Arsenal vs Brentford’s camera angle on Sky Sports has sparked a huge debate among fans online.
Arsenal, who are in good form, are playing Brentford at home in the Emirates Stadium for the 5:30 Saturday match, which is broadcast live on Sky. But the broadcaster decided to offer a different option for viewers who were watching the game.
On the Sky Sports football channel, viewers could choose ‘Game Mode’, a service that uses a BatCam camera that slides along a rail and follows the action from side to side. The visuals look like something from a football video game, and the idea is to make the viewing experience better.
It was first tested in a Women’s Super League game between Arsenal and Liverpool, before it made a big debut in Arsenal’s victory over the champions Manchester City in October. Before the game, Sky Sports’ director of production, Phil Marshall, said the company thinks the mode “has great potential for in-game innovation”.
Viewers who were watching on Sky Sports Premier League or Sky Sports Main Event had the normal camera angle, so it was just an extra option.
And as expected, the technology divided opinions – some liked the mode and others felt sick while watching.
One fan wrote: “Nah get this camera angle off @SkySports.
A second said: “What on earth is this camera angle!? Bloody awful.”
A third agreed: “What the f**k is the camera on sky sports football, looks woeful.”
But another commented: “This Game Mode camera is legit. Shout out to Sky Sports.”
A fifth reacted: “I like this new camera view option for the Arsenal game on Sky Sports Football. It’s like watching a game of Pro Evo lol.”
A final user posted: “Can we have the old camera angle back please, this new one is awful, feel sea sick..”