Appear has announced it has completed a proof of concept (PoC) trial with Thoroughbred Racing Productions (TRP), demonstrating reliable multi-camera remote live production over bonded 5G cellular and Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite connectivity.
Four live HD camera feeds were transported from a remote racecourse to TRP’s production facility, with two HD programme feeds simultaneously feeding back over the same bonded network, successfully validating a complete remote production workflow. The PoC aimed to demonstrate how high-quality remote production can be enabled from locations without traditional infrastructure, while reducing operational complexity.
With plans to centralise its production resources, TRP was able to determine broadcast-grade remote live production could be achieved from remote locations over cost-effective bonded cellular and LEO satellite.
An Appear X5 platform was deployed at the track with an X20 located at the production centre to validate the workflow. The four live camera feeds were encoded in HEVC and transported over Appear’s hardware-accelerated SRT across the networks. Incoming feeds were decoded by the X20, which simultaneously encoded and returned 2 HD feeds to the racecourse. The programme was reviewed and produced end-to-end as though it were a live broadcast.
The PoC took place over two racecourse, including a remote venue where heavy rain and challenging weather conditions tested the workflow’s resilience, said Appear. No video issues were reported and no operator intervention was required.
Thomas Bostrøm Jørgensen, CEO, Appear, said, “Remote production continues to transform the economics of live broadcasting, but until now its benefits have often depended on access to dedicated network infrastructure. This proof of concept demonstrates that broadcasters can reliably extend those same production models to remote venues using bonded 5G cellular and LEO satellite connectivity. By combining our unique, hardware-accelerated SRT technology with the flexibility of the X Platform, we’re helping customers rethink how and where live production can be deployed.”
“For us, this wasn’t simply about proving that the technology works; it was about validating a new way of producing live racing from some of our most remote venues,” added Charles Cole, Engineering and Technical Operations Manager, Thoroughbred Racing Productions. “The success of these trials has given us confidence that multi-camera REMI production over bonded cellular and satellite connectivity is a practical option for our regional racecourses. It opens the door to centralising production resources while maintaining the quality, reliability and operational standards our live coverage demands.”
