Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra revolutionizes sports broadcasting with innovative camera perspectives

Samsung Electronics, a global partner of Street League Skateboarding (SLS), has announced the use of its Galaxy S26 Ultra smartphone to film a live SLS competition for the first time. The device was utilized during the SLS DTLA Takeover on April 4. The Galaxy S26 Ultra’s professional-grade camera is redefining the role of mobile devices in sports broadcasting, providing a fresh visual experience that mirrors the intensity of skateboarding.

The evolution of sports broadcasting is now focusing on bringing fans closer to the action by positioning cameras in closer proximity to the event. Samsung is at the forefront of this transformation with the Galaxy camera system, which combines connectivity and mobility to deliver broadcast-level performance. Earlier in the year, the Galaxy flagship device was used to stream the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. Partnering with Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS), Samsung integrated Galaxy devices throughout the venue, adding a new layer of visual storytelling that enhanced traditional broadcast coverage. This capability was also demonstrated at the Galaxy Unpacked 2026 event, showcasing its potential for professional-grade video capture and transmission.

Samsung is now extending this innovation to skateboarding competitions by embedding the Galaxy S26 Ultra into key course features such as rails, ledges, and gaps for the entire SLS 2026 season. This initiative scales the Galaxy point of view (POV) approach first introduced at the 2026 SLS Sydney stop.

“Mobile innovation is unlocking new possibilities for how sports are captured and experienced,” said Joshua Cho, Executive Vice President and Head of the Visual Solution Team, Mobile eXperience (MX) Business at Samsung Electronics. “At Milano Cortina, we showcased how Galaxy technology can enhance traditional broadcast systems. With Street League Skateboarding, we’re applying that approach directly to the course with our latest, most advanced camera device, capturing skateboarding from entirely new perspectives.”

By embedding devices throughout the course, Samsung offers skater-level perspectives, capturing angles that traditional broadcast systems often miss. This footage is integrated directly into the live production workflow, enabling near-instant replays and offering viewers a fresh visual experience that highlights the sport’s intensity.

Skateboarding is characterized by speed and precision, often with details missed from a distance. By placing mobile cameras directly inside the course, Samsung is reimagining the sport’s presentation, bringing fans closer to every mid-air movement, board flip, and landing. These perspectives provide deeper insights into technique, timing, and control, strengthening the connection between fans, the sport, and the athletes.

Equipped with Samsung’s most advanced mobile imaging system to date, the Galaxy S26 Ultra performs in fast-paced, unpredictable environments akin to the athletes themselves. It delivers professional-grade camera performance and high-quality footage across diverse shooting conditions, with enhanced stabilization and intelligent processing ensuring clarity even in low-light or high-speed settings. This allows it to work alongside conventional cameras while maintaining stability and detail in spaces traditional broadcast cameras find challenging to access.

The strategic placement of Galaxy S26 Ultra devices follows the rhythm and flow of each run, revealing the style, speed, and precision of each trick within the course. Features like Super Steady with horizontal lock stabilization help maintain smooth, level footage during high-speed motion, while Instant Slow-Mo enables detailed replays of tricks in real-time. Together, these features allow production teams to capture skateboarding with greater clarity, stability, and proximity, showcasing the precision, style, and technical skill behind each movement.

“Skateboarding is reaching a broader audience than ever before, especially as the sport continues to grow globally,” said Brett Clarke, Chief Revenue Officer at Thrill Sports, the parent company of Street League Skateboarding. “Collaborations like ours with Samsung help us evolve how the sport is shared with fans while staying true to the creativity and culture that define skateboarding.”

The introduction of Galaxy S26 Ultra POV integration at the SLS DTLA Takeover marks a new direction for sports broadcasting. As the SLS Championship Tour progresses, Samsung will continue to explore how mobile technology can evolve into versatile broadcast tools. Looking forward to major global sporting events and the path to Los Angeles 2028, this development suggests a future where the line between smartphone and broadcast cameras continues to blur, bringing fans closer to the action.