Sky, the British sports broadcaster, has announced a $1 million investment in a distribution deal with the Drone Racing League, bringing drone racing onto television for the first time via the company's Sky Sports Mix channel.
The Drone Racing League is a professional league that pits elite drone racers against one another in "first-person view" courses. Though the league, and the sport in general, is somewhat niche currently, spectators and online viewers of drone racing events know that they are thrilling to watch. Sky's deal is prescient, as it's an attempt to get in early on an increasingly popular form of entertainment.
Through the distribution deal, Sky Sports Mix will air ten one-hour episodes of the 2016 Drone Racing League season, including the winner-take-all world championship race.
What Makes This Trend Stand Out
- Televised Drone Racing
- The broadcasting of Drone Racing League competitions on television presents opportunities for brands seeking to innovate within sporting coverage.
- Professional Drone Racing League
- The Drone Racing League created a new professional sport, giving rise to opportunities for innovative technologies and event sponsorship.
- First-person View (FPV) Technology
- The integration of First-Person View (FPV) technology in drone racing presents opportunities for companies seeking to innovate within the drone industry and related technologies.
Sectors Adopting This
- Broadcasting and Media
- The broadcasting industry can explore opportunities to create new viewing experiences for audiences with drone racing competitions on television and streaming platforms.
- Sports and Entertainment
- The sports and entertainment industry can benefit from the creation of new, thrilling sports that deliver an immersive experience for fans, cultivating opportunities for event sponsorship and the use of innovative technologies.
- Drone Technology
- Drone technology companies have opportunities to innovate within First-Person View (FPV) technology, and design drones specifically tailored for competitive racing or focused on spectator experiences for leagues and events.
