Greenlight TV is a leader in live sports and motorsport production. With a reputation for producing dynamic live content, the company is known for pushing boundaries in high-speed motorsport. Few events test a broadcaster more than the Isle of Man’s famous road racing calendar. The mountainous terrain, unpredictable weather, and long courses competed at high speed create major challenges: how do you capture the full drama and deliver it live, reliably and efficiently?
For this production, Greenlight turned to Vislink’s trusted 5G bonded cellular transmission solutions to provide flexible coverage from the ground and in the air, while cutting the cost and footprint of traditional broadcast methods.
The Challenge
The Isle of Man stretches conventional transmission systems to the limit. The long course winds through villages and mountain passes, leaving areas where line-of-sight RF is impossible. Any footage obtained requires a stable, low-latency link back to remote production teams.
Audiences now expect more than pictures – they want graphics, telemetry and live data synchronized with the action. This demands a transmission system that moves video reliably and integrates with graphics workflows.
Traditional RF required a complex setup and the presence of a significant Outside Broadcast crew – expensive, resource-heavy and carbon-intensive. Greenlight needed broadcast quality without infrastructure overload, and the agility to embrace remote production.
The Solution
Greenlight deployed Vislink’s LiveLink 5G bonded cellular transmitter – fitted in a backpack for the ultimate in mobile flexibility. Backpack units gave crews freedom to roam pits, paddock and trackside, enabling crews to set up and go live in minutes.
At the heart was LinkMatrix, Vislink’s cloud control platform. From a remote hub, engineers managed transmitters, monitored signal health, and adjusted settings live. Operators could concentrate on the race, knowing the link was secure.
Most importantly, the system enabled true remote production. Rather than relying on OB trucks and full island crews, much of the production happened off-site. Feeds travelled via bonded cellular to the hub via Vislink’s Debonding Playout Servers for switching, graphics, and distribution – cutting cost, logistics and environmental impact.
Vislink technology brought major benefits for Greenlight TV and its audience:
- Low latency kept video, graphics, and commentary perfectly in sync
- Flexibility from ground backpacks gave flexibility to cover every angle
- Reliable range through multi-carrier bonding overcame terrain issues
- Easy integration with existing workflows maintained broadcast quality
- Cost savings came from fewer OB trucks and on-site staff
- Sustainability improved with lighter logistics and reduced travel
Conclusion
Greenlight TV’s use of Vislink LiveLink showed how bonded 5G cellular connectivity can thrive in the toughest broadcast environments. Combining flexibility, low latency, and remote production integration, LiveLink enabled a world-class motorsport broadcast with lower costs and improved sustainability.
For broadcasters tackling similar challenges, this case shows the power of moving beyond infrastructure-heavy methods. With Vislink, live production becomes lighter, faster, and more efficient without sacrificing quality.
