France Télévisions has successfully implemented a hyper-mobile broadcasting solution in collaboration with TVU Networks for its Paris 2024 one-year countdown talk show. The broadcaster leveraged cloud technology to streamline content production, enabling live coverage from challenging locations with reduced hardware and infrastructure.
New Workflow Enhances Flexibility
Skander Ben Attia, Engineering Director at France Télévisions, highlighted the need for a more flexible approach to live story coverage. “We were searching for a solution that would allow us to rapidly overcome accessibility challenges while also reducing our carbon footprint,” he stated. The new workflow utilizes TVU’s cloud solutions for production, remote collaboration, and intercom management, along with the TVU RPS One for synchronized multi-camera live content capture.
Successful Live Event
The broadcaster showcased the effectiveness of this approach during the Paris 2024 countdown talk show on July 26th. France Télévisions produced nearly four hours of live content, including three continuous hours on the ‘franceinfo’ news channel and a half hour on the ‘Paris Idf’ regional news journal, with additional streaming on Twitch.
The multi-location and multi-camera event took place aboard a moving boat in Paris, with limited space. The setup involved four cameras positioned on the boats and one mounted on a motorcycle following the action along the Seine River. Two more live broadcasts occurred simultaneously in separate locations in Paris and Ukraine. All seven live feeds were seamlessly synchronized using TVU Producer’s cloud production platform.
Technological Integration
To address cellular bandwidth challenges on the moving boats, France Télévisions employed two Starlink Maritime systems and a 5G network. The TVU RPS One backpack transmitter with integrated 5G modems transmitted synchronized signals from multiple cameras to the remote cloud production platform, aggregating connectivity from both 5G and Starlink.
A motorcycle on land was also equipped with a TVU One 5G transmitter for capturing additional footage. This setup facilitated seamless collaboration among team members, much of which took place remotely from a France Télévisions studio.
Cost Savings and Efficiency
“The live show performed flawlessly,” noted Romuald Rat, TechLab Director at France Télévisions. “Beyond enhanced storytelling and flexibility, we achieved significant cost savings. With TVU Transmitters powered by Starlink and 5G, combined with seamless cloud integration, we estimate a minimum of 30% in technology costs.”
Oliver Martinez, Director of News Production at France Télévisions, added that these savings enable the broadcaster to produce more content with internal teams. “By reducing onsite requirements and setup times, we can cover more events and meet the demands of viewers,” he explained.