DRL, T-Mobile to spice up MLB game with 60-mph drones

Step #1: Schedule MLB game between the Yankees and White Sox.
Step #2: Build a special venue in Iowa replicating Field of Dreams.
Step #3: Add 5G drones into the mix.
Step #4: ?
Step #5: Profit.

Dear reader, believe it or not, all of this is happening tomorrow. Or, at least, steps 1–3 are.

Fresh off successfully installing 5G modules into its 60-mph aircraft, the Drone Racing League is bringing its 2019 champion pilot to the MLB “Field of Dreams.” He’ll be the cinematographer for the night, with DRL’s drone connected to T-Mobile’s 5G network.

• The 5G drone can stream directly to the internet, giving viewers sweeping angles and real-time shots of the game they won’t have seen before.
• DRL and T-Mobile have partnered to bring this new form of live, aerial cinematography to future games and events sponsored by the carrier.

Big picture: While 5G is full of gimmicky marketing—and you’ll probably see magenta drones in T-Mobile ads soon—this is a new, real use case.

5G drones won’t directly affect many content creators, since few are first-person view (FPV) drone pilots. But it could change how we experience live events and sports. Traditional filming rigs can’t capture the shots that a speedy drone and skilled pilot can.—RD