ESPN Provides Drone Racing to its Lineup

ESPN has nabbed an not likely spouse within the sports activities leisure area.

The World Drone Racing Affiliation (IDRA) has signed a multi-year world distribution deal to deliver drone racing to the tv community. The game is about to change into the following nice racing pageant, along mainstays like NASCAR and Components 1.

“Drone racing offers somebody the facility to fly like a superhero,” Scot Refsland, chairman of the IDRA, stated in a observation. “As a result of everybody can revel in the fun of racing as though they have been sitting within the drone cockpit, the game is skyrocketing.”

Relatively self-explanatory, the interest sees contestants fly small, multi-propeller airplane at prime speeds round a race route. At the floor, pilots put on goggles (pictured) to observe are living video from a digicam fixed to their drone. Spectators, in the meantime, can view the race thru their very own goggles, on-line, on TV, or in individual.

August’s U.S. Nationwide Drone Racing Championships in New York would be the first IDRA match on ESPN. The race, hung on Governors Island from Aug. 5-7, guarantees “jaw-dropping” perspectives of decrease Big apple and the Statue of Liberty. There may be additionally a drone racing house for children.

“We look ahead to offering drone racing enthusiasts a bigger platform to get right of entry to this thrilling international,” ESPN Director of Programming and Acquisitions Matthew Volk stated in a observation. “Drone racing is a chance to achieve and connect to a rising and passionate target market.”

Can not make it to New York for this yr’s festivities? The U.S. showdown, as neatly the 2016 International Drone Racing Championships in October, shall be streamed are living on-line by way of ESPN3. The broadcaster may even air a one-hour particular on an ESPN community following every match.

Till then, take a look at the slideshow above for photographs from a drone rodeo at CES.