Apple Includes iPhones in Friday Night Baseball Coverage (Note: If the original title “Apple adds iPhones to Friday Night Baseball coverage – Six Colors” is specific to the source and publication, an alternative SEO-optimized title could be “Apple Integrates iPhones in Friday Night Baseball Coverage”)

Apple has added an exciting new element to its Friday Night Baseball coverage on Apple TV+. During last Friday’s broadcast of the Giants and Dodgers game, multiple shots were captured on an iPhone 17 Pro, much to the surprise of viewers. And the fun doesn’t stop there – during tonight’s Tigers-Red Sox game at 7 pm ET, Apple will continue to showcase the capabilities of the iPhone by positioning four iPhone 17 Pros at Fenway Park in various locations like the Green Monster, the home dugout, and among the stands.

While some may see this as a self-promotional move by Apple, it’s worth noting that the company has invested heavily in securing MLB rights. Plus, Apple has been known to experiment with different ways to enhance the viewing experience of their MLB telecasts. From helmet and body cams to cinematic depth-of-field cameras and in-stadium drone shots, Apple’s Friday Night Baseball broadcasts have consistently delivered visually stunning content.

Despite the impressive video capabilities of the iPhone, the ones used in Apple’s MLB broadcasts are limited to 1080p at 60 frames per second due to current stadium broadcast infrastructure constraints. The iPhones are equipped with the Blackmagic Camera app, allowing production teams to remotely control exposure and white balance settings from iPads in the production trailer. Additionally, the iPhones are connected to the newly announced Blackmagic Camera Pro Dock, streamlining the integration of the iPhones into the broadcast setup.

One of the advantages of using iPhones for broadcasting is their compact size, making them ideal for capturing shots in tight spaces like dugouts and providing a less intimidating presence for candid fan shots. Apple even mentioned that Major League Baseball affixed holographic “validation” stickers to the iPhones used in last Friday’s broadcast from Dodger Stadium, marking them as the first iPhones ever used to broadcast an MLB game.

This season marks the fourth year of Apple TV+’s Friday-night doubleheaders, with reports circulating about the future of this partnership beyond the current season. While there is speculation about the potential continuation of Apple TV+ on Friday nights, only time will tell if this integration of iPhones into the broadcast is a one-time spectacle or the beginning of a new trend in sports broadcasting.