ESPN today announced it will debut ‘ESPN Virtual 3’ – an innovative technology which illuminates the 3-point line for every 3-point shot attempt – on Saturday, Jan. 30, for the second edition of NBA Saturday Primetime on ABC. The Cleveland Cavaliers and LeBron James will host the San Antonio Spurs and LaMarcus Aldridge at 8:30 p.m. ET. The technology will be utilized for all NBA Saturday Primetime on ABC broadcasts this season.
Tim Corrigan, senior coordinating producer, NBA on ESPN:
“ESPN Virtual 3’ will provide a subtle, yet impactful new way to enjoy an element of an NBA game. It will give viewers instant clarity on whether a three-point shot has been attempted, which hasn’t been consistently evident during a live telecast.”
The ‘ESPN Virtual 3’ technology will illuminate the 3-point line in red. In the event of a successful 3-point shot attempt, the three-point line will remain illuminated until the ball transitions to the other team. For a missed 3-point shot attempt, the illumination will end instantly.
‘ESPN Virtual 3’ is the latest in a long line of ESPN’s technological innovations, designed to enhance the viewer experience, including 1st and Ten, Pylon Cam and K-Zone.
Jed Drake, senior vice president, production innovation:
“This has the potential to enhance our basketball coverage much in the same way that our Emmy Award-winning systems have done for football, (1st and Ten), and baseball, (K-Zone). In some respects ‘ESPN Virtual 3’ completes a trilogy of enhancement on our major sports properties.”