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The Paris 2024
Olympic flame relay broadcast, executed by France Télévisions and TVU Networks,
serves as a pioneering achievement for reducing CO2 emissions by 300 tons and
slashing the budget by 70% compared to traditional live production methods.
article here
In what is
considered to be a first in broadcast history, the workflow used a cloud-based
private 5G network to stream 10 hours of live coverage a day over 80 days,
beginning May 8.
“Broadcasting live
the journey of the flame is a unique offering, rightly aligned with France
Télévisions’ ambitious editorial stance for covering the Paris 2024 Olympic and
Paralympic Games,” Laurent-Eric Le Lay, director of Sports at France
Télévisions, states.
“This innovation
gives editorial teams the ability to produce more content with greater
adaptability and responsiveness, while controlling costs and maintaining the
quality standards,” adds Frédéric Brochard, CTO and CIO at the broadcaster.
This approach,
innovative for even simple live productions, is said to be groundbreaking as it
applies to every facet of production for an event of such scale and complexity,
including live feeds, multi-camera switching, graphics, commentaries, audio mixing,
intercom and playout.
In a recent webinar
hosted by TVU Networks, the participants explained the planning and workflow
for the relay, which is still traveling its 1625 km journey around France.
For a start, using
a private 5G network was essential for live broadcasting in areas with poor
network coverage. Developed by the broadcaster with TDF and Nokia, this private
network operated on a dedicated frequency to avoid interference and delivered a
low latency (approximately 50-90ms) and high bandwidth (around 500 Mbps).
Starlink antennas,
typically used on boats for their ability to track multiple satellites, were
used to ensure continuous connectivity. This setup included a mobile unit with
antennas mounted on vehicles following the flame.
Cloud Production
AWS provided the
backbone for cloud production, enabling real-time processing and distribution
of live feeds. This allowed the production team to handle up to 10 hours of
live broadcast per day with eight cameras and multiple relay points.
Cloud-based tools,
notably TVU Producer, enabled management of the entire broadcast remotely,
including video mixing, real-time comms, and adding in graphical overlays.
“TVU Producer and
our synchronization tools allowed us to manage live broadcasts seamlessly,
ensuring high-quality video and audio integration,” noted TVU cloud engineer
and sysadmin Cristian Prieto.
A Remote
Commentator app allowed commentators to provide real-time commentary from
remote locations with minimal latency.
Eight cameras were
deployed, with signals transmitted through antennas on vehicles. These cameras
included both mobile units and stationary setups at key relay points. The
mobile units were equipped with TVU One transmitters, ensuring reliable live
streaming.
France Télévisions
broadcast engineer Amy Rajaonson explained: “The compact and portable setup was
crucial for following the relay across different regions. Our equipment was
designed to be self-sufficient, ensuring continuous operation throughout the day.”
TVU’s system
dynamically selected the best network for transmission, using both private 5G
and public 4G/5G networks to ensure optimal performance.
The results were
high viewer engagement with 1.2 million unique viewers and 80 million video
plays in the first two weeks.
By minimizing the
use of helicopters and other traditional broadcasting equipment, the project
cut nearly 300 tons of CO2 emissions and cutting production emissions by 12
times.
“It’s about working
together, challenging what we accept as possible,” said Paul Shen, CEO of TVU
Networks. “This isn’t just a milestone; it’s a wake-up call to the industry.
The future of broadcast is here, and it’s accessible, sustainable, and opens up
endless possibilities for bringing more content to fans everywhere.”
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