TriCaster® 2 Elite at the heart of IBC’s 5G Remote Production Accelerator Program
By Adam Noyes
At IBC 2020, NewTek and LiveU were able to utilize new technology to initiate a remote live production in 5G. NewTek paired the new TriCaster 2 Elite with the LiveU Solo to take advantage of 5G connectivity, at a sophisticated, high level. This kind of streaming goes beyond smartphones, and is potentially game changing, with the business aspect of 5G and streaming with Non-Public Networks.
It is also worth nothing that the TriCaster 2 Elite is a cutting edge production system from NewTek, that is only distributed by NewTek, at special approval. However, it is certainly worth following the latest advancements and products coming out of teams using this production system.
NewTek recently posted a great article, talking about utilizing 5G acceleration with the TriCaster 2 Elite. Check out some highlights from that article, below.
With IBC 2020 reduced to online-only presentations, the IBC’s Accelerator Program switched rapidly to address challenges broadcasters face today with not only adopting and understanding 5G networks, but also the ongoing pandemic and the digital transformation of content in general.
“The Accelerator programme was a framework put together by the IBC to facilitate innovation and in particular collaboration between broadcasters, studios and other content providers,” said Mark Smith, leading the programme at IBC. “There are many challenges affecting the sector–transformation to IP for production workflows, disruptive technologies like AI, or new distribution networks that are coming online like 5G and others.”
The IBC formed a consortium of ‘champions’ made up of ten broadcasters plus six technology providers including NewTek. The deliverable was a live, online broadcast featuring content originating from the RAI Amsterdam, IBC’s office in London, a boat on an Amsterdam canal, shoreside outside Viacom’s Amsterdam studio HQ, and aerial drone shots all via 5G. All signals were sent to London through various means where a TriCaster® 2 Elite production system ingested and switched all incoming signals into a live presentation to online viewers tuning into IBC Showcase 2020. There would be no rehearsals.
The live transmission on September 10, 2020 included a panel discussion from London and the 5G-enabled shoot controlled by AI cameras from the boat on the canal featuring musical artist Emma Heesters. Links between the boat and shore included a view of equipment configurations behind the scenes, plus a live link to a discussion at the RAI.
Everyone involved worked remotely without ever once meeting in the same room until the day before the event. Bare minimum crews at each location made simple adjustments to things like camera placements a challenge. The first trial run was the actual live stream in front of broadcast industry peers, testing nerves and 5G networks simultaneously. It became the most watched IBC Showcase 2020 event video.
