Danny Gorog20 March 2008, 2:10 PM
The future of watching sport involves hanging a TV round your neck, with the technology showcased at the F1 Grand Prix in Melbourne this past weekend.
If you were lucky enough to score a ticket to the Melbourne Grand Prix this past weekend you might have noticed race-goers carrying portable TVs around their necks. The technology is called Kangaroo TV and it's a mobile media device that gives event goers access to TV streams that are being broadcast around the race track.
Actually, Kangaroo TV is more than just a product - it's a system that lets viewers interact and get multiple TV streams, event information and race statistics. Kangaroo TV (the company) takes a live video and data feed and re-broadcasts it on its own network. Anyone with a Kangaroo TV around their neck can tune in.
Kangaroo TV runs on the UHF Frequency and video is encoded in MPEG4. The device only weighs 400g and comes with two Lithium Ion batteries which provide up to six hours continuous usage.
Kangaroo TV literally puts the race in your lap
I asked Nadia Petrossi, PR Manager for Kangaroo TV 'Why Kangaroo? Was an Australian behind the business?' She assured me however, that the name has nothing to do with Australia but is rather a description of the way you are meant to 'hop-around' TV channels on the unit. After spending the weekend with one, I agree with her.
At the Melbourne Grand Prix, Kangaroo TV provided spectators, including me, with access to the F1 international broadcast feed, in-car cameras, local and international commentary, official race timing, scoring,leader-boards and real-time stats. The unit is dummy-proof and operated via a five way control pad and four shortcut keys which provide easy access to common functions (like flicking between on-board cameras and the main feed for instance).
Kangaroo TV gives you access to in-car feeds plus stats - all on one screen
While I've been a regular race-goer for thirteen years, I've never felt as in-touch with the race as I did with Kangaroo TV around my neck. There are super-screens around the track that display the main race feed, but having the ability to change channels, listen to alternate commentary and watch live-timing right in the palm of your hands is something that feels like it's from the future.
Developed in conjunction with the Champ Car World Series in 2002, and since expanding its repertoire to include NASCAR Sprint Cup series, NFL Sunday Ticket and now Formula One, a six-year agreement will see Kangaroo TV coming back to Australia next year, definitely for Formula One, and possibly for the V8 series as well. If you're a race goer the daily rental fee of $80 or a weekend rental fee of $120 is well worth it.