OSN acquires Drone Racing League action
Details
Rebecca Hawkes
| 06 March 2017

Pay-TV platform OSN is introducing season one of the Drone Racing League (DRL) to subscribers across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

A nascent international sport, drone racing is fast-paced and is described as combining the thrill of action racing with a videogame-like experience. Pilots wear virtual reality (VR)-style goggles to remotely manoeuvre the drones as they speed through obstacle courses at speeds of up to 200km an hour, using videogame-type controllers.

DRL races are held in iconic locations including stadiums, subway tunnels, abandoned factories, historic landmarks, and are pre-recorded and spliced to show viewers the most intense and action-packed race moments from a combination of drone footage and cameras which are set throughout the course.

“We are bringing the hugely exciting Drone Racing League to the region, at a time when interest in future sports is rapidly gaining traction and personal drone ownership is becoming more common. As we continue to broaden the breadth of diverse and in-demand offerings to customers, we’re staying abreast of new and emerging trends so that we can continue to bring the best in sport to the region,” explained Andy Warkman, SVP, sport & sports production, OSN.

The first season of DRL can be watched on OSN Sports Action 1HD, with season two expected later this year. The global race series will culminate in a World Championship event.

“DRL is incredibly excited to partner with OSN to bring the sport of the future to the region,” added DRL CEO and founder Nicholas Horbaczewski. “OSN is an innovative partner who help DRL reach new audiences as we bring the world’s greatest drone races to new regions and one-of-a-kind venues around the world.”