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"The original NFL broadcasts with that magic yellow first down line were synthesized with similar hardware" That was originally an XFL innovation.

• strictnein 2y ago
  I'm pretty sure it was ESPN and the NFL? The creator of the tech seems to indicate that and 1998 predates the first go around with the XFL. https://www.sri.com/press/story/the-first-down-marker-how-technology-changed-the-game/ https://www.sri.com/press/story/the-first-down-marker-how-te...
  • dataflow360 2y ago
    The company with the original tech was called Princeton Video Imaging, in NJ. I interned for them one summer in... 1996? They had sold their tech to Padres and Giants broadcasts initially to put ads on the outfield. The first down line came a bit later and was a much better use of their tech. Princeton Video Imaging even got a shout out (1-line) at the end of every NFL game for a while.
    • emchammer 2y ago
      This sounds a lot like the system which drew the halo and trails on the hockey puck for NHL games, FoxTrax.
      • dunham 2y ago
        Yeah, it's been a while, but I recall hockey getting it first, people not liking it, and then it working out for the football version.