News Without Limits: LiveU and netorium Outpace the SNG truck for ProSiebenSat.1

The prominent German broadcaster doubles down on reliability and efficiency with LiveU Mobile Data and LiveU Matrix cloud distribution

ProSiebenSat.1, a leading entertainment and commerce player in the German-speaking region, has substantially expanded its deployment of LiveU’s IP-video EcoSystem solutions to grow its international and local newsgathering capabilities. A longstanding LiveU customer, the German broadcaster has added LiveU Mobile Data and the LiveU Matrix cloud distribution platform to its existing LiveU workflow, increasing efficiency while reducing operational costs. The deployment is being implemented in close collaboration with LiveU’s trusted German partner netorium.

The LiveU deployment runs across ProSiebenSat.1’s operations including three major free TV channels (ProSieben, SAT.1 and Kabel Eins) and its digital streaming platform Joyn, with the overarching “:newstime” news format centrally produced at its Munich headquarters and distributed across the channels.

Multiple LiveU units, including LU800 multi-cam units, are positioned across the country to cover German domestic news events, such as the recent federal election. Dedicated units are also permanently stationed in Washington DC and the Middle East for international stories. Besides this, ProSiebenSat.1 receives hundreds of live feeds from its network of LiveU-equipped production companies and freelancers. The Munich team controls and optimizes the transmission parameters remotely via the LiveU Central management platform, enabling the camera operators in the field to focus solely on capturing the best shots from the scene.

All LiveU units now run on LiveU Mobile Data packages, enabling reliable cellular connectivity from any location and roaming capabilities to be activated on demand for overseas reporting. Optimized for IP-video transport and due to LiveU’s global data buying power, the delivered video quality is even more cost-effective.

Christoph Heise,Head of Production Factual at Seven.One Entertainment Group GmbH (ProSiebenSat.1’s Entertainment division), said: “From elections to sports competitions and cultural events, LiveU gives us the flexibility to cover news stories in every part of the world right when they happen. Not only can we remote control all LiveU field units from our Munich premises, but we can also receive the camera feeds instantly and start processing them the very moment they are shot. As we expand our LiveU deployment, we’re able to increase our production pace and output significantly. LiveU has become our go-to solution when it comes to time-critical news broadcasting, which is integral to our day-to-day operations. We also greatly value the personal support we receive from LiveU and netorium for both our ongoing coverage and rental events.”

For global events, such as the Paris Summer Games, ProSiebenSat.1 makes frequent use of LiveU’s rental service, removing the need for roaming teams to travel with transmission equipment. It significantly reduces the set-up time for planned events and enables breaking news to be reported at short notice. The rental units are supplied at the event location, pre-equipped with preconfigured SIM cards.

The LiveU Matrix IP cloud-based distribution platform is also being used to exchange live feeds from news events with other stations. ProSiebenSat.1 has formed a Matrix news pool comprising all major private and public broadcasters in Germany. When there is a national or federal election, for example, the broadcasters can split up the work by assigning their camera crews to different party headquarters and other election hot spots. The various feeds are shared over the LiveU Matrix cloud platform, replacing traditional, fiber-based distribution techniques with a more cost-effective solution.  

“With LiveU established as the industry standard for IP-based video transmission, we can easily integrate their solutions into our existing in-house workflows with minimal effort”, explained Klaus Geiger, Business Architect at ProSiebenSat.1 Tech & Services GmbH. “Eliminating the need for an SNG truck, LiveU allows us to reduce logistics work and production costs – while maintaining the high-quality that viewers expect from us. As we continue to innovate the news domain, we’re currently exploring new cloud-centric production approaches together with LiveU.”

The LiveU IP-video EcoSystem, spanning live contribution, production and distribution, is designed to make live video more accessible and efficient as illustrated in this case.

Photo credits: ProSiebenSat.1/Axel Storm (:newstime Washington), ProSiebenSat.1/Nadine Rupp (:newstime Studio and control room)