SatLink Communications streams first underwater 4K live broadcast

Friday (12 September) saw SatLink Communications enable streaming of the world’s first underwater 4K video, captured by a 4K-enabled smartphone, to millions of viewers as part of the Eilat Red Sea competition of underwater photography.

Audiences were able to view live broadcast from the team of 200 divers, instructors, professional photographers and production crew as they gathered for a 20m dive along a shipwreck in the Red Sea.

The groundbreaking film was streamed live from two HD cameras and a smartphone located on the seabed and transmitted by HD cable to the surface.  SatLink provided full production including HD underwater cameras, connectivity to SNG and live broadcast of the Guinness-breaking film on satellite and via web streaming to YouTube.

Speaking ahead of the event, David Hochner, CEO of SatLink, commented: “The live filming of this dive from a smartphone shows how far we can push the limits of 4K broadcast. By streaming live via YouTube we are also opening up the viewing potential to thousands as anyone with a computer or a Wi-Fi enabled smartphone will be able to watch the dive in a live format.  This creates the capacity for record breaking viewing.”