Your browser is out-of-date!

Update your browser to view this website correctly. Update my browser now

×

M-Link builds Bridge to yacht racers

Livewire Digital provided broadcast links to two of the finishers of the Vendée Globe, the only single-handed non-stop round the world yacht race. The two yachts were equipped with M-Link Media systems and Inmarsat FB250 terminals.

Livewire Digital provided broadcast links to two of the finishers of the Vendée Globe, the only single-handed non-stop round the world yacht race. One of the sailors, Alex Thomson (Hugo Boss) broke the British record in race, coming in 3rd in 80 days. The other, Mike Golding (Gamaesa) finished 6th in 88 days. The race takes place every four years, beginning and ending in France, and throughout the challenge both men transmitted video from some of the world’s most dangerous seas using Livewire Digital’s M-Link media delivery system. The two yachts were equipped with M-Link Media systems and Inmarsat FB250 terminals. Live interviews could be conducted with any of more than fifty mainstream broadcasters worldwide who have M-Link receive servers. Two-way interviews could also be conducted from the yacht to any standard corporate video conferencing system, via Livewire Digital’s M-Link Bridge service. File-based, or store and forward video was delivered to shore using Livewire Digital’s M‑Link Newscaster application, to an M-Link receiver installed at the Vendée Globe headquarters in Paris. This was set up so that received video files were automatically added to the producer’s content management system at race HQ with automatic alerts. Golding conducted live interviews with Meridian TV in Southampton and with the BBC World Service, as well as a two-way video conference with an audience of sailing fans on the Musto stand at the London International Boat Show. Thomson conducted live interviews with BBC Breakfast and CNN and also carried out several webcasts using the M-Link Bridge service. Thomson said: “The simplicity and flexibility of the video workflow solution from Livewire Digital has allowed me to engage with fans and race followers on a new level. I have carried out live webcasts, answering questions from my Facebook and Twitter followers, as well as live interviews with major broadcasters, both at home and globally. The flexibility of Livewire’s hosting solutions has enabled me to expand my reach to new media outlets as well as engage with everyone who has been following me throughout this race.” The M-Link newsgathering systems offer high-quality, low-latency delivery of video and audio over any IP circuit, such as Inmarsat’s BGAN. It compresses video and manages the file transfer over the satellite. www.livewire.co.uk

David Fox