San Diego-Based Sony Electronics Inks Technology Deal With NFL

SAN DIEGO, CA — Sony Electronics and the National Football League announced a deal Wednesday naming Sony as an "official technology partner of the NFL."

The San Diego-based subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America will also become the league's new official headphones provider.

The partnership includes an expansion of Sony's sports technology through Hawk-Eye Innovations to support officiating and the development of on-field and sideline technologies, including a new coach's sideline headset that will debut in the 2025 season.

The NFL and Sony will work to develop the headset supporting coach-to-coach communication on the field, officials said. The units will be powered by Verizon Business' Managed Private Wireless Solution running on Verizon's 5G network.

Sony's Hawk-Eye tracking services will be utilized to further enhance the accuracy of game-critical items like line-to-gain measurement.

"Building upon a long-established relationship, the NFL looks forward to embracing prominent industry leader, Sony, as an official technology partner," NFL chief information officer Gary Brantley said. "Advancing technology on and off the field is a top priority for the NFL, and this partnership will fortify Sony's role in the NFL's ever-growing technology ecosystem, elevating various dimensions of our sport and bringing fans closer to game-day action."

Neal Manowitz, president and COO of Sony Electronics North America, said the company is "committed to creating the future of sports with technology, and constantly driving innovation to positively impact the world of athletics for players, coaches and fans alike.

"... This partnership stems from years of integration into the NFL across these many different areas, and we are excited to officially join forces and pursue our passions together with one of the largest sports organizations in the world," he added.

Financial terms of the deal were not announced. The NFL's former contract with Bose to provide the league's headsets expired in 2022.

— City News Service