Wireless live streaming capability unlocked by Sony
Sony has announced new functionality that will allow newsgatherers to wirelessly stream live footage directly from cameras as they shoot, in a move set to speed up production workflows. Building on Sony’s wireless technology, several of the PXW-series XDCAM camcorders will now be capable of streaming footage live, while Sony’s CBK-series wireless adapters will be able to unlock live streaming for any camera with an SDI connection.
The technology will help to unlock the flexibility and efficiency needed in the competitive world of modern broadcasting, bringing a cost-effective solution for live streaming to organisations of all sises. Sony’s wireless adapters and camcorders will enable streaming directly to broadcast stations or mobile production units, from anywhere, via 3G, 4G, LTE, or WiFi transmission to Sony’s PWS-100RX1 Network RX Station.
The entire streaming solution is underpinned by Sony’s QoS technology, which prevents packet loss during the streaming process, which can degrade or freeze images and disrupt audio. Users will also be able to upload their content directly to cloud solutions such as Sony’s Ci through constant automatic uploading. By completely automating this process, cameramen will be able to easily create cloud-based backups of all footage. What’s more, Sony’s Catalyst suite of production tools can be used to prepare footage before it reaches editors, including reviewing, logging and transcoding directly from the camera.
The technology was developed in consultation with multiple news cameramen and several broadcasters including ITV News, which has already successfully trialled its upgraded CBK-WA100 adapters.
The PWS-100RX1 Network RX station will be easily installed in broadcast stations or mobile production units to receive the live streams, with a recommended price of €6,000. Recommended pricing for Sony’s CBK-WA100 and CBK-WA101 wireless adapters is €1,000. Internal live streaming capability will now be included in Sony’s latest XDCAM camcorders, including the PXW-X180, PXW-X200, and PXW-X500.