Covid-19 times require innovative approaches to meet the challenges presented by social distancing while fulfilling the desire for fresh sports programming.
Schweizer Radio und Freshen (SRF) Swiss Radio and Television, a Swiss broadcasting company asked SFL to help televise “The Inspiration Games” an exhibition Track & Field event starring world-class athletes competing against one another simultaneously, while they remained in their home countries. SFL’s 13 person crew traveled in-state to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida for the 3 days of testing and rehearsal resulting in a live streamed show that aired prime time in Europe on July 9th.
SFL teamed with LiveU and Thaler Media to insure a seemless production. Isolation video and audio feeds where streamed from 6 cameras strategically positioned to cover Pole Vaulting, 200, 150 & 100 yard sprints sprints along with the Triple Jump. This was accomplished utilizing the latest bonded-cellular network technology and fed back to control rooms in Zurich, Switzerland with minimal time delay.
The mid-summer heat and a few last minute rain showers presented the only location challenges. Athletes and track officials where able to monitor the European broadcast over laptops using the Vmix video return platform so that they could monitor the live program feed including competition times, attempts and final results.
SRF Network was pleased with the final show and their sponsors including UBS and BMW where part of an innovative broadcast technique that sets the current standard for future athletic competitions where travel restrictions and Covid-19 safety require athletes to compete virtually anywhere in the world.