For people who pay more attention to the screens above the court than the game below, the kiss cam is a highlight. It shows up at basketball, baseball, and hockey games, and it’s a key part of arena entertainment. The above video shows how it all actually works — from the minutiae of the selection process to the business model that keeps the kiss cam running.
The kiss cam, behind the scenes
The history of the kiss cam is surprisingly hazy — Alan Siegel at Deadspin wrote the best possible history of the segment, but it’s hard to track down just who invented it. The economics, however, are easier to understand — video boards (and programs that play on them, like the kiss cam) are a key part of how modern arenas make money. Those big screens bring in a lot of cash.
But it might be the minute-by-minute processes of kiss cams that are most interesting — and most opaque — to regular fans. From awkward kisses to over-the-top makeout sessions, the kiss cam is both spontaneous and meticulously planned. This video shows how a director, control room, and camera operator work together to make it happen.
