The selfie stick backlash may be in full swing, but one Australian television network is hoping the devices are the future of television.
In an Australian media first, a number of Sky News reporters will soon be filing stories with the help of a selfie stick cousin, the LiveU SmartGRIP.
Sky News -- a sister station to Sky News UK -- will be rolling out 12 units to video journalists across Australia, Greg Byrnes, channel manager of Sky News Live, told Mashable Australia in an email. He said a number of their journalists are already using the device in the field.
In a concerning development for cameramen everywhere, the SmartGrip lets reporters attach their smartphone and external microphone to the handheld device and, using LiveU’s LU-Smart mobile app, quickly transmit high-quality footage back to the newsroom.
The SmartGrips will predominantly be used for breaking news. "It means VJ’s will be able to broadcast live from the thick of the action," Byrnes said.
So far, Sky New's video journalists have apparently embraced the SmartGrip. "It’s compact, reliable and connects in a matter of seconds," he said. "Our VJ’s have always been quick to adopt new technology."
In fact, Sky News has been out front of this selfie stick-meets-news thing for a while now. In an impressive moment of multi-tasking -- walking, talking and selfie stick-holding -- Sky News UK reporter Joe Tidy interviewed British politician Ed Miliband with one in February.
This was @Ed_Miliband's first ever selfie stick interview! Good work, @joetidy! #AskTheLeaders pic.twitter.com/5s54OnyyUe— Stand Up Be Counted (@SkySUBC) February 2, 2015
Given they'll need some decent arm muscle to hold up that selfie stick for an entire live cross, Sky News reporters will soon be among the buffest in the game.