Definitely one of the best, and most insightful NFL Throwback productions I've watched. Great job :)

[@rbikidportland]

The throwback HD picture was so clean

[@NotForLongNFL]

There used to be a ref cam in the early 2000s. They hooked up a camera to the umpire’s hat. It was sweet watching players run by.

[@Spartan265]

This was a great video. Really interesting. Can't wait to see what's next in NFL technology.

[@danielrice2296]

I love seeing the technical side of the sport! I gives me more of an appreciation when I watch the game.

[@CYMotorsport]

1:01:35 true story inside the nfl is what made me want to make movies for a living

[@hokuwong]

This was considerably more interesting than I thought it’d be, a lot of the thought that went into the ideas is fascinating

[@sorooshhamedi790]

What an amazing video. The innovations and progress were fascinating, but the most incredible & beautiful thing to me was how there's actual people doing these things that you take for granted. Sound mixing, moving microphones, shooting with the cameras, flying the skycam, mixing the video & sound with the graphics, and everyone setting up the tools on the ground before and during the game. One guy manually closing and opening the microphones, one fixing the pylon cam after every hit, someone drawing the 1st down line for each snap, ... My jaw just dropped at all these, and how many people are involved in an "ordinary" NFL broadcast. Hats off to all of them ❤️

[@Rascofresco11]

An hour plus movie? *Blunt roll -engaged.*

[@frankbarajas]

Player cameras would be just beyond awesome. Imagine being able to select your favorite player on field and from their perspective, see what they see. That would bring on a whole new level of experience.

[@carlloud1187]

I'm guessing cameras on players would be like the body cameras the police are wearing now.

[@SpiritHawk7]

Thank you for making and sharing this! Especially about the yellow (and blue) lines. It's the only graphic I have ever seen where it looks like someone could actually step on it like it was really there. Not only that, but how steady the line is as the cameras move just like a painted line and the accuracy of the line on the field. It's amazing. It just always seemed like something that must be almost impossible to do and it made me curious at how much technology went into it. I really enjoyed learning about the trick of using the refs feet for reference and alignment. I never really notice the refs on the field as I'm always too focused on the ball. I LOVE LOVE LOVE the mic'd up players/sounds of the game feature. It's amazing. Thank you! Also, it wasn't until a couple weeks ago during the Jaguars vs Titans on Dec. 11th game (Zay Jones got 2 feet in bounds for a Jags TD) that I became aware of the pylon cam and it was a legitimate moment of "this technology should have happened way before now" with how people have been able to micro size cameras like GoPros and being able to fit them on small animals like Disney Nature and Animal Planet, etc. To be able to get an extremely accurate and up close shot at the goal line like that is amazing and very much needed! I also like how the refs have embraced using the instant replay. Baseball umpires and league rules need to get with the times. It's ridiculous how an umps bad call can be taken over what the viewers and camera records can prove or disprove and be replayed from multiple angles, vs the umps single angle and faulty memory and eyes.

[@chrishirthe4162]

This may be one of the best insight videos the NFL has made. I can’t wait for the future viewing experience. We’re in great hands by the looks of things.

[@zachiswayposi1]

I honestly miss ESPN 3D. I never had a chance to see a football game, but they did it for the NBA playoffs one year and it truly gave you a sense of how huge basketball players are. It really was close to watching an actual game at an arena.

[@elinorris1739]

incredible video, i really enjoyed this look at how everything that seems so natural on the broadcast comes together. would love to see more of this style of content

[@user-xt5mn4fg5g]

Amazing video! Thanks for the quality effort. This brought back memories of watching Auburn play with my Pops in the early nineties. Ill never forget going to my first college game and thinking how cool it was( and how much smaller the field was in person), but I'd much rather be back home watching it on the 1500lb big screen at home with Dad.

[@a6i396]

i love the video getting into the nitty gritty details about everything we have taken for granted.

[@blockhead-]

This video is awesome and it perfectly explains all the things I wonder about each gameday!

[@180_S]

Amazing video! Keep 'em coming. Love seeing behind the scenes on these enormous productions.

