A year after field hockey "faced the prospect of Olympic exclusion from the 2020 Games," the Int'l Hockey Federation (FIH) admitted that its newly-acquired $250M TV deal with Indian broadcaster Star Sports is a "game-changing" one, according to Rod Gilmour of the London TELEGRAPH. Talks have developed "in the last two years between the FIH and global broadcasters." It was Star Sports which "ultimately approached hockey chiefs to become involved and an eight-year, media partnership deal was inked last month." FIH CEO Kelly Fairweather said, "We've now got a partner who is far more committed than anyone else before. They see hockey as a long-term partnership to build and revive the sport around the globe." Even though the deal will not start until '15, "changes to how the sport is portrayed have already been realised." The FIH uses "up to nine cameras per game, while Star Sports position 19." Star wants to "include cameras in changing rooms" and goalkeeper cams, while the spider cam will be "used for the first time at this summer's World Cup in the Netherlands." Future ideas include "heart rate monitors on the goalkeeper" (TELEGRAPH, 2/24).
