Birds Camera Solutions has signed a long-term contract with ATP Media, who are the host broadcasters of the ATP Masters 1000 Tournaments and the Nitto ATP Finals. The 3D cable camera systems of special camera supplier Birds Camera Solutions from Germany will accompany all ATP Masters 1000 tournaments and Nitto ATP Finals for three years. The cooperation has started with season 2023, and the tournaments will each be equipped with a 3D aerial cable camera system flying above the main stadium court at the events.
Birds Camera Solutions’ cable camera systems meet the highest safety standards, an important point when used in stadiums above athletes and players and emergency stops can be triggered in milliseconds. Pre-defined areas are declared as “taboo zones”, thus preventing the camera from entering them, e.g., not obstructing the players or “flying around” the umpires. All systems are certified according to the German safety standard DGUV 17/18 (formerly BGV-C1) and meet other crucial international safety requirements.
During the TV production of the matches, the cable camera systems offer extra exciting possibilities. They can be easily integrated into all common augmented reality applications, and viewers can experience additional exciting information on the screen. The systems can be used flexibly, covering areas from 50 x 50 m to 250 x 250 m, depending on the model and requirements.
Birds Camera Solutions has already been in use at selected ATP tournaments in the past. From the 2023 season onwards, Birds Camera Solutions’ systems will produce new perspectives for spectators of the matches as part of a three-year contract. During the last season, the Birds Camera Solutions teams have been on-site during the matches to plan the technology and the rigging points and document unique tennis court features. Birds Camera Solutions’ cable camera systems provide spectators with many new insights into the ATP Masters 1000 tournament matches. The systems will be used in the four-point mode above the stadium courts during the tournaments.
Philip von Senden, COO of Birds Camera Solutions, comments on the collaboration: “We are very pleased that ATP Media have requested our systems for the tour and are planning to work with us in the long term. This decision shows that our efforts regarding the greatest possible safety and best performance of our cable camera systems are paying off. In addition, the decision sends out a strong signal in the field of live sporting events that will certainly impact the whole industry.”
Martin Lloyd, ATP Media – Head of Live Production, adds: “We’re delighted to be partnering with Birds Camera Solutions to provide us with the latest technology in 4-point aerial camera systems to fly over and around the main stadium courts at our biggest events. The most important aspects of working with an aerial camera supplier are the safety and the dynamic shots they can offer, Birds Camera Solutions ticks both these boxes. Having this aerial camera in our productions really elevates the coverage, providing viewers with a greater sense of scale of the stadiums and the ability to get physically closer to the players and action on the court from every angle.”
