Inside Look at the NBC Sports, Sony, Verizon 5G Trial at NRG Stadium Results indicate the potential for high-quality, low-latency wireless in sports production By Ken Kerschbaumer, Editorial Director
Friday, December 13, 2019 - 12:31 pm
Print This Story
Story Highlights
A recent 5G technical production trial by Sony, Verizon, and NBC Sports gave Sony an opportunity to flex its full corporate muscle: a Sony Xperia 5G mm wave device provided the data uplink for a Sony PXW-Z450 camcorder and a 5G HEVC codec, enabling broadcast-quality signals to be sent over Verizon's 5G network at NRG Stadium in Houston. A USB-C cable connected the camcorder to the Xperia device.
According to Ali Amoli, director, Imaging Productions & Solutions, Americas, Sony Intelligent Media Services, although the system is still in the design phase, the demonstration revealed that high-bandwidth, low-latency sports production via 5G is possible.
Sony, Verizon, and NBC Sports worked together on a system at NRG Stadium to deliver 1080p HDR signals via public 5G services.
Together, the Sony Professional Group and Sony Mobile are in a unique position to put these solutions together, he says. With 5G, there is more flexibility, and it is easier to set up, especially when the infrastructure is more widely deployed. And, down the road, there are a lot of possibilities with mobile edge computing and connectivity to cloud services.
The pilot project had been in discussions for about a year. According to Todd Donovan, VP, engineering technology, NBC Olympics, the NFL game in Houston was the perfect spot, given that it is one of two stadiums where Verizon has a 5G deployment that is ready to go. NBC Olympics also has a long-term partnership with Sony, so, when Donovan and his team heard that Sony was working on a 5G codec and transmission solution that could be bolted onto an existing camera, they were intrigued.
You're always looking for any sort of production or technical tool that can help with the storytelling, Donovan explains. When it comes to high-quality, low-latency wireless, we use proprietary RF solutions with specialized equipment, vendors, and frequency coordination. So the opportunity to have a more easily deployed, commodity-based system for satisfying changing requirements is interesting.
He adds that the cameras, which were not available to the Sunday Night Football crew and did not interfere with its needs, were located on the third deck at the 50-yard line and also on the sidelines. Verizon has a half dozen 5G antennas in the stadium intended to make sure the fans have connectivity, not necessarily to aid camera operators who may be on the sideline. Donovan says it was important to make sure the cameras stayed within the signal range, and the result was transmission of 1080p HDR signals at upwards of 40 Mbps over public 5G services.
The picture quality [was] really good, he says. You wouldn't think it was a public connection. Both signals arrived in time with each other, and we learned that the dynamics of 5G make antenna placement and coverage important.
Verizon and Sony are carefully looking into the trial results to evaluate network latency and discuss improvements, says Haji Kamata, GM, Sony Imaging Products & Solutions - Americas. We will continue our efforts to drive 5G-technology adoption as an innovative and flexible tool for live sports production.
Donovan's team is going to take a closer look at picture quality and other specifications.
We want to learn more about end-to-end latency and resiliency, he explains. I don't think this is meant for stadiums and arenas to replace the wired camera positions but rather to easily add a couple of wireless cameras with less planning. Or at smaller, collegiate sports events or news events in parks, it would be great to skip wiring and also have no frequency coordination.
Amoli points out that the approach's real-world deployment depends on the speed of 5G-network deployment. Sony has done tests in Europe and Asia as well, and the combination of the Sony divisions working together portends great things.
Says Kamata, There is definitely a long-term commitment between Sony, NBC, and Verizon, and specific plans for next year are still in discussion.
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
04/08/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
04/07/2026
April 7 2026, 19:00 (PDT) Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway Opens in...
01/06/2026
January 6 2026, 05:30 (PST) Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026
Throughout the week, Dolby brings to life the latest innovatio...
13/05/2026
Canon Unveils New EOS R6 V Full-Frame EOS Camera and RF20-50mm F4 L IS USM PZ Bu...
13/05/2026
Boston Conservatory at Berklee Honors Beth Morrison and Moses Pendleton at Comme...
13/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
13/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
13/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
13/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
13/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
13/05/2026
Creative software developer Foundry today announced the latest developments on Nuke Stage. A purpose-built application for end-to-end virtual production and in-...
13/05/2026
A definitive portrait of one of Ireland's most influential musicians
New TV documentary airs Monday 18 May on RT One and RT Player at 9.35pm
Watch the...
13/05/2026
Agentic AI is changing the way users get work done. Following the success of OpenClaw, the community is embracing new open source agentic frameworks. The latest...
13/05/2026
Reinforcement-learning agents - AI systems that learn by trial and error - can c...
12/05/2026
Beyond the Hype: A Strategic Post-Hoc Analysis of NAB 2026 If NAB Show 2026 had an underlying theme, it was a quiet, industry-wide pivot from the high-energy sp...
