Connecting Sport Relief fundraisers on the high seas to the BBC One Show posted: 21/03/2016
Six celebrities joined an experienced team of Volvo Ocean Race veterans to sail from Belfast to raise money for Sport Relief. The on-board reporters used the media centre to tell the story. The addition of newly launched RazorLink technology from Livewire Digital enabled network acceleration, traffic prioritisation and bonding of satellite and cellular services.
VOR65 yachts are designed for speed not comfort, and sailors and equipment alike must be capable of taking a 24 by 7 pounding. The on-board equipment needs to survive the physical battering as well as the corrosive nature of salt water. Couple this with a working environment that is noisy, cold, cramped, damp and moves in three dimensions and it is easy to see why it is named the broadcast studio from hell . Two highly experienced on board reporters (OBR'S) Matt Knighton and Sam Greenfield were tasked with making sure that all angles were covered.
Cellular and satellite networks on-board the VOR65 used for the Hell on High Seas challenge were aggregated using RazorLink
All equipment, including the four 1080i custom waterproof HD cameras and waterproof microphones, are powered from the yacht's 24V DC battery bank; the media workflows have to be simple and always come with a backup plan.
The communication system is key and can make use of all available links. This means using cellular when close to shore combined with satellite links when in isolated waters. Not just for media, the communications system is also used for downloading weather files, delivering real time telemetry and providing Internet access for the crew and celebrities.
Access to the Internet is through the services shown on the right hand side; two Inmarsat Fleet Broadband satellite terminals and four cellular modems. The yacht side network has a wired LAN and a wireless access point mounted on the stern of the yacht.
The Network Controller in combination with RazorLink manages the services . The Network Controller is responsible for establishing the appropriate satellite connections and managing the different types of traffic generated on board.
RazorLink bonds the satellite terminals and cellular services, making more bandwidth available to the on-board systems. In addition it accelerates data transfer by overcoming the inherent issues of satellite delay and cellular packet loss. This allows on-board systems to optimise use of the available bandwidth. When the yacht is within cellular coverage data rates in excess of 40Mbps were available. As cellular coverage drops off, the Inmarsat services transparently become the main stay, RazorLink bonds the data services of both the FB250 and FB500 satellite terminals, providing in excess of 500Kbps to the on-board systems from virtually anywhere in the world.
The Inmarsat terminals offer telephone and a range of data services. The Media Station makes use the background data service for general file transfer and Internet access, and the streaming services for Live video feeds. The streaming service guarantees a particular Quality of Service (QoS) and bit rate. For the Sport Relief challenge, Inmarsat made changes to the satellite network to allow the FB500 terminal to establish 384Kbps streaming connections. Previously, the fastest Fleet Broadband streaming service was 256Kbps, so another first providing higher quality live feeds.
The on-board system was configured to deliver both Live and File based media to the BBC's RazorLink enabled M-Link server.
File based media was encoded as H.264AVC at 4Mbps, a good compromise between quality and the transmission rates of the Fleet Broadband terminals. Higher encoding rates were chosen when in good cellular coverage.
Live feeds could be operated directly over the Inmarsat Fleet broadband services at up to 384Kbps, but where there was good cellular cover RazorLink allowed full HD profiles to be used that adapt to the network conditions.
Operating media and satellite equipment on a racing yacht will always be very challenging and an important aspect is line of sight. The OBR could examine a 3D model of the yacht showing the line of sight to the satellite for each terminal in real time.
The RazorLink enabled media system was used to great effect during the challenge; moments of high drama were captured using the delay line. Daily live interviews were conducted during the One Show throughout the week, these were complemented by store and forward footage that had been captured, edited and transmitted during the day.
Most recent headlines
17/02/2025
TVBEurope talks to the team who brought a piece of broadcasting history back to life on BBC Wales last night
By Jenny Priestley
Published: February 14, 2025 ...
17/02/2025
Eligible studios will receive the relief directly from their local authorities, with no need to submit a claim
By Matthew Corrigan
Published: February 17, 20...
17/02/2025
As DEI initiatives come under pressure in the USA, supporters of Rise, which promotes diversity in the media and entertainment sector, discuss the continuing im...
17/02/2025
EIB Global loan will partially fund SES's continued O3b mPOWER medium earth orbit (MEO) fleet expansion enabling additional capacity worldwide. O3b mPOWER s...
15/02/2025
At Nielsen, Business Resource Groups (BRGs) play a critical role in nurturing a ...
15/02/2025
Innovation to empower creativity: Explore the latest in Lightroom
Rob Christensen February 15, 2025
0 Comments
Whether you want to remove distracting ...
15/02/2025
Wisycom, a worldwide leader in RF technology and provider of wireless solutions, announces a new distribution agreement with EQUAPHON. An Argentinian profession...
15/02/2025
DPA Microphones, the leading manufacturer of high-quality microphone solutions, is pleased to welcome Nicholas Nick Mariano and Vincent Vince Divine to the ...
15/02/2025
Tuxera, a leading provider of quality-assured file systems and networking solutions, will showcase how Tuxera Fusion SMB enables unprecedented performance for m...
15/02/2025
Bitmovin's latest Video Developer Report indicates an increasing role of AI, the slow adoption of next-generation codecs, and continuing challenges when it ...
15/02/2025
When Michelin Enterprises set out to promote its prestigious Hotel Guide in the new Sleepless in the Kitchen , campaign, veteran German/Slovenian gaffer Robert...
15/02/2025
Formula E, the world's first all-electric racing series, revolutionizing motorsport with cutting-edge technology and a commitment to sustainability has sele...
15/02/2025
Agile Content, a global leader in TV and video technology solutions, announces its rebranding to AgileTV.
The transition to AgileTV stems from a commitment to ...