[@Mr_AbdulRehman]

I've never watched a American football game but I've enjoyed this 1 hour long video.

[@Maxaldojo]

Thank you for letting us see behind the scenes! I started watching the NFL in the 1970's. The technology has for the most part, only added to the viewer experience. It is a fine balance that producers face between showing enough, too much and not enough of what's important. I realize Thursday Night Football on Amazon Prime is new, but I was frustrated by the down and distance graphics during the games. It is crazy delayed and is completely missing at times. I generally keep mental track, but it's also a game to see if I calculated it correctly... Is it 3rd and 1, or a first down? During other broadcasts; after a play, the down is usually shown and once the distance is determined, the down & distance is displayed. During TNF, many times after the play, the current down is not shown, until the distance is shown. Not a good look. That being said, all of the other technology has made the game an immersive experience for the viewer. Thank you to all the people that make the magic happen.

[@cosmicpuma]

Mind bending. Simply incredible to see all the things we take for granted while watching the NFL. Wow. Amazing vid. Thank you!!

[@tsurcohen-blatt9585]

As someone who is not a football fan and has never seen more than a game or two (on tv) in his life, I really enjoyed this movie, and it's really amazing to me. I might start following football from now on...

[@iluvmoshing5216]

You guys NAILED this video. Excellent job. 👏🏾

[@ab3040]

Need to bring back a full game in sky cam You can see SO much more whether it's run or pass

[@wecontrolthevideo]

ESPN does some NCAA games totally from the skycam on internet feeds parallel to the regular ESPN cable feed.

[@Gary_Le_Strange]

they'd loose a lot of viewers if they were forced to watch the whole game in such a compact way

[@ab3040]

@@Gary_Le_Strange compact? You can see 50 yards down field and absolutely everything the RB and QB sees All you miss is the boring out routes Hands down a better system

[@theweatherdude]

First HD NFL broadcasts from 1998: *exist without being shown publicly in any form for nearly a quarter century* The NFL: “Let’s randomly dump HD clips from these games in an obscure KZbin video in 2022.” Fascinating video, I will say.

[@Super_Bowl_Bound_Eagles]

Thanks for the detailed explanation on the evolution of this technology that goes into what we see on NFL tv today! I’ve always wanted to know what went on behind the scenes :)

[@RavenOvNadir]

This is one of the best documentaries I have seen the whole year. Thank you!

[@SecretSauceyjuice]

This absolutely slaaaaaaaps. I love behind the scenes stuff, especially about ahead of their time solutions and tech advancements.

[@CorporateRowingNZ]

Amazing detail on lessons and hard graft of innovation. Thanks for sharing!

[@juliewick]

This was absolutely mind blowing. Thanks for sharing and for such an in depth breakdown. ❤

[@chrisr8638]

This is really well done! Entertaining and informative. 👍

[@seen48]

So coo! I am one of those viewers that can’t imagine not having most of this technology now. Is very amazing what has happened over the past 20 years. Bravo

[@KenTheMan407]

Love these videos, keep up the great 👍 work NFL media

[@michaelgillman2505]

As a media production guy myself, I found this all fascinating. I remember the season they brought in the low depth of field celebration cam. I noticed it immediately. I said 'Wow that's an amazing shot' out loud to nobody. Shared my enthusiasm for it on my Fantasy Football chat and got absolutely rinsed! I'm such a fecking geek!

[@richardsnation4609]

All this we take for granted. Amazing technology and Evolution that has happened through the years. I appreciate this story and love being educated on this. Great video.

[@alexmathewmendoza]

For everything we simply take for granted when watching a modern NFL game there’s a massive army of technicians, innovators and frankly, artists, that are making it all possible for us. Thank you.

[@ItsLukeTheRose]

Really neat to have these technologies explained. I remember asking my Dad around 2002 about the yellow line when I first went to an NFL game in person lol... Crazy that it was the first big use case for AR (please correct me if I'm missing some other AR that came before).

[@dsimpson530]

I remember when NFL2k (in 1999) launched on Dreamcast had the Blue line of scrimmage in addition to the yellow first down line. A few years later the blue line was added to all NFL broadcasts.

[@SFCAUSTIN1995]

The 2003-2005 Fox score bug. PERFECTION. Wish it would come back. 😢😢😢

[@joelongoria9058]

I have watched this video 3 times already, great video NFL! Love this kinda content

[@patrickreuber5422]

Great video, really enjoyed this!

[@helloeverybody9675]

What an incredible process it is to put a game on tv! Absolutely amazing

[@Irresponsibilityy]

Grateful for the work gone into making my experience as a fan that much better

[@madisaur0]

Thanks for this detail of history. I remember a lot of this but often forget how far we’ve come. This is a fun history lesson!

[@Tharte]

I think I speak for everyone when I say the Spongebob Field goal and slime cannons are the most important innovations in the NFL, bravo!

[@heathercummins1644]

Fantastic capture of the progression of the technology that makes today's games what they are. I know that I appreciate it, as someone who could never afford to go to a regular season game, much less a playoff or Super Bowl game in person.

[@PoxyBear]

This is so incredible, thank you for doing this.

[@milopg67]

I'll keep subscribed . Love your stuff !

[@scruffd0g193]

It’s truly amazing to see what goes on, behind the scenes of an NFL Game.

[@TXnine7nine]

Wow I watched an 83 minute youtube video and didn’t even realize it until the very end. Great explanations of stuff we’ve come to expect from an NFL broadcast.

[@LebrettJames]

This was an excellent video. Thank you.

[@Vlogthisfilms]

This is the best detailed videos i've ever seen .. just WOW !! I swear it can make someone a fan of football just by showing how it all works

[@steveaitch729]

love this stuff. thanks for posting

[@benonpc9]

I do stream production work for my college and this video has given me some awesome ideas. Thank you so much!

[@austinhannemann2615]

Love the long videos for real

[@ChaossX77]

This was awesome and a great idea for a different type of video! These guys were absolutely brilliant!

[@lucasjim5584]

One thing that I'll love for sports in general: an audio channel with just the crowd and field sounds -no announcers or background music. I know this could be a problem for the networks, but it's the way we watch on the stadium. I probably will still use the announcers channel most of the time to get important info, but will love to feel the vibe of the stadium in some instances. I heard some tvs supposed to have this capability but none works that good. We need a real "SAP" button for stadium sound only.

[@craigmarshall3386]

This was some of the best innovations in not only Football but sports itself. 100% easily to explain to the non-fan. Now the way the camera moves on the field looks like a video game

[@tyreepowell8367]

Love Your Video 📸 NFL Throwback 🏈

[@wovasteengova]

thank you for being hella descriptive in this video.

[@mydogvlad]

that dude is so right, that DOINK of the goal post is amazing

[@abathens]

What a great documentary! This answers questions I've had for the last 40 years.

[@antoniobarry]

Honestly super cool video with two of my favorite passions tech and football

[@JahNuhThunDeeTheOneAndOnly]

Coming in 2030: *robot refs*

[@justaramdonperson8942]

That will still call bs penalty

[@jeffreyruschjr6248]

So many cameras but never have the angle the refs want

[@putasdelfanta]

I think about this often. Or like a touch sensitive playing field to accurately dictate catches made to the out side

[@chrisbrant3120]

We can only hope

[@doctorscrubb2538]

And still says it wasn't a DPI during the rams and Saints game 🤣

[@rameyandlisagirven561]

I love football. And what the geeks have come up with to enhance my football game viewing. Hats off to yall for sure.

[@joservintage]

Really good video!!!!👌💯🤘

[@Memphizm]

Bruh if you're a football fan you'll probably find this impossible to turn off! This was so good!!!

[@shreyasjuloori3147]

absolutely informative and amazing

[@siamimam2109]

Watching games on VR would be the coolest thing ever! Imagine being able to walk around the field, looking at live gameplay, switching between POVs etc

[@coachelly86]

awesome piece! 👏

[@jimg6261]

This was really well done and very interesting!

[@electricalron]

The first Super Bowl I remember watching on television was SB X, Dallas vs Pittsburgh.