Extreme production: One Water Race pushes the limits of live broadcast
The camera crew for the One Water Race needs to be as fit as the athletes to capture the action
For athletes ready to push themselves to the limit, the gruelling One Water Race, which takes part in a vast Swedish archipelago, is a test of physical and metal limits. This year LiveU’s mobile transmission solutions enabled over 50 hours of live coverage of this extreme long-distance race from the ground, water and air.
Far away from any comfort zone, the One Water Race – which took place from 20 to 22 August 2024 – takes contestants through dark woods, rocky landscapes and the rough sea, covering a distance equal to running six marathons. However, there is no predefined track to follow; the contestants need to find their way through the Stockholm archipelago, which is the largest of its kind in Sweden, comprising of 30,000 islands and stretching over an area of 1,700 square kilometers.
A total of 10 teams competed in the 2024 edition of the One Water Race, spending over 50 hours in constant motion and without sleep as they ran, climbed and swam to make it to the finish line.
Extreme production
For the second year running, it was filmed with multiple cameras and broadcast live around the world. In order to capture the teams’ journey from various angles, the contestants were accompanied by a 90-strong production crew, including multi-camera equipped ultra runners, boats with skippers, ENG teams, as well as drone operators.
Yet this race is not easy to capture. Faced with wild nature and over two days of non-stop action, the One Water Race presents a challenge to the video crew following the contestants along their routes. From the planning stages it was clear that the production would push both humans and technology hard in the bid to provide an uninterrupted live broadcast from remote locations, with no connectivity or power.
As the athletes were constantly on the move, the production required a fully mobile set up. Moreover, it was crucial to source compact, light video gear that could be carried on-person, without adding unnecessary weight. The fact that the teams were in different locations during the race further increased the complexity and required a remote production.
The One Water Race organisers chose LU300S, LiveU’s lightweight, portable encoder, to transmit live feeds from various handheld cams and drones
Handheld plan
Following successful tests, the One Water Race organisers chose LU300S, LiveU’s lightweight, portable encoder, to transmit live feeds from various handheld cams and drones. A total of 13 units were deployed in the field. With the internal battery of the LU300S lasting several hours and the option to add an external battery, the camera operators did not need to worry about powering the units via cable.
The connectivity challenge was solved by LiveU’s cellular bonding technology. Each LU300S utilised multiple mobile networks to deliver a rock-solid live signal to the OB truck stationed at the NEP facilities in Stockholm. This is where the final program feed was produced and distributed to broadcasters worldwide, serving 190 countries. It also aired on 10 digital platforms so viewers could experience the One Water Race thrill live online.
Says Thomas Ogander, founder and CEO of One Water Race: “A production as complex and demanding as the One Water Race calls for the right solution, the right equipment, and the right partner. With LiveU, we have the confidence to cover every angle of the competition, ensuring exceptional quality and bringing the thrill of the Swedish wilderness directly to audiences worldwide.”
Watch this clip about the production of the One Water Race here: