Dejero, an innovator in cloud-managed solutions that provide award-winning video transport and Internet connectivity while mobile or in remote locations, has been awarded a second prestigious Technology and Engineering Emmy Award. The award, in the category of Video over Bonded Cellular Internet (VoCIP) technology, recognises Dejero’s innovation in the industry, thanks to its Smart Blending Technology and unique hybrid encoding approach.
Headquartered in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, Dejero has perfected its patented and patent-pending Smart Blending and hybrid encoding technologies over the course of the last decade. The technologies work in concert to form a tightly integrated system which responds in real time to changes in network quality and video content. This has helped transform how broadcasters contribute live content from the field using cellular networks, providing news-gathering crews with greater flexibility in terms of the location from where they can transmit a live shot, at a fraction of the cost of conventional uplink technology.
“We are thrilled to win not just one Emmy – the most recognised broadcast award in the world – but two,” said Bogdan Frusina, founder of Dejero. “Last year the committee rewarded our decade of innovation for pioneering reliable transmission methods that enable live contribution and distribution of TV signals over the public Internet. This year they have gone on to further recognise our industry-leading technologies, showing that our continuous development is raising the quality and reliability standards of mobile video and data transmission.”
Dejero’s Smart Blending Technology aggregates multiple network technologies, including cellular and satellite links, from multiple providers, to create a virtual “network of networks” to enhance reliability. The technology dynamically and intelligently manages fluctuating bandwidth, packet loss and latency differences in real-time, ensuring the optimal path for the IP packets to their destination. The result is increased reliability, expanded availability from connection diversity, and higher bandwidth when and where it is needed.
Dejero has developed a highly specialised hybrid encoding technology that’s ideally suited for low-latency, live video contribution from remote environments. The technology leverages a hybrid architecture that surrounds a hardware core—optimised with proprietary technologies and techniques—with a flexible, field-upgradable software pipeline. This combination enables real-time feedback based on throughput, latency, and incoming video content complexity to dynamically adjust encoding to make optimal use of available communications networks.
Last year, Dejero was awarded its first Technology and Engineering Emmy Award for ‘excellence in engineering creativity’, honouring a decade of achievements in the field of live transmission driven by its vision of reliable connectivity anywhere.
Dejero Press
Dejero wins second Technology and Engineering Emmy Award
Dejero, Musion 3D and Vodafone Romania win industry award for world first live rock concert using 5G and holographic technology
Dejero, an innovator in cloud-managed solutions that provide Emmy® award winning video transport and Internet connectivity while mobile or in remote locations, has been recognised for playing an important role in supporting the world’s first live rock concert using 5G and holographic technology, winning an IABM BaM award in the project collaboration category. Dejero and Musion 3D, a leader in holographic technology, worked together with Vodafone Romania to enable an 11-year-old guitarist to join a rock band on stage, and perform together with the band, as a human hologram, through a 5G connection and holographic projection, over Vodafone’s 5G network. The collaboration was also a finalist in the content creation category at the IBC 2019 Innovation Awards.
The impressive showcase was made possible through Vodafone Romania’s 5G Network, Musion 3D’s EyeLiner™ holographic display, and EnGo mobile transmitters and receivers provided by Dejero. Collectively, the crews worked together to produce and deliver the live concert happening on stage in Bucharest, juxtaposed the live hologram of the young guitarist and streamed it over Vodafone Romania’s 5G Network. The reliable, secure, and fast video and audio transmitters and receivers provided by Dejero EnGo platform was a crucial component in making this world first a massive success.
“The introduction of 5G in Romania represents an important milestone, not just for us, but also for the telecom industry, as it brings a new technological standard for communication and social interaction,” said Catalin Buliga, CTO at Vodafone Romania. “Vodafone Romania’s vision is to enable a truly digital society for all Romanian consumers, and by organising this demo event with a hologram, we aimed at giving a taste of 5G technology’s potential and our excitement for the future.”
