Latin America. As part of the alliance announced by the NFL in July 2024, making Sony an official technology partner, this year's Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara was no exception.
Sony innovated in imaging technologies, covering all angles of the game, incorporating Hawk-Eye technology which replaces the "Chain Gang" as a consistent and efficient way to measure the line to gain after a ball is placed on the field, among other things.
Super Bowl LX was the first to be played using Sony's NFL Coach headset, which debuted at the start of the 2025 season. Inspired by Sony's leading 1000X series of headphones and designed to optimise sound quality and maximise durability, comfort and clarity, these headphones have supported coaches and staff from all 32 teams with consistent reliability in high-noise, high-pressure environments and in all weather conditions. This year he led the strategic communication that guides the most critical moments of the match.
As every year, Sony's imaging technology played a key role in capturing and sharing all the Super Bowl LX action in both video and still photography. In total, more than 175 Sony cameras were on and around the pitch on match day, including several HDC cameras for high-frame-rate broadcast and capture, as well as many Alpha camera bodies such as the acclaimed Alpha 1 II and Alpha 9 III models, and E-mount lenses, including G Master.
Sony's Hawk-Eye technology, the NFL's Virtual Metering system, was also used for the first time in a Super Bowl. The system provides a consistent and efficient line-to-gain measurement result once the ball is located on the field. Sony's Hawk-Eye video and replay technology was also used to support refereeing and video reviews on all eligible plays.
"Technology plays a central role in how the NFL continues to evolve the game," said Aaron Amendolia, the NFL's deputy director. "Sony's integrated systems, whether it's refereeing data or communicating on the sideline, help us deliver a faster, clearer and more consistent experience on our larger stage."
Innovation in Image
NBC Sports deployed Sony's cameras and lenses throughout its broadcast coverage of Super Bowl LX, supporting everything from main game coverage to specialized capture, Skycam solutions and on-field features. Sony's imaging systems helped provide NBC with the clarity, speed and reliability needed to deliver the most-watched live broadcast in the United States.
Sony's imaging technology also played a critical role in supporting on-site production teams and band photographers, including The Associated Press and the NFL's in-house photography and media teams. From shallow cinematic depth of field to high-frame-rate capture and wireless mobility, Sony's cameras and lenses supported the visual narrative that ensures Super Bowl LX lasts well beyond game day.
Equipment used by NBC Sports included 37 Sony HDC broadcast cameras (35 HDC-5500 and 2 HDC-4300), 18 Sony HDC point of view cameras (6 HDC-P50A, 11 HDC-P50 and 1 HDC-P31), 5 Sony cinema cameras (3 PXW-FX9 and 2 PMW-F55), 2 Sony PTZ cameras (one ILME-FR7 and one BRC-AM7) and 3 aerial/specialist cameras (2 ILX-LR1 and 1 HDC-P50).
It is worth mentioning that this year's NFL halftime show was captured with 11 Sony VENICE 2 digital cinema cameras, 3 Sony BURANO digital cinema cameras, and 1 Sony FR7 Cinema Line PTZ camera.
New sports technology
In addition to the virtual measurement, referee replay and video support mentioned above, this year saw the first fully integrated optical player and ball tracking environment, powered by Sony's Hawk-Eye Innovations.
Sony's Hawk-Eye SkeleTRACK system records 29 points per player and 3D ball tracking. The SkeleTRACK system, in combination with Zebra Technologies' RFID wearables, together provides a player tracking system that enhances the league's ability to analyze on-field movement and ball position with greater clarity and consistency.
