History of In-Car Cameras - Sports & Entertainment Media

History of the In-Car Cameras

NASCAR television coverage was ignited by the vision of CBS Sports President, Neal Pilson and motorsports editor, Ken Squier. Before 1979, television coverage of the Daytona 500 either began when the race was halfway over, or as an edited highlight packaged that aired a week later on ABC’s Wide World of Sports. On February 18, 1979, CBS presented the first flag-to-flag coverage of the Daytona 500. That telecast introduced LIVE in-car cameras, which has now become standard in all types of automotive racing broadcasts.

At that 1979 Daytona 500, Benny Parson’s car was the first to carry an in-car camera, which Emmy Award-winning producer Bob Fishman of CBS helped develop. Parson’s car also had one in 1980. The first two years the cameras were stationary. Then in 1981 cars driven by Terry Labonte and Richard Childress were equipped with cameras that could be panned and tilted by remote control.

Two years later, CBS working with Broadcast Sports International installed a more adequate, though still a bit over-sized, camera in Cale Yarborough’s car at the season-opening Daytona 500. Yarborough won that Daytona 500, and viewers were treated to a shotgun seat of the victory with an in-car-camera view. It was such a big success, CBS decided to put a camera in both the Michigan and Talladega races. In 1986, CBS won an Emmy for its use of the in-car camera on the Daytona 500.

Very noticeably was the fact that in the cockpit the image from the giant camera only had the car number, driver name, and the CBS logo. CBS was very concerned with car racing as a whole, specifically any advertising viewed by the in-car cam since the FCC limited the amount of advertising per hour. The biggest question was if car racing was advertising or sport?

Then entered Lyn Jeffers, a true visionary and marketing genius. Jeffers, who had been working to bring team sponsorships into NASCAR in the late 70’s, realized there was potential for sponsors to gain extra exposure by selling the in-car camera.

Two years later, CBS working with Broadcast Sports International installed a more adequate, though still a bit over-sized, camera in Cale Yarborough’s car at the season-opening Daytona 500. Yarborough won that Daytona 500, and viewers were treated to a shotgun seat of the victory with an in-car-camera view. It was such a big success, CBS decided to put a camera in both the Michigan and Talladega races. In 1986, CBS won an Emmy for its use of the in-car camera on the Daytona 500.

Very noticeably was the fact that in the cockpit the image from the giant camera only had the car number, driver name, and the CBS logo. CBS was very concerned with car racing as a whole, specifically any advertising viewed by the in-car cam since the FCC limited the amount of advertising per hour. The biggest question was if car racing was advertising or sport?

Then entered Lyn Jeffers, a true visionary and marketing genius. Jeffers, who had been working to bring team sponsorships into NASCAR in the late 70’s, realized there was potential for sponsors to gain extra exposure by selling the in-car camera.

The late 1980’s is when the in-car camera and its marketability really began to take off. Sponsors and teams alike were on board with advertising in the in-car camera program and it became an enormous marketing tool. All thanks to Jeffers’ big idea.

What began as a single 50-pound awkward monster in the late 70’s is now a streamlined 4 camera system providing multiple angles to allow the audience a more complete onboard view.

Every year Broadcast Sports International leads the way with new innovations with the in-car cameras. In 2007, Broadcast Sports International debuted the in-car cameras in HD. 2011 saw a revolutionary advancement when the “dual path” system was introduced, providing simultaneously multiple live video feed within the car. 2013 the “gyro-scopic” camera was unveiled. 2014 saw the newly designed 360º cameras added to the fleet. NASCAR called for a new roof camera for teams at Kansas in 2014, as they were looking for a more streamlined looking camera. Broadcast Sports International answered the bell again providing the technology and engineering to accommodate the sanctioning body’s request. In 2017 the NASCAR Cup Series introduced yet another new roof camera. Streamlined and stylish to both fans’ and networks’ delight, the camera’s ability to intensify the coverage enhanced side-by-side racing. Midseason in 2017, Broadcast Sports International brought back the Visor Cam this time in high definition form. On the footsteps of their groundbreaking Indy Car visor cam, BSI brought fans into the stock car giving them the closest perspective from a driver’s view than we have ever seen in HD. In 2018 NASCAR assisted the networks’ request for a fourth camera in every in-car camera carrying car.

Delayed by one year due to the pandemic, NASCAR debuted the much anticipated “Next Gen” (Generation Seven) stock car in 2022. BSI working alongside NASCAR completed a full overhaul with the in-car camera system as well. A few camera components made the transition from the “Generation Six” stock car to new car but a new hub (brain of the camera system), cables, cameras, were equipped to take on the biggest challenge BSI had ever been tasked with. The sponsor supported broadcast in-car cameras received some new looks in 2022. The front bumper camera had a permanent home on the nose of the “Next Gen” car with capabilities to be used on every track including Daytona and Talladega. Another new camera to make it’s debut was the spoiler cam, mounted on the right rear side giving views through the plexiglas of the spoiler.

The side-by-side images and close encounters with wall were magnified with the new view. An additional lofty goal of having every NASCAR Cup Series car outfitted with a camera and audio was laid out for BSI. NASCAR wanted this eye-opening experience for their NASCAR Drive application on NASCAR.com. After extensive testing and post pandemic supply chain stresses, BSI was able to accomplish video and audio in every competitive Cup car in the field by August of 2022, a territory uncharted in any sports production around the world.

Every broadcast in-car camera system now is set up with four mandatory cameras; the three basic locations of the driver, roof, and rear bumper cameras are complimented with a specialty fourth camera angle. Technology advancements continue to push the limits of where cameras can be mounted and with BSI at the helm anything is possible.

Sponsors find huge returns when investing in the broadcast in-car camera program, the 2022 exposure time average for sponsors in the NASCAR Cup Series was 5 minutes and 54 seconds per race. Working on five decades; sponsors, teams, and drivers have used the in-car cameras to deliver their image in a 200-mph billboard to millions of race fans in their living room all thanks to Lyn Jeffers’ “Big Idea”.

Every broadcast in-car camera system now is set up with four mandatory cameras; the three basic locations of the driver, roof, and rear bumper cameras are complimented with a specialty fourth camera angle. Technology advancements continue to push the limits of where cameras can be mounted and with BSI at the helm anything is possible.

Sponsors find huge returns when investing in the broadcast in-car camera program, the 2022 exposure time average for sponsors in the NASCAR Cup Series was 5 minutes and 54 seconds per race. Working on five decades; sponsors, teams, and drivers have used the in-car cameras to deliver their image in a 200-mph billboard to millions of race fans in their living room all thanks to Lyn Jeffers’ “Big Idea”.