15/02/2025
Hiltron Communications will promote the latest additions to its range of satellite communication products, systems and supporting services at GovSatCom 2025. Th...
15/02/2025
Following the success of the original Airglow Booklight, DoPchoice debuts a new addition to their inflatable line the Float. This lightweight, inflatable, round...
15/02/2025
LAS VEGAS Marshall Electronics has announced that it will debut its newest camera controller, the RCP Plus, at the 2025 NAB Show at Booth N2649 between April 5 ...
15/02/2025
ATLANTA Gray Media has named Blake Sebo as the next general manager of KTUU and KYES, Gray's NBC and CBS affiliates in Anchorage, Alaska....
15/02/2025
KOKKEDAL, Denmark DPA Microphones will feature its new CORE+ technology for distortion-free microphone sound at the 2025 NAB Show, April 5-9, in Las Vegas....
15/02/2025
SWANSEA, U.K. QuickLink will launch StudioPro-NDI and StudioPro-3, two new models of its QuickLine StudioPro video production platform, at the 2025 NAB Show, Ap...
15/02/2025
Live From 2025 NBA All-Star Game Weekend: After 25 Years, Turner Sports All-In F...
15/02/2025
NASCAR Driver Cam on Max Embraces Cloud-Based Workflow for 2025 Season Chris Brown of WBD Sports says Mobii will play key part in delivering signals from the tr...
14/02/2025
Last month, we officially launched the Spotify Partner Program, a powerful new m...
14/02/2025
From an island off the coast of Lutruwita to the global stage in France SBS & ...
14/02/2025
The future of electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) land systems is evolving so that ...
14/02/2025
Here are 5 reasons why you should attend ISE 2025
Discover more about Calrec: Learn more about Calrec's legacy of innovation in broadcast audio solutions ...
14/02/2025
World Radio Day: On the same wavelength
By Graham Murray, International Sales Manager at Calrec
To mark World Radio Day, Calrec's International Sales Ma...
14/02/2025
DALLAS and TYSONS, Va. Tegna has concluded a broadcast rights agreement that makes Tegna's KFAA in Dallas the exclusive local television partner of the Dall...
14/02/2025
Amazon's Prime Video has released a new app for Apple TV that the streamer said delivers an improved streaming experiences with faster scrolling, improved s...
14/02/2025
CLEVELAND Telos Alliance announced a software update for its Axia Quasar XR and SR line of audio-over-IP (AoIP) mixing consoles and will show the offering at th...
14/02/2025
Puget Systems Returns to HPA Tech Retreat 2025 with New Analysis Tools for Puge...
14/02/2025
Glass Animals: Tour of Earth Uses Blackmagic Live Production Workflow
Brie Clayton February 14, 2025
0 Comments
80six deploys Blackmagic URSA Broadcas...
14/02/2025
A dispute between Paramount and Youtube TV that would have pulled CBS stations and Paramount's cable channels from the streaming service has been temporaril...
14/02/2025
Colourist Deidre (Dee) McClelland details how she helped shape the distinct look and feel of whimsical Oscar-nominated stop-motion film, Memoir of a Snail
By C...
14/02/2025
BitFire said it intends to introduce forward-looking services that simplify the launch of live production workflows, and enhance real-time collaboration
By Jen...
14/02/2025
The claim by the liquidators is the latest twist in the ongoing saga of the companys collapse at the end of 2021
By Matthew Corrigan
Published: February 14, ...
14/02/2025
A carriage dispute between YouTube TV and Paramount could come to a head today (Feb. 13), with the virtual pay TV provider threatening to pull all of the progra...
14/02/2025
ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J. LG Electronics USA has opened a new in-house, state-of-the-art virtual production studio at its 360,000-square-foot North American headqu...
14/02/2025
NEW YORK In a bid to help local broadcasters find new ways of monetizing their content, the Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement (CIMM) and TVB have relea...
14/02/2025
WASHINGTON Three Democratic U.S. Senators have sent a stern letter blasting FCC Chair Brendan Carr for the weaponization of the agency for attacking broadcast...
14/02/2025
Years after launching the streaming service Apple TV+ in November of 2019, Apple has finally released a version of its steaming app for Android devices....
14/02/2025
FOOTHILL RANCH, Calif. Red Digital Cinema will make its V-RAPTOR [X] and KOMODO-X camera systems available with Nikon's premier Z Mount, providing filmmaker...
14/02/2025
DAYTONA, Fla. The Fox Sports production of this year's Daytona 500 will see the addition of a few new tech elements and the continued unfolding of the broad...
14/02/2025
Watch Bryson Battles Blind Audition on The Voice Get a Four-Chair Turn Michael Bubl said the Boston Conservatory at Berklee musical theater senior might have...
14/02/2025
2025 Daytona 500: FOX Sports Looks To Ride Super Bowl LIX Momentum Into NASCAR S...
14/02/2025
14 Feb 2025
VEON's Kyivstar and the Come Back Alive Foundation Raise USD 2....
14/02/2025
Max Renews THE PITT, Starring Noah Wyle, For A Second Season
Max
Warner Bros. Television Group
The Pitt
New Episodes Of The Medical Drama From John...
14/02/2025
This year, Technicolor proudly celebrates 110 years of shaping the magic of cinema pioneering color, visual effects, and innovation that bring unforgettable l...
14/02/2025
NBA All-Star: More Games, More Teams, More Music, More Sound From the Court Turner Sports' team will deploy familiar tech to capture all the audio By Dan D...
14/02/2025
LIV Golf Continues To Innovate With Drones, Data-Driven Graphics, and All-Access...
Connecting Sport Relief fundraisers on the high seas to the BBC One Show posted: 21/03/2016 
