The Premier League will broadcast audio of conversations between players and referees during live matches for the first time this season, expanding its RefCam system.
The audio will be used by the league's domestic television rights holders, Sky Sports and TNT Sports, during live broadcasts. The head-mounted RefCams, which became a permanent feature of top-flight coverage last season following a six-week trial, previously provided only visual replay angles of match incidents.
Not all on-field dialogue will be made available to viewers. Selected conversations will be broadcast during replays of the plays involved, with audio captured from the camera mounted on the referee's body. The system will not be deployed in situations where the Video Assistant Referee, or VAR, is involved in reviewing a play. If a match incident proceeds to VAR review, the corresponding audio will not be released.
The expansion of the RefCam system aims to enhance the viewer experience by providing additional perspective on key moments during matches. The audio component represents a new dimension to how broadcasters present match coverage to fans watching at home.
The implementation follows the successful integration of the RefCam visual system, which was introduced as a trial at the start of last season before becoming a permanent fixture in Premier League broadcasts.
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