McKINNEY, TX – GoVision and redbutton collaborate to bring aerial cameras and live streaming video to the 6th Annual Bike the Bricks Criterium.
More details from GoVision (www.jumbo.tv) and redbutton.tv (www.redbutton.tv):
As thousands of spectators lined the streets of downtown McKinney, just inches away from cyclists rocketing by at more than 40 mph, aerial cameras buzzed overhead, capturing spectacular, real-time footage of the 6th Annual Bike the Bricks Criterium. The live stream was fed to video screens that gave fans a never-before-seen perspective on the event – virtually putting them on the bikes themselves – thanks to the creative services team at GoVision LP.
The aerial cameras (a.k.a., drones), provided by Dallas-based redbutton, offered access to areas of the racecourse that a traditional camera and operator could not reach. In addition, they allowed GoVision’s production team to track cyclists throughout an entire lap from overhead, without interruption.
“From the production side, we were able to deliver some truly awesome views that very few road-racing events have ever achieved,” said Scott McKinnon, vice president and partner of Argyle, Texas-based GoVision, one of the nation’s premier suppliers of large-scale LED video displays and related services. “We were able to reposition locations and camera angles very quickly, which was crucial to the production. It was a perfect example of how our new creative services capabilities can add significant value to our LED screens.”
In addition to the aerial cameras, GoVision operated a camera at the start/finish line that fed directly to its 9’ x 12’ G2 video board, which was positioned in McKinney’s historic Town Square. Large LED monitors set-up in the event’s VIP lounge mirrored the content on the outdoor video board. McKinney Vision TV produced the sponsor content displayed on the screens.
“The drones provided some truly spectacular perspectives on the race, where fans could feel every curve and every hill, and better appreciate what great athletes these cyclists are,” said McKinnon. “The novelty factor alone added an element of excitement to the event, but there’s no question that the unique camera angles truly enhanced the overall fan experience.”
As GoVision’s video boards glowed throughout the night, thousands of spectators were drawn to the live feeds emanating both from the finish line and from the aerial cameras.
“Today’s successful event organizers are constantly looking for ways to engage and entertain audiences on-site with totally unique experiences, while simultaneously creating branded short stories of these experiences for attendees to share and brag about with their millions of socially connected friends online,” said Sam Stanton, redbutton’s chief experience officer. “Our content team provided the aerial coverage to GoVision and created several short, virally sharable videos while the event was taking place. The moment the GoVision aerial cameras took flight, the wow factor of the event lifted with them.”
The Bike the Bricks Criterium, held Friday, May 22, offered $25,000 in prize money along with a test of survival for roughly 500 bike racers. For highlights of the aerial cameras’ live feed, click here: http://tinyurl.com/ntdlq3b
