Telestrators – A Must-Have for Broadcasting Sports and Weather

About the Project

Did anyone not watch Super Bowl LVI this past weekend? The Rams poetically secured their first Super Bowl title as a LA team at SoFi Stadium. There were plenty of crypto and electric truck ads, and all of Gen Z wondered why their parents were so hyped for the halftime show. While there were many important and famous attendees, one familiar face was missing. The late great John Madden, who has been an important part of the NFL for a good 50 years, received a touching tribute prior to kick off. The legendary coach and broadcast icon changed football on television and pioneered all kinds of innovations when it came to televising the game.

Did you know that John Madden was the first American sports broadcaster to use the telestrator? During the 1982 Super Bowl between San Francisco and Cincinnati, Madden used the telestrator, a device that allows its user to freehand sketch on top of a moving video, to give detailed commentary on the game. Since then, Madden not only has used the device to provide insightful analysis but also gave witty humor as well. The telestrator has come a long way since 1982 and is now widely used in the broadcasting of all major sports and e-sports.