Sky Sports will implement a series of innovations for their broadcast of the SPFL fixture Hibs vs Hearts on 27 December, bringing fans closer to one of the fiercest rivalries in the SPFL.
Head Coach of Hibs Nick Montgomery will wear a microphone during the match, enabling fans watching at home to hear the specific coaching and tactics from the sideline. A member of the Hibs coaching staff will wear a bodycam to give a first-person perspective of the team on the pitch from the dugout.
Fans will also experience how players prepare for one of the biggest fixtures in the SPFL calendar, with Sky Sports given access to the Hearts team hotel for a pre-match meal, and a bodycam will be strapped onto a Hearts player during the warmup to deliver a new depth of coverage.
The broadcast aims to capture the passion, drama and key moments of the derby, and follows Sky Sports’ EFL ‘Innovation Game’ last season, which included new behind- the-scenes access for the broadcast of the Wycombe vs Portsmouth match in League One.
Gary Hughes, Director of Football Sky Sports, said: “We strive to be at the forefront of innovation and continue to explore new ways we can enable fans to get closer to the action with our coverage. We are delighted to have been able to work alongside Hibs, Hearts and the SPFL, with a joint ambition to tell the story of this hugely competitive derby to our audience in a new and exciting way."
Neil Doncaster, Group Chief Executive of the SPFL, said: “We’re really pleased to have been able to work with both clubs and Sky Sports to showcase their latest broadcasting innovations, helping put supporters right at the heart of the action in the Edinburgh derby.
“It promises to be a cracking game and we’re excited to see how the technology brings the match experience even closer for viewing fans.”
