From www.cultofmac.com
Quick Points
- It seems like So, Apple’s stepping into live sports broadcasting by using iPhone 17 Pros for filming a Major League Baseball game—the Red Sox vs. Tigers.
- They’ve got clearly, four iPhones set up around Fenway Park, capturing everything from player reactions to in-game action.
- What’s interesting is that this isn’t just some flashy gimmick; they’re hitting 1080p at nearly 60 frames per second, making sure it syncs easily with TV standards.
- Plus, viewers will see specific overlays that indicate when they're watching footage shot with those badass iPhones, giving a fun twist to how we consume sports.
- It's the first time these devices are officially recognized in live MLB broadcasts—talk about making history!
Photo: Apple TV+
Apple’s latest smartphone will step into the major leagues Friday night when the iPhone 17 Pro helps capture live footage during a professional sports broadcast for the first time. The Detroit Tigers vs. Boston Red Sox game at Fenway Park, streaming on Apple TV+ as part of Friday Night Baseball, will feature live game footage shot on four iPhone 17 Pro devices, according to MLB.com
And by the way, the game — part of the two teams’ final series of the regular season — has big playoff implications. Apple TV+ subscribers can watch it at no extra cost.
iPhone 17 Pro helps shoot pro baseball game: Four cameras stationed around Fenway Park
Apple positioned four iPhone 17 Pro handsets in strategic locations throughout the iconic ballpark for this groundbreaking Friday Night Baseball broadcast, according to MLB.com. One camera sits inside the legendary Green Monster wall in left field, shooting out onto the field. Operators stationed other iPhone 17 Pros in team dugouts, and one roaming camera captures the stadium atmosphere and crowd reactions.
The iPhones are mounted in Black Magic Phone docks and connected to iPads for exposure and white balance control. Running the Black Magic Camera app, the devices will stream continuously throughout the game at 1080p 59.94fps to match broadcast truck requirements, with feeds delivered via fiber-optic cables.
Leveraging the iPhone’s advanced camera system
The broadcast takes full advantage of the iPhone 17 Pro’s triple 48MP camera system. It uses focal lengths equivalent to 24 mm, 48 mm, 100 mm and 200 mm (using the 8x zoom capability).
While the iPhone 17 Pro can shoot up to 4K at 120fps, the broadcast maintains standard television specifications for seamless integration with existing production workflows.
Unique angles and mobility advantages
The iPhone’s compact size and mobility offer significant advantages over traditional broadcast cameras, allowing producers to capture unique angles that would be impossible with bulky professional equipment. The cameras will record batting practice, player introductions, dugout shots, crowd reactions and live gameplay throughout the evening.
Viewers will be able to easily identify iPhone footage, thanks to special on-screen overlays that will appear whenever the broadcast switches to iPhone-captured content.
Testing phase leads to historic broadcast
This isn’t Apple’s first rodeo with live sports footage. The company conducted a successful trial run the previous week during Clayton Kershaw’s final regular-season start at Dodger Stadium. iPhone 17 Pro cameras captured the legendary pitcher’s performance (and Shohei Ohtani hitting a home run).
Major League Baseball authenticated the four devices as the first iPhones ever used by a broadcaster for live MLB game coverage. That marks a significant milestone for both Apple and sports broadcasting technology.
The iPhone integration represents the latest innovation in Apple TV+’s Friday Night Baseball series for 2025, joining other technological enhancements like in-stadium drone shots, umpire and helmet cameras, and cinematic-style “Megalodon” camerawork that have elevated the viewing experience throughout the season.
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Sounds Nerdy Insights
- This shift demonstrates an exciting blending of consumer tech and pro-level production; it kind of shakes up our usual expectations of sports broadcasting.
- I can’t help but wonder how this might put pressure on traditional camera providers. Do we really need bulky setups if something as portable as an iPhone offers comparable quality?
- And let’s not overlook the clearly, creativity angle here: using multiple angles and unique positions (like inside the Green Monster) could deliver storytelling elements that traditional cameras just can’t match.
- It makes me think about accessibility—more tools like this could mean smaller teams or schools being able to film games without court-sized budgets. Could we see more amateur content shining through?
- The importance of real-time reactions from players and crowds adds a layer of immersion that's hard to achieve with conventional rigs. Wouldn’t it be awesome if fan interactions become part of the overarching narrative?
- Last week’s successful test sounds promising, but I’d love to hear how producers felt about managing them in a live environment. Was it as seamless as they hoped?
- Bottom line? This meld of high-end tech and venerable tradition could seriously redefine my Friday night baseball experience—and maybe even give Apple a solid edge in both their hardware and streaming wars!
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