Musion 3D provided turnkey production services for this event, including lighting and stage design with renowned AV partner, Hawthorn Theatrical. Vodafone’s 5G network provided the 5G connectivity between the filming location and the on-stage concert. Musion 3D relied on Dejero’s EnGo mobile transmitter and receiver for live remote contribution to provide incredibly stable low-latency, high-quality, HD video and audio links in both directions. The hologram data stream was routed over a Huawei 5G cellular network and router.
“The crux of this event was the delivery of a high-quality live stream across the network in a way that creates a realistic image on stage. There can be no degradation of service whatsoever to preserve the ‘reality’ of the experience for viewers,” said Ian O’Connell of Musion 3D. “Dejero has extensive experience of live outside broadcast and of mobile broadcasting in the most challenging locations and conditions, and their expertise was key to the success of the hologram delivery.”
Collaboratively, Dejero, Musion 3D and Vodafone Romania won the BaM Innovation Award for this unprecedented event, which gathered thousands of fans and was live-streamed on Facebook. It became Vodafone Romania’s 2019 flagship television commercial in Romania, with over 2 million YouTube views to date.
“We are extremely proud to have played a crucial role in the successful delivery of this event, creating the ‘live’ experience by connecting Vodafone’s 5G network in a way that allowed Musion 3D’s hologram to appear on stage and freely interact with the audience and band members in real-time,” said Todd Schneider, chief technology officer of Dejero. “The possibilities of 5G when it comes to the creation of live events around the world are nearly limitless, and in those cases, extremely reliable transmission technology is vital. Dejero’s reliable connectivity through Smart Blending Technology which blends multiple network connections and the low latency it provides will be crucial for the creation and consumption of large-format live content, such as holographic performing artists—both on 3D stages as well as regular 2D screen devices. For Dejero, 5G is the next evolution of cellular network connections that we blend to provide connection diversity and greater reliability.”
“The hologram concert has generated huge interest and proved once again Vodafone Romania’s leadership in technology and innovation,” concluded Buliga. “We are very proud of this achievement and we are grateful to all our partners, therefore, we wish to share our success with everyone. Winning this prestigious award is a testament to the remarkable contribution of everyone involved in this project and to Vodafone Romania’s steady pursuit of innovation.”
Dejero to unveil new EnGo 260 built with Emmy award-winning technology
Dejero, an innovator in cloud-managed solutions that provide Emmy® award winning video transport and Internet connectivity while mobile or in remote locations, is unveiling its new EnGo 260 HEVC mobile transmitter at the upcoming IBC 2019 show (13-17 September 2019, RAI Amsterdam). The 5G ready EnGo 260 provides enhanced picture quality, exceptional user experience, and continues the tradition of providing the most versatile and durable mobile transmitter on the market.
The new EnGo 260 weighs 30% less while maintaining the ruggedness that Dejero is known for and also features an 85% larger screen improving visibility and accessibility to users. Like previous generations of EnGo transmitters, field crews can reliably deliver the best possible picture quality in any scenario, even when the available bandwidth may be limited.
EnGo 260 comes with a significantly more powerful internal rechargeable battery that provides 120 minutes of use and is compatible with and recharged by standard gold mount and v-mount ENG batteries.
Covering a global story or event means traveling the distance—and the new EnGo 260 was built with this in mind. Now with global modems and field-user accessible SIMs, international travel is more convenient, cost effective, and user friendly. The addition of a professional-grade mini XLR interface for IFB ensures worry-free communication from the director to on-air talent or camera operator—while live or ready for live.
Featuring Dejero’s patented Smart Blending Technology, EnGo 260 aggregates multiple network technologies, including cellular and satellite, from multiple network providers to create a virtual ‘network of networks’ that delivers enhanced reliability. The technology dynamically and intelligently manages the fluctuating bandwidth, packet loss, and latency differences of individual connections in real-time, to choose the optimal path to route IP packets to their destination. The result is increased reliability and expanded availability from connection diversity and higher bandwidth when and where it is needed.
