Thesis
Keeping NBA fans engaged during the COVID-19 pandemic
Master of Science (M.S.), Drexel University
18 May 2022
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/00001592
Abstract
The 2019-2020 season for the National Basketball Association was the most unprecedented season in its history as the COVID-19 pandemic hit the entire world. After the season was suspended on March 10th, 2020, play resumed in the completely isolated zone at Walt Disney World in Bay Lake, Florida on July 22nd. The isolated zone, which became known as "The NBA Bubble," hosted NBA games under strict COVID-19 restrictions. Fans were not allowed inside arenas and productions were coordinated with a minimum number of crew members. Under these unique circumstances that no one had experienced before, sports broadcasters were forced to come up with innovative ways to ensure a high-quality broadcast to fans who were now only able to follow their favorite teams on television from their home. Rather than hiding the unusual environment that was the NBA Bubble, sports broadcasters decided to take advantage of the unique circumstances. The environment where games were held without any fans in the arena allowed for an increased number of microphones to be set up to ensure fans could hear dynamic conversations between players, coaches, and referees. Camera technology such as rail-cam delivered lively action on the court. Fan experience-enhancing technologies such as Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality gave fans who could not cheer for their favorite teams in person the opportunity to cheer them on virtually. Studying the technologies sports broadcasters utilized to successfully pull off the most unprecedented season of the NBA's history will become guidance for television and media leaders exploring how technology can benefit the sports broadcasting industry.
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Details
- Title
- Keeping NBA fans engaged during the COVID-19 pandemic
- Creators
- Seonwoo Yu
- Contributors
- Michelle McHugh (Advisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Drexel University
- Degree Awarded
- Master of Science (M.S.)
- Publisher
- Drexel University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Number of pages
- vi, 66 pages
- Resource Type
- Thesis
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Television (and Media) Management; Cinema and Television; Drexel University; Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts and Design
- Other Identifier
- 991020537031804721