Multi-camera Techniques: Live Sport

Live Sport

Sporting events are captured within a location. Within a broadcasted live sport programme they use multi cameras rather than single camera due to the amount of footage that needs to be captured and broadcasted for the viewing audience. Within a live sporting event such as a football match, due to the balls whereabouts being unknown, a range of possibly 10 cameras would be used to capture all the different angles and make sure nothing is missed out from the broadcast. A wider range of footage can be broadcasted due to the use of the multi cameras and the detail given off.  It also gives a higher sense of atmosphere due to the commentary being used and the language. The cameras cover all the action and make sure nothing gets missed, if it does it would then be shown back as an action replay for the audience to view. The multi camera production communicates with the viewers with the use of graphics on the screen. Programmes such as Match of the Day uses statistics and name tags on the screen to show the audience the information being given off. Before a match, within the studio the sporting individuals within the box give their opinion on the upcoming match and then the team that will be played gets put onto the screen and the positions they play with the use of a graphic. Within the studio the visual style is usually just a simple set up. Within this clip all the individuals are dressed in shirts and formal pants to give a professional effect, even if they are sporting individuals. A spider cam is used to capture the atmosphere and everything that is going on, it is suspended above the pitch and can move anywhere that it is needed. This would then be transmitted onto the big screen for the audience which can't see the pitch properly.

Experts and pundits would sit within the box and criticise and give their opinions on the current scores or any players. The studio has blue colours which gives the sense of manliness, the logo is clearly shown on the front of the desk which is promoting their channel and letting the audience know what the show is entailing. The large screen which is used on the back wall has graphics and writing on them linking to the current topic being discussed. A wide range of shots gets used within a live sporting event, for example within a football match shots such as birds eye view,zoom and a spider cam. These give the viewers a wide range of detail as the zoom provides a close up shot of the players footwork or their facial expressions. The editing used would be how they maintain the viewers interests as the cameras would go from one to another and so on the capture everything that is going on, this would then have the commentators voices over the top providing current information about the broadcast. No constraints are usually come across within a live football match due to the wide space being given but within the box where the experts are there may be a risk of trip hazards due to the camera wires and the small space.

This is the way the broadcast communicates with the audience through the use of graphics, they keep the audience informed rather than them just reading them out and assuming the audience will remember them. They use the graphics to make the audience more appealed and interested.

This is the use of close ups, this is used when a conversation is taking place as it shows detail and an atmosphere. The background used is a blue colour which is linked in with a male target audience and the football association.

A wide shot is used to capture everything, the experts and the presenter, the screen graphics and the background. It is clearly identifiable who is the presenter and who is the expert due to them sat in different areas.

These are sketches of how the broadcast would look and their possible camera angles.