Czech national public broadcaster Czech TV has updated its outside broadcasting fleet to move away from traditional satellite and landlines and towards IP connectivity.
The company has equipped 10 OB vans with LiveU’s LU810 fixed encoders and servers, ensuring reliable bi-directional IP connectivity for live contribution and return feeds.
The deployment is unique in Europe because of its inter-van interconnectivity at scale, allowing the vehicles to not only connect to central facilities but also interchange live feeds with each other across different locations, said LiveU.
With the OB vans serving as mobile studios, multiple channels can be sent instantly to the master control room (MCR), and signals sent back as a video return. The setup is used for both the production of lower-tier sports games and news stories around bigger international events.
“This project represents a major step forward for Czech Television, underscoring our commitment to innovation,” said Antonin Svach, head of OB department, Czech TV.
“Leveraging LiveU’s IP contribution technology, we can modernise our fleet—no longer bound by the limitations of costly satellite and not available landlines. We can provide live coverage for any sport, at every level—whether it’s football, ice hockey, or a triathlon, our OB vans can now connect anywhere, instantly, and exchange feeds between each other and with our master control room in Prague.”
Svach added: “Moving slowly away from a satellite and landlines-only model was essential for us. This new hybrid setup, delivered with Smart Informatics, makes our OB fleet future ready. With bonded IP connectivity at the heart of our workflow, we can adapt to any production requirement, from small competitions to national broadcasts.”