The EnGo 260 also encompasses a collection of features that reliably delivers exceptional picture quality with extremely low latency, even in challenging network conditions. These include enhanced picture quality with auto-transport, adaptive bitrate encoding, and HEVC. Furthermore, unique content adaptive encoding adjusts the encoding process based on the amount of motion in the live shot to greatly improve picture sharpness in challenging network conditions. Camera operators can seamlessly and automatically transition from a limited motion talking-head shot to a high-motion shot without any softening of the picture or introduction of compression artifacts.
The industry-renowned mobile transmitter supports 20 Mb/s encoding and 1080p 50/60 and uses a unique hybrid encoding technique—a combination of hardware and software encoding that provides the most efficient and flexible way to deliver the best picture quality. Hybrid encoding balances performance and power consumption and enables easy remote updates to transmitters deployed in the field. Advanced RF design with optimised antenna performance results in a stronger and more reliable signal from cellular towers.
“We are continuously listening to the feedback and needs of our customers, and this latest iteration of the EnGo combines the traditional functionalities that customers love in addition to new features that will enhance the user experience and efficiency,” said Yvonne Monterroso, director of product management, Dejero. “We look forward to unveiling the EnGo 260 at IBC and demonstrating how it enhances remote contribution workflows.”
Built with aircraft aluminum construction and polycarbonate ABS bumpers, the professional-grade EnGo is designed for durability to withstand on-the-go daily use by news, sports, and live production crews. A one-button, sub 30 second start-up, easy to navigate user interface, and automated settings that adapt to the available bandwidth make EnGo 260 an unparalleled experience in terms of usability and picture quality in the field.
Dejero keeps IRONMAN Australia connected in challenging conditions
Dejero, an innovator in cloud-managed solutions that provide Emmy award winning video transport and Internet connectivity while mobile or in remote locations, recently provided five HEVC capable EnGo mobile transmitters and a 4-channel WayPoint receiver to Next Up Digital, for the 8-camera remote coverage of the professional race at IRONMAN Australia, in Port Macquarie via IRONMAN’s global social media channels.
The 2019 IRONMAN Australia race consists of a 3.8 km swim course, a 180 km bike course, and 42.2 km run course. Next Up Digital was tasked with covering all 10 hours of racing which was broadcast live to Facebook’s new platform Facebook Watch. Given the extreme distance and constant movement of such an event, the crew required a flexible and reliable mobile broadcasting solution that could still transmit high-quality live streams while following athletes through the race.
Live broadcasting and streaming specialists, Next Up Digital, were tasked with finding a solution and put Dejero’s EnGo mobile transmitter through rigorous testing to ensure the coverage and production would be reliable given the scope of such a large event.
“We were approached by IRONMAN Oceania to provide comprehensive outside broadcast coverage of the event that was to be streamed worldwide. We knew that Dejero would be up to the task and carried out a series of tests in the lead up to the event, using various forms of mobile broadcast technology. It was clear that the Dejero EnGo was by far the most stable and the superior option for IRONMAN Australia within the environment the race was taking place,” said Andrew Forster, video strategist at Next Up Digital. “The added challenge of providing broadcast-quality footage directly to various social media channels was one we were confident of meeting with Dejero by our side.”
“Knowing we were always going to be working within a mobile broadcast environment, the most important thing for us was the technical delivery and access to a network that could support our needs,” said Stephen Kane, Production Manager, IRONMAN Oceania. “Prior to the event it was imperative that we went into this production knowing where our coverage issues may appear, as we were widely relying on mobile networks. Moving through various mobile coverage zones, repeaters and antennas was always going to be a challenge and Dejero helped us overcome this with ease.”
“Using Dejero for the first time was effortless, I sat back and watched the magic happen. Mobile broadcasting has come a long way over the years and it will become more and more of a need for our business, as will Dejero – due to their proven reliability. Dejero is stable, reliable, flexible and it delivered beautifully during IRONMAN Australia.” Continued Stephen.
