What Now for CATCam?

FOX Sports' overhead camera, dubbed CATCam, malfunctioned in a particularly nasty way on Sunday night, sending at least 10 fans for treatment and causing a red flag during the Coca-Cola 600.

The overhead camera, mounted on a pulley system suspended from catenary towers at CMS, had the drive line break during the race and the cable sagged onto the track, where it was eventually hit by several cars.

While that was going on, several fans in the stands were struck by the flailing cable. No serious injuries were reported, but three fans were taken to the hospital.

All 10 fans were treated and released.

But that brings up the question: what will FOX do to improve the CATCam's safety as regards the fans as well as drivers and other race personnel?

"Everyone at FOX Sports is relieved and thankful to know that the injuries to fans caused when CAMCAT malfunctioned Sunday at Charlotte Motor Speedway were minor, and those who received hospital treatment were released last night," FOX Sports said in a statement. "As stated previously, we regret that the race was affected, and we apologize to the racers whose cars were damaged, to everyone at CMS, NASCAR, and NASCAR fans, especially those who were hurt. 

"At this time, we still do not have a cause for what happened, but a full investigation is under way, and use of the camera is suspended indefinitely. The rope is made of Dyneema, an ultra-strong synthetic that has the same approximate strength of a steel wire with the same diameter, and is less than a year old."

The breaking strength of the cable is, according to the company, more than 9,300 pounds, and FOX said the force on the cable was "less than 900 pounds."

In the effort to bring new and unusual viewing angles to its audience, FOX came up with the CATCam. It's neat, but at what cost? Had the camera crashed to the track--or worse yet, the stands--we'd be talking about this even more urgently than we already are.