Oar-some: ViaLite Links Power Boat Race TV Coverage

Comprehensive worldwide TV coverage of the Oxford and Cambridge boat race has again been delivered with the help of ViaLite RF over fiber Broadcast Links.

Due to the low power consumption of ViaLite’s OEM units, the event could be televised using remote, battery operated equipment positioned along the route of the race. This enabled cameras to be connected wirelessly, even from a helicopter, with the signals sent back over the fiber backhaul links to broadcast vehicles and studio operations.

“Broadcast operators continue to value our fiber optic links thanks to their exceptional reliability, wide dynamic range and small form factor,” said ViaLite Business Development Manager, Amair Khan.

ViaLite links can easily cover the distances involved in large scale sporting events such as these. RF over fiber also has the advantage of being lighter and faster to deploy than copper coax and can be easily integrated with existing networks.

The boat race course is 4 miles, 374 yards long, stretching between Putney and Mortlake on the Thames in South West London. It is regularly attended by over 250,000 spectators and watched by many millions on television worldwide.

In the first race for three years due to COVID, the men’s event was won by Oxford while Cambridge triumphed in the women’s race with a record time of 18 minutes 23 seconds.

For more information on ViaLite RF over fiber systems, please contact us.

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