Features

Wembley to set first with 5G event coverage

Wembley will this weekend host the world’s first live sporting event broadcast over 5G when it stages the EE Wembley Cup Final.

Sunday’s EE Wembley Cup Final will feature YouTube footballers competing alongside international football legends and will be broadcast on the channel of YouTube star Spencer Owen at 2pm GMT.

EE and UK pay-television broadcaster BT Sport showcased the capability yesterday (Wednesday) by delivering a live, two-way broadcast over 5G from Wembley to London’s ExCeL Exhibition Centre. The broadcast was carried over 5G in Wembley and then produced remotely by the BT Sport production crew at its base in Stratford.

EE is the lead partner of Wembley and first teamed up with the stadium in 2014. The company has since introduced a range of technological advancements to Wembley, including significant network upgrades preceding the latest 5G implementation to ensure fans stay connected during events. EE has also helped deliver Wembley’s first official app.

Marc Allera, chief executive of BT’s consumer business, said: “This trial is another showcase of what our 5G network can do, and is a big part of our continued investment in using 5G across the whole of BT Group. The EE Wembley Cup Final 2018 will be the world’s first live sporting event to be broadcast over 5G, and that’s part of our ongoing commitment to innovation for our customers.”

Jamie Hindhaugh, chief operating officer at BT Sport, added: “BT Sport has a rich history of the latest broadcast innovations, whether it’s ultra-high-definition with Dolby Atmos or 360 virtual reality. 5G will next season enable BT Sport to deploy the most advanced remote production of any broadcaster. It will allow us to cover more live matches from more leagues and competitions, and to bring fans highlights action closer to the final whistle than has ever been done before in the UK.”

Image: EE