SBS Golf Teams Up with LiveU for Live Production of Professional Men and Women’s Golf Tournaments
LiveU's IP-video technology replaced traditional RF equipment and cabled cameras resulting in significant cost reduction and higher efficiency
The Challenge
SBS Golf, a leading South Korean public television sports channel, part of SBS Medianet, looked for a more cost-efficient, streamlined solution for its live production of the 2023 professional golf tournaments. Its aim was to replace traditional Radio Frequency (RF) equipment and cabled-cameras, which were both costly and inefficient, requiring line-of-sight requirements, and longer set-up times. The need for extensive cabling and RF systems, including the deployment of a crane, hindered the agility required for the dynamic coverage of the tournaments.
The Solution
SBS Golf turned to LiveU with its IP-video solutions and on-site workflow, offering a portable and more cost-effective alternative. Multiple LiveU field units were used around each golf course, connected wire-free to the LiveU receiver in the production van or other outside broadcast (OB) facility. The camera crew simply turned up on the day with the LiveU backpacks, free to follow the players around the course. Live feeds were transmitted in real-time from the units via the on-site receiver to linear TV and online destinations. LiveU’s reliability was also a key factor in the decision, following extensive testing of the LiveU EcoSystem underpinned by its LRT™ (LiveU Reliable Transport) protocol. The technology’s resiliency had been proven in adverse weather conditions.
We became fascinated by the possibilities enabled by LiveU, seeing that we were good to go so quickly – with lower costs and less work! There's no heavy labor required before each tournament where previously we had to set up lengthy cables and RF systems, including a crane 40 meters up in the sky. We also saw the resiliency of LiveU's technology for ourselves when the units continued to operate in a thunderstorm on Jeju Island. Our reporter was able to carry on interviewing the players with no interruption. LiveU's portability means that our camera crew can follow each player as they take their shots, creating a truly immersive fan experience. It fascinated us that we could even stream live from the halfway houses (snack bars), something we couldn't do before with RF due to signal loss."
Young-min Kwon, Executive Producer, SBS Golf
The Results
The implementation of LiveU’s IP-video technology brought about transformative results for SBS Golf in its production of over 50 KPGA (Korea Professional Golf Association) and KLPGA (Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association) tournaments. The live coverage was successfully transmitted live on its linear pay-TV channels, digital channels and YouTube Live to millions of golf fans in the region.
SBS Golf has now doubled up its LiveU deployment for the 2024 season, and LiveU is also being used by the SBS Sports channels for other sports coverage nationally and overseas, including baseball, boxing and volleyball. This is expected to include SBS’s coverage of the upcoming Summer Games in Paris.