Sport lovers will never forget the date of 10 July 2024, when 32-year-old Estonian slackliner Jaan Roose became the first person in the world to cross the Messina Strait by foot.

Roose, three times slacklining world champion, walked a distance of more than 3.6km on a 1.9cm wide slackline rigged 265m above sea level over a body of water that runs between the island of Sicily and mainland Italy. For almost three hours he put on an impressive show of skill, focus and balance, marking a milestone in his career and creating an epic experience as the astonished audience watched on.

After nearly three hours, Roose successfully surpassed the previous longest slackline walk of 2,710m. He fell just a few metres out from the finish line, short of achieving a new world record. Despite this, he made history and Videe was there to show it to the world.

The event was broadcast live on Mediaset TV channel 20 and live streamed on TGCOM24 and Sportmediaset.it, as well as being shown on Red Bull’s YouTube channel and Red Bull TV. The  coverage resulted in an unprecedented audience share for channel 20, with an average share of 3.7% and peaks of 6% (compared to a slot average of 0.2%), equalling 160,000 average viewers and more than 730,000 people reached.

Based on their experience in challenging projects and on their ability to closely cooperate with clients in order to find innovative, reliable and efficient solutions, Red Bull Italy partnered with Videe for the technical production of the event.

“For Messina Crossing, we needed a partner with a solid background in broadcasting events with a potential global reach. Our goal was to create an engaging narrative of Jaan’s challenge, and the choice of the camera plot was to keep viewers’ attention, considering the length of the venture (almost three hours). In addition, we had to create a simulcast for the Italian audience (Mediaset TV channel 20 along with the Sportmediaset and TGCOM24 websites) and secure a retake on two global outlets (Red Bull’s YouTube and Red Bull TV). From the very first preparation meetings, Videe proved to be a reliable and flexible partner, with a strong aptitude for problem solving and a team of professionals with an unparallel know-how. During the preparation, we had to adapt our set-up for the live streaming, and our partner has always been proactive in finding the right solutions,” declared Matteo Fabbroni, Red Bull Italy’s content manager.

“We’ve been very excited about the project since the beginning,” said Marco De Anna, sales manager & production coordinator Videe. “We focused on it and together with Red Bull we conceived the technical project and customised the most suitable broadcast system. We love challenges and this was definitely one of the most particular we’ve ever faced. Teamwork was key as it created a very stimulating working environment.”

Videe was responsible for the breathtaking aerial, terrestrial and nautical filming. To achieve that, the company managed a remarkable technical provision which included two OB trucks, two SNGs, three drones and a boat. The production units and AV equipment were deployed in both Calabria and Sicily, the latter hosting the TV compound.

“We were in charge of a really challenging shoot and live coverage. We put in place a complex technical system where point-to-point RF technology was combined with IP infrastructures and fibre links, to cover long distance TV shooting positions. In particular, we succeeded in connecting the two OB trucks located in Calabria and in Sicily relying on long-range IP bidirectional radio links at 480Mbps as well as in remote controlling the cameras that were set up in Calabria from on board the HD12 OB based in Sicily. All signals were then received and managed on board the HD12, where we produced both the unilateral feed for Mediaset TV and the international feed for Red Bull.

“High altitude was another demanding condition we tackled: to get wide, middle and close up shots we provided handheld and PTZ cameras on platforms that were hanging at 80m and 220m high. Our camera operators were really excellent in delivering top-end images,” commented Roberto Pischianz, chief broadcast engineer, Videe.

A boat and three drones completed the technical provision. The boat followed Roose’s itinerary step by step and had the Mediaset TV reporter and a camera operator onboard. To secure high precision, low vibration and the highest level of accuracy, a Ronin stabilised handheld system was provided, too. The boat also served as the operational base of the drones. In addition, a 4-channel LiveU unit was connected to the main OB truck through a 4G network.

“The challenging high altitude and the windy strait’s environment meant specific attention had to be paid to security measures, equipment transportation and camera stabilisation systems. Our team showed the highest professionalism, concentration and skill to cope with whatever situation,” declared Gino Campagna, R&D and technical department coordinator, Videe.

To enrich the audience’s experience, Roose wore a body cam to get his POV shot. “After careful analysis, we selected an ultra-compact and ultra-light 4G camera that met the specific constraints: 250g in weight, low latency and a six-hour battery. The choice proved excellent and the audience could enjoy a unique view between the sea and the sky, thus putting themselves in Jaan’s shoes,” said Andrea De Bortoli, technical sales manager, Videe.

“I feel ‘jaantastic,” was the comment by a happy Jaan Roose just seconds after reaching the pylon in Messina. He was interviewed at the flash position that was set up and managed by Videe on the 200m-high pylon.

“I am very satisfied with our relationship with Videe and I believe their presence was crucial for the project outcome,” concluded Fabbroni.

“Videe proved to be a strategic partner in demanding productions where cutting-edge technology is queen and team and experience are king. Over the last year we have boosted our presence in the world of sporting events, which was one of our main targets. Our commitment to innovation and excellence has been key to our success and to the strengthening of our brand awareness at the international level, paving the way for new and exciting opportunities in sports broadcasting,” commented Giulia Mercuri, sales coordinator, Videe.