12/05/2026
Guntermann and Drunck (G&D), a Panoptec Technologies Group company, and CT Square, led by Chandresh Shah, have announced a joint venture to distribute G&D and V...
12/05/2026
With 30 days until the start of the FIFA World Cup 2026, Telemundo, the exclusive Spanish-language home of the tournament in the United States, has announced th...
12/05/2026
The NHL has announced the return of Stanley Pup for its third consecutive year, a 90-minute special featuring adoptable rescue dogs competing on a miniature rin...
12/05/2026
NBCUniversal presented its 2026 Upfront to advertisers at Radio City Music Hall, detailing upcoming programming across NBC, Peacock, Bravo, and Versant properti...
12/05/2026
FOX Sports has announced funding for the Fandom and Social Connection Initiative at Harvard Kennedy School's Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics, and Publ...
12/05/2026
TNDV and Live Media, both divisions of Live Media Group, supported live broadcast coverage around NCAA Final Four weekend in Indianapolis, including the March M...
12/05/2026
The European Football Alliance (EFA) has announced a content distribution agreement with Fubo Sports Network, the free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) channel ...
12/05/2026
For the first time, Spanish-speaking fans in the U.S. will have two separate tel...
12/05/2026
CP Communications led a comprehensive spectrum management initiative on behalf of Churchill Downs during Kentucky Derby week, coordinating RF assets across the ...
12/05/2026
LiveU has announced a strategic partnership with DRONERESPONDERS, a 501(c)3 non-...
12/05/2026
Open Broadcast Systems has announced that BMC TV, a specialist in IP transport of broadcast content, has selected the Open Broadcast Systems 5G Flyaway solution...
12/05/2026
NEP Europe, part of NEP Group, has announced it will deliver broadcast solutions...
12/05/2026
Grass Valley has announced continued collaboration with Ravensbourne University ...
12/05/2026
Stats Perform has announced the launch of Opta Pulse, an AI-assisted video creation and distribution platform for leagues, rights holders, and broadcasters. The...
12/05/2026
FOX Sports has announced a collaboration with Sesame Workshop to integrate Sesame Street characters into FOX Sports' FIFA World Cup 2026 programming. Conten...
12/05/2026
To date, NHL Productions has produced 19 broadcasts with commentary in American Sign Language
NHL in ASL (American Sign Language) may be just one show, but the...
12/05/2026
Google's Brian Albert: creators, athletes, highlights, nostalgia, second-scr...
12/05/2026
A still from Past Lives by Celine Song, an official selection of the Premieres program at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. (Courtesy of Sundance Institute | p...
12/05/2026
Spotify is where fans and artists come together, turning discovery into somethin...
12/05/2026
Features patented Marco-MMC clocking technology
Black Lion Audio's latest release combines the company's expertise in clocking with their renowned p...
12/05/2026
New Track Panel, sequencer upgrades & more
Following their recent public beta release, Reason Studios have announced the full release of Reason 14. With the...
12/05/2026
One month to go! SBS reveals expansive FIFA World Cup 2026 lineup beyond the pi...
12/05/2026
Rohde & Schwarz presents its advanced solutions for power electronics testing at...
12/05/2026
aconnic AG (ISIN: DE000A0LBKW6), Munich, has developed a modified fund raising p...
12/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
12/05/2026
Tyrell Corporation, specialists in high-end live sports and entertainment broadcasts, was tasked with delivering compelling broadcast coverage of premier equest...
12/05/2026
Registration is now open for IBC2026 as the global media, entertainment and technology community prepares to converge on the RAI Amsterdam from 11 14 September ...
12/05/2026
Ross Video, a global leader in live video production technology, will present its latest innovations and integrated production workflows at BroadcastAsia 2026, ...
12/05/2026
500 selected leaders from around the world across start-ups, corporates, and venture capital. Over 50bn in assets under management among attending investors, a...
12/05/2026
CVP, one of Europe's leading suppliers of professional video and broadcast solutions, has appointed Randy Koeman as Sales Manager, Netherlands, marking anot...
12/05/2026
Taiwan Television has expanded its HD content ingest workflow capabilities by investing in the PlayBox Neo Suite - a leading multi-channel multi-server UHD/HD/S...
12/05/2026
Jigsaw24 is strengthening its media team with the appointment of Tom Laker as Client Director and Ashish Chauhan as Project Manager. These strategic hires bring...
12/05/2026
Broadcast playout leader showcases hybrid IP infrastructure and workflow automation with Videoland deployment as regional benchmark...
Inside Look at the NBC Sports, Sony, Verizon 5G Trial at NRG Stadium Results indicate the potential for high-quality, low-latency wireless in sports production By Ken Kerschbaumer, Editorial Director 
