Overview
For the 30th RTL Deutschland Spendenmarathon, RTL News delivered a continuous live broadcast using a private 5G production workflow developed in collaboration with Vislink and Grass Valley.
Two Grass Valley LDX 110 cameras, each fitted with a Vislink INCAM-GV 5G module, were operated over RTL’s on-site private 5G network, supporting live video contribution alongside full production functionality including camera control, shading via AMPP, tally, and return video.
The deployment formed part of a live, on-air production environment, demonstrating private 5G as a practical, broadcast-grade connectivity option within a real-world live production setting.
Production Requirements
The Spendenmarathon is a long-form live broadcast with continuous output, requiring:
- Stable, low-latency connectivity for live cameras
- Full support for core production workflows, including camera control, shading, tally, and return video
- Predictable performance over extended operating periods
- Seamless integration with existing IP-based production systems
While RF remains the primary choice for many fixed and high-density camera positions, and public cellular is often used for flexibility, RTL deployed private 5G as a controlled and reliable alternative for live camera contribution, operating as part of the core on-air production workflow, with dedicated capacity to deliver consistent performance and sufficient bandwidth even in a busy production environment.
Solution: Private 5G as Part of the Live Production Toolkit
RTL implemented a Vislink’s INCAM-GV 5Gtransmitter integrated with Grass Valley’s LDX 110 camera platform.
The workflow included:
- A dedicated private 5G network, operated and managed on-site
- Vislink INCAM-GV 5G transmitter fitted directly to the LDX 110 cameras
- Bi-directional IP connectivity supporting live video contribution, camera control and remote shading via Grass Valley AMPP, and tally and return video
Crucially, the cameras were fully integrated into RTL’s GV AMPP Remote Shading workflow, operating in the same way as traditionally cabled cameras within the live production chain. No signal conversions or workaround paths were required, allowing the 5G-connected cameras to be treated as native production resources.
By operating on a private network rather than public cellular infrastructure, RTL maintained a controlled RF environment, with known capacity, consistent performance characteristics, and secure access for production devices.
This approach reflects Vislink’s private 5G solution: providing broadcasters with a deployable, operator-controlled wireless IP layer that complements traditional RF and public cellular connectivity, particularly where predictability, security, and network ownership are required.
Why Private 5G Instead of Public Cellular?
For this production, RTL required predictable, on-air camera connectivity over an extended broadcast period, without reliance on shared public infrastructure. While public cellular networks offer flexibility, performance can vary in busy environments where network capacity is shared with large numbers of consumer devices. By using a private 5G network, RTL retained direct control over network access and capacity, ensuring consistent performance for live cameras throughout the broadcast. This allowed the production team to operate with confidence that connectivity would remain stable and available during peak activity, while integrating cleanly into existing IP-based workflows.
Operational Experience
Across the full duration of the broadcast, the private 5G network supported continuous live operation of both cameras without interruption.
From a production and engineering perspective, the deployment delivered:
- Stable, broadcast-grade image delivery throughout the event
- Continuous remote shading and camera control via AMPP, without latency-related issues
- Reliable tally and return video signals under live production conditions
- IP-native connectivity that integrated directly into RTL’s existing workflows
- Reduced dependence on physical cabling for the deployed camera positions
As Jens Schilder, Project Engineer at RTL News, commented:
“Running the LDX 110 cameras over our private 5G network gave us the stability and control we needed for a live, long-duration broadcast. The cameras integrated cleanly into the production workflow, and performance remained consistent throughout the event, even during busy periods.”
No dedicated fallback path was required during the broadcast, with the private 5G workflow supporting continuous on-air operation throughout.
Jeroen Dijkhuizen, Sales Manager for 5G Devices at Vislink added: “Private 5G is an exciting addition to the Vislink range, enabling users to make a choice between the technical platform that best suits their operational advantage. 5G offers flexibility, bandwidth and quick deployment giving a further option for live sports or news production.”
Private 5G for Live Production
This deployment illustrates how private 5G can sit alongside RF and public cellular as a trusted connectivity option for live production, rather than as a replacement for established technologies.
Private 5G is particularly well suited to scenarios where:
- Dedicated network capacity is required
- Public cellular networks may be congested or unpredictable
- Rapid deployment is needed without extensive cabling
- Secure, operator-controlled access to the network is essential
In these environments, private 5G provides broadcasters with additional flexibility while maintaining the performance characteristics required for live, on-air production.
Conclusion
The RTL Deutschland Spendenmarathon demonstrated that private 5G can support full live production workflows under real broadcast conditions.
By combining Grass Valley’s LDX 110 cameras with Vislink’s INCAM-GV 5G private transmitter, RTL demonstrated a realistic, available alternative for live camera connectivity – one that complements established RF systems and expands production flexibility, particularly in environments where control, predictability, and bandwidth availability are critical.
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