Tech focus: Is 5G in live sports still on track to realise its full potential?

Several high-profile use cases, including the Commonwealth Games in 2022 and the Olympic flame relay in 2024, have showcased the potential of 5G for live sports broadcasting. But with a usable approach to network slicing still in development, and the underlying business model yet to fully solidify, it could be some time yet before it becomes a live production mainstay.

The view that 5G holds tremendous potential for live sports – not least in streamlining remote productions and reducing costs related to conventional uplink facilities – was expressed consistently during interviews for this piece. But so too was the belief that a further period of network upgrades and the refinement of an effective means of network slicing will be required before this potential can be completely realised.

Jean-Christophe Perier is chief marketing officer at Globecast, whose notable 5G-related trials include a collaboration with Orange a few years ago to deliver remote production of 4K contribution over 5G on behalf of France Télévisions Overseas during the Grand Raid ultra-trial race.

“The level of interest in 5G for sports is high, but people are having problems,” he says. “By which I mean the ecosystem between the customers, service providers and equipment providers is still developing, and so there can be an issue for users in being confident about the solidity of the business model. Technologically speaking, it is very interesting; financially speaking, it’s still quite challenging.”

But it’s clear Perier expects these issues to be gradually resolved in the next few years. He points to “improvements in performance and price-point” in various areas of 5G provision, including orchestration, and indicates that the eventual availability of “large scale slicing” – thereby making public 5G networks suitable for professional use as well as privately operated ones – will be a critical turning point. Once that is in place, he foresees huge opportunities for 5G-based contribution by presenters and commentators as a significant application: “I would suggest that the main scenario is absolutely on the contribution side for about 80% of users.”

Flexibility, speed, reliability

Jean-Christophe Albou, sales director Europe at TVU Networks, indicates that interest in 5G among broadcasters is continuing to grow steadily as the technology provides “the flexibility, speed and reliability needed for modern production demands”.

He goes on to cite multiple applications, including remote production, where it can enable synchronised, multi-camera productions from remote locations; ultra-low latency transmission for real-time feeds and interactions during live sports events; increased mobility due to the ability to utilise lightweight, portable set-ups; and cloud integration for content editing and distribution from the field.

Many of these capabilities feature in TVU Networks’ recent high-profile deployments, which include a collaboration with France Télévisions during Paris 2024 to broadcast the Olympic flame relay live.

“Using a 100% cloud-based system over a combined 5G and Starlink network, France Télévisions covered 10 hours of daily live footage across a 1,625km journey during two and a half months. This innovative use case highlighted the benefits of 5G for remote, high-quality event coverage with reduced costs and environmental impact,” Albou explains.

Another recent project, revolving around the 2023 DFL Supercup at Munich’s Alliance Arena and conducted in collaboration with the German Football League (DFL), illustrated the potential for 5G to work at scale for the most challenging productions. Delivered from a venue housing more than 75,000 fans, the 5G live broadcast was achieved without a conventional satellite truck: “The technology enabled live broadcasts from a crowded stadium, showcasing its reliability in high-density environments,” he adds.

Innovation enabler

Albou’s point about 5G supporting innovative new workflows and additional services is echoed by Michel Bais, managing director 5G services at Vislink. “The industry recognises the transformative potential of 5G, particularly for enabling ultra-low-latency video streaming and supporting more dynamic and immersive fan experiences,” he says. “While traditional wireless technologies remain integral, 5G is viewed as a key enabler of innovative formats like multi-angle replays and real-time augmented reality overlays. The quick set-up time is a key factor in enabling production to teams to quickly move between filming locations and equipment, allowing efficient broadcast schedules.”

“The level of interest in 5G for sports is high, but people are having problems. By which I mean the ecosystem between the customers, service providers and equipment providers is still developing”

Bais highlights three primary applications for 5G in live sports: remote production, where it can support broadcasters sending “high-quality video streams from multiple cameras directly to centralised production hubs”; real-time contribution feeds from mobile transmitters, facilitating “flexible and dynamic coverage in fast-paced environments”; and support for numerous devices simultaneously, enabling applications such as live streaming alternative camera angles or interactive viewer options for immersive options.

Vislink is already providing a variety of solutions for 5G-based production, reveals Bais: “Our bonded cellular transmitters, such as the Dragonfly V 5G and LiveLink, leverage 5G networks to deliver high-quality, low-latency video streams, ensuring smooth coverage even in challenging environments. Dragonfly enables body-worn or drone-carried cameras to transmit live images, while LiveLink provides a flexible solution to enable users to change location quickly. These solutions are designed with open standards, allowing seamless integration with various camera vendors and production setups.

“On top of this we offer the HCAM5G clip, which turns our standard COFDM transmitter into a hybrid transmitter using both 5G and RF at the same time. This enables seamless coverage between technologies, for example from both inside and outside a stadium, perhaps following a team from their bus through their journey into the stadium, and out onto the pitch.”

Surveying the market, it seems almost certain that 5G-related innovation will continue to be determined by requirements including flexibility, scalability and compatibility. For instance, Bais notes that Vislink is “committed to leveraging the power of open standards, ensuring our solutions remain compatible with a wide array of camera vendors and production ecosystems. On the horizon, we are exploring AI-driven optimisation to maximise bandwidth efficiency and quality, even in congested networks.”

With 5G infrastructure and services continuing to develop, it’s likely that we will see even more creative and commercial opportunities emerge for live sports – even if it might take a little longer than some might have originally expected.