Already used in American Football, Canadian Football, and many other sports for quite some time, WWE now has point-to-point Skycam available. This is a camera system that allows for smooth, sweeping camera movements throughout a venue. Imagine gliding over a crowd, following a wrestler's high-flying maneuver from an aerial perspective, or switching from the ring to the entrance ramp with ease. This can create a more appealing viewing experience, and is now possible.
WWE also has several other new camera systems designed to capture the action from unique perspectives. These include the techno-crane for closer shots of the action in the ring, and indoor / outdoor drones for capturing backstage arrivals and unique perspectives of the in-ring action.
These technological advancements will significantly enhance the fan experience in several ways. One of them is that the dynamic camera movements and close-up shots will create a more immersive viewing experience, making viewers feel like they're right in the arena. Another is that the use of drones will provide distinctive angles that haven't been seen before in WWE broadcasts, adding a new level of visual excitement and innovation to the product.
Even the classic and popular overhead camera shot will benefit from this production upgrade. Imagine seeing a perfectly executed suplex from directly above, with every detail of the impact – the wrestlers' expressions, the way their bodies hit the mat – captured in stunning clarity thanks to the higher resolution cameras. This enhanced clarity, combined with improved lighting and color grading, will make even this familiar angle fresh and more impactful.
The camera systems could also be used to enhance storytelling. For example, a dramatic close-up of a wrestler's face could be shown after someone turns heel on them, the Skycam could smoothly circle a new champion celebrating in the ring, or a sweeping Skycam shot could be done during an angle in a match to get a bigger reaction from fans before showing wide shots of the crowd reacting to the angle. In addition, drones could be used for backstage video, providing the WWE Universe with access to the production process and giving them a deeper connection to the show.
The journey to this stage of the pro-wrestling industry began when independent promotions started using streaming services. When WWE announced that Raw would be leaving USA, it was unknown where the program would go, but the most likely decision was that WWE would choose a streaming service, especially considering the fact that the company had already partnered with Abema. In the end, WWE chose Netflix, in order to reach a wider audience and generate new revenue streams. This will set a new standard by making streaming the main way for major promotions to broadcast their products, along with creating new and innovative ways to use streaming in the future.
WWE's investment in this cutting-edge technology signals a shift in how wrestling is presented to fans. As streaming becomes increasingly dominant, with the number of video streamer users worldwide expected to increase to 4.6 billion by 2027, other promotions will follow suit, adopting similar technologies to enhance their own productions. This will usher in a new era of wrestling broadcasting, where the viewing experience is more immersive, dynamic, and engaging than ever before.
In December 2023, I looked at how WWE is an industry leader and how it could reboot live events in the future- a future that could feature drones, lasers, and much more. Based on what is being presented by the Raw on Netflix era, that potential future is becoming more real.
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