ITV SPORT CHANNEL INTRODUCE HAWK-EYE SYSTEM

ARGUMENTS OVER the offside rule or whether the ball has crossed the goal-line are set to get some high-tech help as the new ITV Sport Channel introduces missile tracking technology to their live coverage.
The innovative Hawk-Eye system, pioneered by Channel 4 for their cricket coverage, has been adapted to help solve some of the most contentious issues in the game.
Hawk-Eye uses six specialist cameras to create a three-dimensional track of both the ball and any player, with the cameras working out when an object enters a field of view. A camera is placed behind each goal, with the others being positioned between the goal-line and the halfway line on each side of the pitch.
The innovation will be used on more than 65 Live Nationwide League games and Worthington Cup ties being screened by the ITV Sport Channel, which launches with Manchester City verses Watford on August 11.
Creator of the Hawk-Eye application, Dr Paul Hawkins, said: "For the first time in history Hawk-Eye will be able to prove whether or not a player is offside and also whether the ball has crossed the goal-line. Had it been available in 1966, we would know whether Geoff Hurst's goal really did cross the line in the World Cup Final."
Hawk-Eye will enhance viewers' enjoyment of the game and will be used for a number of applications to help analyse the play, the speed and amount of swerve on free-kicks or corner kicks, the movement of players throughout the 90 minutes and how the ball and players react under different weather conditions.
The ITV Sport Channel will show 65 Nationwide League Division One games, 15 Division Two games and 40 UEFA Champions League games and is available through ITV Digital and ntl. (CD)