FOX experimenting with adding crowd noise, virtual fans to broadcasts

It's likely NFL football will look different this fall, but it may not sound different.

If the coronavirus pandemic forces the league to play games without fans, FOX Sports is looking at adding crowd noise to its telecasts.

"It's pretty much a done deal," FOX broadcaster Joe Buck said on "Andy Cohen Live," according to John Ourand of the Sports Business Journal.

"I think whoever is going to be at that control is going to have to be really good at their job and be realistic with how a crowd would react depending on what just happened on the field. So it's really important."

The network is also looking at ways to at least make it look as though crowds are full.

"They're looking at ways to put virtual fans in the stands," Buck said. "So when you see a wide shot, it looks like the stadium is jam-packed and in fact it'll be empty."