Earlier this month Hockey Night in Canada and CBCSports.ca launched an all-access camera that online viewers will have personal control over at a near ice level perspective, making the games that much more engaging to online viewers.

The all-access camera made its debut on Friday, December 4, 2009 during the telecast of the Montreal Canadiens’ centennial anniversary game against the Boston Bruins. Viewers were able to log onto the CBC Sports website and chose where they wanted to focus their attention during the pre-game festivities and after the puck dropped.

The event was developed by Immersive Media based in Calgary, Alberta and is sponsored by Chevrolet. “It’s a cool innovation. We’re always trying to bring the event to the viewer,” said Hockey Night in Canada executive producer Sherali Najak.

The camera itself is circular and smaller than a soccer ball in size. It has 11 lenses, which work simultaneously and its different views are then pieced together by computer software giving online users a real-time, 360 degree view of the action.

“You can watch the play at your discretion,” Najak said. “It’s just something that is so user-generated, and the innovation behind it is really neat. [Fans] can use it on their own terms.”

Hockey Night in Canada and CBCSports.ca plan to make use of the all-access camera during various games throughout the season, including the NHL Winter Classic on New Year’s Day and during the 2010 NHL playoff season.