5G and AI top the agenda at Vislink
“We have made continuous enhancements to our 5G and AI-powered solutions over the past year in terms of performance, compatibility and efficiency of operation,” says Michel Bais, chief product officer, Vislink. “Notably, we have been featured participants in several advanced 5G trials for live sporting events.”
Vislink participated with BT Media & Broadcast and the BBC in trialling a standalone 5G private network for broadcast coverage of the 2022 Commonwealth Games. Using Vislink Mobile Viewpoint UltraLink-Air 5G cellular encoders to enable wireless camera connectivity, camera operators could roam freely within the network area during the event, as opposed to relying on broadcast cameras that connect to the outside broadcast solely using RF signals that rely on proprietary equipment. This enables the delivery of smooth, uninterrupted video feeds, and the ability to interface directly into IP-based content delivery networks utilising 5G internet connectivity.
The Commonwealth Games network trial followed an event in May where Vislink innovations were on display at the Gallagher Premiership Rugby match between Saracens and the Northampton Saints at StoneX Stadium in London. At that event, Vislink supported a BT-led project to highlight the potential for 5G in broadcast contributions, which centred on the connection of the matchday cameras to a standalone private 5G network.
“We have had several significant new product releases,” says Bais. “Including the AeroLink air-to-ground system for capturing and distributing breaking news and sporting events footage; an NFT-ready video clipping tool that offers new opportunities for fan engagement and monetisation of sports content; Vislink Cliq, a compact and robust OFDM wireless solution for tier 1 live events; and Vislink 5G 4Live, a complete end-to-end remote production system designed to provide a premium-quality, uncontended 5G private network solution.
“We also made enhancements to our AI-automated IQ Sports Producer, including the ability to use pan-tilt-zoom cameras to provide additional capture angles using broadcast-quality optical zoom, and encoding the AI-directed content for live streaming platforms. This is a compelling benefit for covering events like velodrome racing and other fast-paced live sports.”
Looking at trends in the market, Bais observes that the industry is “continually looking for new ways to monetise content in the most efficient ways possible, and solutions in AI-automation hold immense potential to realise that. We believe that this trend plays to one of our key technological strengths.”
Read more in the SVG Europe SportTech Journal 2022