LONDON: British media company BT may have lost out on the broadcast rights of the English Premier League but will create history by showcasing a live sports event in 5G using remote production through its telecom subsidiary, EE.
Through remote production at their base in Stratford (East London), BT Sport will use this approach to increase the coverage available to viewers with more matches and faster highlights.
BT Sport will be powered by EE’s 5G network to broadcast the final of the FA-recognized Wembley Cup 2018 at the city’s iconic stadium on November 25. EE is the title sponsor of the event as well which will feature YouTube’s biggest footballers alongside international football legends.
EE has been the lead partner of Wembley Stadium too since 2014. The company has introduced several technological innovations to the stadium during this period, including delivering significant network upgrades preceding the latest 5G implementation, ensuring fans can stay connected during events. The mobile operator also worked with the Wembley team to deliver the first official Wembley app.
For broadcasters, EE will deploy 5G network slicing technology to create a broadcast grade network providing the guaranteed latency, bandwidth and quality required for live broadcast. 5G will enable broadcasters to send match footage back to base within minutes, opening up more coverage possibilities and reducing costs by reducing the number of technicians required at each game.
By adding 5G to EE’s award-winning 4G network, EE is creating a more reliable data connection even in the biggest crowds. It will increase reliability and speeds, and keep customers all connected where they need it most.
EE will be continuing the rollout of 5G in Wembley Stadium throughout 2019. It recently launched 5G trials in London and announced plans to roll out the advanced technology to 16 cities across the UK throughout the year.
BT Sport CEO Jamie Hindhaugh said: “BT Sport has a rich history of the latest broadcast innovations, whether it’s ultra-high-definition with Dolby Atmos or 360Virtual Reality. 5G will next season enable BT Sport to deploy the most advanced remote production of any broadcaster. It will allow us to cover more live matches from more leagues and competitions, and to bring fans highlights action closer to the final whistle than has ever been done before in the UK.”
BT CEO (Consumer Business) Marc Allera said: “This trial is another showcase of what our 5G network can do, and is a big part of our continued investment in using 5G across the whole of BT Group. The EE Wembley Cup Final 2018 will be the world’s first live sporting event to be broadcast over 5G, and that’s part of our ongoing commitment to innovation for our customers.”
