48 THE LIVE LIFE Ironman
acing events that take place over long distances (and often involve difficult terrain) are always a challenge for outside broadcast
teams. When the event is a triathlon and there is an obligation to work within a mobile broadcast environment, those challenges can be hugely magnified. This was the scenario facing video production company Next Up Digital when it was engaged to deliver a ten-hour live broadcast stream of the 2019 Ironman Australia race in Port Macquarie in May. Comprising a 3.8km swim, 180km bike course and a 42.2km run, the event was to be broadcast live to Facebook’s new platform, Facebook Watch. Given the different geographies involved, it was clear that traditional forms of broadcasting, such as RF and microwave, would not be able
to provide a reliable solution. The Next Up Digital team needed a flexible mobile solution that could transmit high-quality live streams at every stage of the event. NETWORK CHALLENGE From the start of the project, Next Up Digital creative director Andrew Forster
DOWN UNDER Ironman Australia took place in Port Macquarie and given the geography, flexible mobile broadcasting was needed
thought that Dejero might provide the solution, having had positive experiences with the technology during work at Australia’s Network Nine and Ten channels. Researching the options for the Ironman Australia race, he discovered Dejero EnGo, an HEVC-capable, 5G-ready mobile transmitter that encodes high-quality video and transmits over multiple IP connections to deliver consistent picture quality with very low latency, even in challenging network conditions. Working with inconsistent connectivity was crucial, given that Next Up Digital would mostly be making use of 4G
TO ACHIEVE THIS KIND OF BROADCAST IN THE PAST WOULD HAVE REQUIRED A HELICOPTER ANDMULTIPLE RECEIVERS
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