IMMERSIVE BROADCASTS UNLOCKED.

Viewers want—and increasingly expect—TV broadcasts and streaming programming that bring them closer to the action. Whether they’re watching sports, a concert, or another live event, audiences are gravitating toward immersive experiences that incorporate unique camera angles and eye-opening closeups.

Traditionally, broadcast crews have been limited in their ability to create these up-close-and-personal experiences. They’ve relied on wired networks that, while providing the sub-100ms latency and high bandwidth needed for video production, also tethered their equipment to production trucks and stymied visual creativity. Often, dozens of miles of cable had to be strung to support the broadcast, with various unlicensed wireless technologies trucked in to supplement the hard-wired network.

5G changes all that. With 5G’s advanced wireless connectivity, broadcast teams can liberate themselves from the hassles, expenses, and limitations of stringing cable without sacrificing latency or bandwidth—all while unlocking higher-impact camera angles. Viewers can enjoy an enhanced experience from new perspectives like following a race car at 200 miles per hour or looking over the shoulder of a golfer chipping out of a sand trap.

The effort required to prepare for live events depends greatly on the network solutions available. Major League Baseball is now putting small, mobile cameras and microphones right on the playing field—and using 5G to do it. Hat-cams and catcher-cams give fans a more exciting perspective on the game. You can think of it as a digital front row seat.

These same capabilities enable dynamic programming at many kinds of events. The ability to bring the network onto the field of play or into other areas not previously accessible—the bullpen or dugout, for example—unlocks new ways to entertain fans and boost viewership.

The competition is intense in broadcasting, where even a slight advantage can bring in more viewers and revenue. It starts with leaner operations. Broadcasters using a 5G wireless solution can cut as much as half the costs involved in rolling out temporary cable.

What’s more, the speed and flexibility of content capture with 5G are major advantages to production crews. Wireless connectivity allows for camera angles not previously possible—a real differentiator for a broadcaster’s brand.

Remember the advent of the strike zone overlay in baseball, and exit-velocity and trajectory trackers? Despite initial resistance from some traditionalists in the early going, those innovations proved to be wildly popular with many fans. Now, they’re a fixture of baseball coverage. With less time and cost to set up, and greater flexibility in capturing the action, 5G video production solutions open the door to the next innovations in audience experience.

Some of the many ways that 5G is transforming sports programming are evident in New York City. There, an operator of entertainment venues has implemented 5G at one of its big arenas, which is used for basketball and other sports. 5G’s speed, bandwidth, low latency, and reliability mean a more compelling experience for fans attending games, as well as for those watching at home or on mobile devices. The advanced wireless connectivity has enabled higher-quality video, smoother video transitions, and greater reliability, according to the organization’s IT director.

The decision to go with 5G was “bandwidth-driven,” the IT director said in an interview with a researcher on our behalf. “The bread-and-butter is really in-the-moment video content.” That pays dividends in multiple ways. For instance, the upgraded digital experience helps “build trust” among fans.

5G’s low latency also enables any number of revenue-generating services, including fantasy sports, sports betting, and live-streaming of premium services. “It’s been a stronger way to attract sponsorships and partners,” the IT director added.