EE trialled live 4G broadcasting of the BBC coverage of Saturday’s FA Cup Final at Wembley.
Arsenal’s 4-0 win was broadcasted to multiple devices connected over the 4G mobile network. Viewers could use the bespoke 4G Broadcast EE app to choose camera angles and control replays on tablets.
The app also included live updates of Opta stats and an interactive function allowing viewers to ask questions.
BBC Sport provided three live streams to the EE 4G Broadcast demo: two direct feeds from the stadium coverage, and one feed available to conventional viewers. After Stagebox technology was used to transfer the feeds from the Outside Broadcast Truck to the EE network, the BBC team used MPEG-DASH to encode the streams and send them to EE.
Other companies involved in the broadcast included Qualcomm, which provided the Snapdragon 615 processor to power the tablet, and Huawei, which provided the 4G Broadcast delivery solution. EVS also provided its FanCast solution.
4G Broadcast makes identical video content available to everyone in one location. EE plans to build the 4G Broadcast capability into the network in 2016.
Olaf Swantee, CEO at EE, said: "4G is not just about faster web and video download speeds, it will also change where and how we watch live events on mobile devices. We are continuing to innovate, and to show how powerful 4G technology can be.
"In the future, 4G Broadcast will make live television available to mobile audiences in a way we have never seen before, and the cross-industry collaboration in this project has enabled a big step forward in making that possible."
Rob Ray, Group Director of IT and Digital at Wembley Stadium, said: "This latest innovation highlights that through Wembley’s partnership with EE we are at the forefront of technological advancements in global sports and music entertainment venues. It demonstrates the value of the partnership and our commitment to our event owners, and to their fans and the experience they will enjoy at the stadium for years to come."
Matt Stagg, Head of Video at EE, and founder of the Mobile Video Alliance, said:
"Momentum is growing around 4G Broadcast as companies from mobile, from broadcast and from content industries recognise how it can finally be the way to more efficiently deliver a truly great TV experience to large numbers of mobile viewers."
Stagg continued: "This wasn’t possible with 3G, but it is part of the 4G roadmap and we’re investing in this innovation to give customers a great mobile video experience, wherever they are."
