ABC, Telstra drones to capture NYE fireworks from 1000ft

Drones flown by both the ABC and Telstra will add a bird’s-eye view of Sydney’s New Year’s Eve fireworks to TV and online broadcasts tonight.

Source: Telstra

The national broadcaster is touting its live-to-air drone-filmed coverage of the 9pm and midnight fireworks as an “Australian television first”.

It plans to send two purpose-built quadcopters equipped with HD cameras and broadcast links 1000 ft above Sydney Harbour, which will feed live video to feature in its annual New Years Eve broadcast, alongside footage from nine harbourside cameras and a manned helicopter.

The remote aircraft will be flown by licenced pilots and will hover within the firework exclusion zone, a spokeswoman explained to iTnews.

The broadcaster has obtained approval from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to fly the drones at 1000 ft during the event.

"We're thrilled to be able to use this exciting new technology during our broadcast, to give audiences a spectacular and unique view of the world-famous Sydney New Year's Eve Fireworks," said the ABC’s special events boss Justin Holdforth.

Telstra's NYE drone

Its machines will be joined by two more drones flown by Telstra, which has also created its own custom UAVs to capture 360 degree footage of the pyrotechnics.

Telstra's NYE drone

The Telstra drones will also fly at 1000ft and feature six HD cameras each. Telstra will make its footage available after the event via a custom Sydney NYE app, to viewers in Australia and overseas.

Users will be able to switch between different camera angles as they watch the display.