Channel Nine Will Introduce Spidercam To National Rugby League Coverage

Australian Rugby League "lovers will get a swooping bird's eye view" as Channel Nine introduces Spidercam to league coverage this season, with "the cutting-edge camera to take fans directly above scrums and play-the-balls," according to Ben Dorries of the COURIER-MAIL. Nine indicated it would make the aerial vision available for use in video referees' decisions, although it said that "Spidercam won't be used in all televised games." The camera, which is suspended over sporting venues by "a maze of pulleys and cables, was successfully used in Test cricket coverage in the summer and received rave reviews from Australia's cricketers." Nine plans to deploy the camera for all State of Origin games and selected blockbuster National Rugby League games, "as long as the wind is below 40km/h." Fellow rights holder Fox Sports will also use the 2013 NRL season to experiment with new technology, "introducing its cornerpost cam, Foxkopter and possibly Ref Cam, which has been trialled in rugby union" (COURIER-MAIL, 3/3).