SVG Sit-Down: Ross Video’s Karen Walker Provides Update on spidercam Integration, Busy Summer Ahead

With Ross’s global reach, spidercam has significantly enhanced visibility

In the nearly two years since Ross Video announced its acquisition of spidercam, the Austria-based aerial-camera-system provider has been gradually integrated into the Ross portfolio. In addition to significant advances in spidercam’s systems integration, the company has benefited from having a larger sales team and backend support behind it. In addition, according to Karen Walker, VP, camera motion systems, Ross Video, the visibility of spidercam has grown significantly, thanks to Ross Video’s global reach.

SVG sat down with Walker to talk about the progress of spidercam under the Ross umbrella, the company’s busy summer season, its work with Ross Production Services, near-term and long-term goals, the impact of live drones on its business, and how use of wired-aerial-camera systems continues to grow.

Ross Video’s Karen Walker: “Originally, spidercam primarily served European customers, and now the U.S. side of the business has more than doubled.”

How has the transition gone since the deal was announced in 2022? Is spidercam fully integrated into the Ross Video ecosystem? What examples or synergies have you seen?
We always planned to integrate spidercam gradually, and I think we’ve done that well. There have been significant advancements in our systems integration, and it has benefited from having a larger sales team behind it. We are continuing to integrate the backend operations. But the visibility of spidercam has exploded: a lot more people know about spidercam now that it has the Ross name behind it.

Originally, spidercam primarily served European customers, and now the U.S. side of the business has more than doubled since we acquired them. Of course, that’s Ross’s home ground, where we have a strong network and brand presence. One of the first projects that came through Ross was in a football (soccer) stadium in Morocco. An existing Ross customer, Morrocco SNRT, was referred to us by a partner because they wanted to add a spidercam for some of their big games. That was the first time spidercam had worked in Morocco, too.

What are spidercam’s big plans for the summer? What are some key events you’ll be working on?
We have a lot of big plans this summer. spidercam has been in multiple stadiums for the 2024 Euros. And there’s a huge sporting event in Paris, where we have a double-digit number of systems being used. We also have systems currently being used by the Canadian Football League, where we’re covering several games. Outside of sports, we recently did the CMA music festival in Nashville and the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo. Of course, we are still doing many cricket events: we are currently involved in the current T20 World Cup in the Caribbean and USA.

How are you working with Ross Production Services (RPS), and how has this cooperation benefited both parties?
The spidercam team still operates somewhat separately, but we work very well together when the opportunity arises. The level of separation is to leverage each team’s expertise, mainly because the spidercam team is exceptionally skilled in the logistical side of things, like optimal placement of winches, safety considerations, and how to maximize flying space, which requires precise adjustments and training. We work closely with RPS, who have their own sales team, and that’s primarily how we’ve been working together. They tend to bring any opportunities that would benefit from having a spidercam, and we work collaboratively to make it happen for those customers.

What are your near-term goals for spidercam, and what’s in the pipeline in terms of the technology roadmap and evolution of the company?
Our key focus in the short term is on expanding how we can use stabilized heads, which are essential for the operation of the spidercam dolly. We’ve been working with several manufacturers to enhance that integration and increase their usage.

We’ve also seen a growing demand for VR and XR applications using spidercam, which involves significant cooperation and integration with third-party stabilized heads. In addition, we are developing more safety features such as collision-avoidance systems, particularly for indoor uses, especially as we’ve seen a growing demand from customers looking to experiment with spidercam in indoor spaces. Looking further ahead, we plan to develop more-compact solutions for smaller event spaces and potentially even broadcast and virtual studios.

As live drones become more commonplace in sports productions, how can users choose between drones and cable-based camera systems as the right solution for the job?
There’s definitely space for both, and it depends on your specific needs. Both systems have their limitations and advantages. spidercam’s range is limited by cable length and setup, whereas, although drones are less limited (except by battery life and radio-frequency range), you face stricter regulations around their use. You can also rarely use drones in populated areas or airspace.

In terms of cost, both setups involve significant investment. Still, the scale of spidercam’s infrastructure can be more costly. However, due to regulations, drone operations also require specialized training and certification; we now have two certified drone pilots on the Rocket Surgery team.

Drones and spidercam provide similar image quality, but drones can be noisier, especially indoors; spidercam is quieter due to its wired system. That has significant advantages in sports: for example, so as not to distract the players. Noise is one of the biggest factors in making that decision for most customers we’ve worked with. Safety must be a consideration; wired systems could be considered safer because they’re less prone to accidents than free-flying drones.

Ultimately, the choice between using a drone or spidercam depends on the specific requirements of the event, noise sensitivity, and the budget available.

How have you seen the wired-aerial-camera business evolve over the years? Are you seeing these systems used more frequently on mid- and lower-level events?
Cable camera systems like spidercam are being used more frequently, not only in high-profile events but also in mid-level and lower-level events. They are becoming more accepted in the market because they’re seen as safer and allow more-creative applications. I recently had a conversation with Arsenal Football Club, where there’s a strong desire to innovate and emulate what the NFL has achieved with dynamic video production: new camera angles, shots, and exciting ways to bring the audience closer to the action.

We’re also continuing to see a lot of innovation in sports, such as women’s soccer in the UK, where there’s a faster pace of adopting new filming techniques. These efforts are part of a broader move to attract new audiences by providing different viewing experiences. Recently, a major cricket league we work with added a 360° camera to spidercam to try to enhance the “second screen” experience for people watching the game in the stadium and on their phones.

We enjoy working with sports leagues of all tiers, but niche and newer sports are great because they’re always willing to try new things. They know they need to offer different, engaging ways to experience their games to attract and keep younger and more diverse audiences; they must keep innovating. That gives us a lot of opportunities to show what spidercam can do.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.