Reliable and simple to use, EnGo is designed for mobile video contribution professionals who require agility and versatility. The EnGo is an HEVC capable, 5G-ready compact mobile transmitter that encodes high-quality video and transmits over multiple IP connections to reliably deliver exceptional picture quality with extremely low latency—even in challenging network conditions.
“We are delighted to have played a major role in the reliable network connectivity that lead to the successful delivery of coverage from the 2019 IRONMAN Australia event,” said Todd Schneider, chief technology officer, Dejero. “Our industry leading mobile transmitter has yet again proven that it is the most reliable, flexible, and portable solution on the market to ensure high-quality coverage in the most challenging of conditions.”
The live broadcast of IRONMAN Australia reached over 1.5 million viewers in the first day and grew as the world woke up to the event.
Dejero brings latest 5G-ready solutions and SMPTE ST 2110 support to IBC 2019
Dejero, an innovator in cloud-managed solutions that provide Emmy® award winning video transport and Internet connectivity while mobile or in remote locations, is showcasing its latest 5G-ready solutions, SMPTE 2110 support, return video solutions, CellSat blended connectivity, IronRoute for media content distribution solution, and GateWay connectivity at the upcoming IBC 2019 show (13-17 September 2019, RAI Amsterdam).
EnGo mobile transmitter
The latest version of Dejero’s renowned EnGo mobile transmitter, which is now 5G-ready, features more processing power to deliver unique content adaptive encoding technology and HEVC compression to provide even better picture quality in a wider variety of scenarios. Unlike other field transmitters, Dejero EnGo now automatically adapts to content complexity as it is captured and supports up to 20 Mb/s bitrate for live transmissions and 1080p 50/60. Additional enhancements to Dejero’s mobile transmitter line-up will be made at the show.
IBC Innovation Award Shortlist
EnGo mobile transmitters and Dejero receivers were recently deployed to assist Musion 3D in transmitting a life-sized, interactive human hologram at a live rock concert across Vodafone’s 5G network. The EnGo delivered video links from a studio in Bucharest, from which a life-size hologram of a 10-year-old guitarist was beamed live to the stage over a Huawei router and Vodafone 5G link. This world first event/project, hosted by Vodafone, has been shortlisted for an IBC Innovation Award in the Content Creation category.
CuePoint low-latency return video
Dejero’s CuePoint 100 low-latency rack-mounted return feed server simplifies talent cueing, production and confidence monitoring, and real-time teleprompting in the field. With as little as 250 milliseconds of latency, CuePoint keeps teams at the broadcast facility and remote location synchronized, by sending video and audio, alongside teleprompting feeds, to production teams in the field to facilitate the creation of compelling live content. Up to eight return video and teleprompting feeds from the broadcast center can be seen in the field by the talent on a tablet or dedicated monitor above or below the camera, or on multiple mobile devices by camera operators, field directors and technicians.
WayPoint support for SMPTE ST 2110
The Dejero WayPoint 204 receiver makes the IP transition easier for broadcasters embracing the SMPTE ST 2110 suite of standards. As the first Dejero product to support SMPTE ST 2110 standards for professional media industries, WayPoint 204 reconstructs video transported over multiple IP connections from Dejero transmitters, decodes HEVC or AVC, delivers four channels of balanced IFB, and provides four outputs supporting SMPTE ST 2110.
CellSat blended connectivity service
Available in Europe and North America, the multi-award-winning blended cellular and satellite connectivity service now comes with additional features that provide enhanced reliability, multiple antenna options including portable fly-away and vehicle-mount options, and additional connectivity plans to suit the varied needs of customers. CellSat solves challenges such as cellular network congestion or degrading performance in fringe locations by intelligently blending all available cellular connections with Intelsat’s Ku-band IP satellite network, fusing the best attributes of these transmission paths for enhanced reliability and the highest quality live shots.
IronRoute for media cloud-based content distribution
IronRoute offers a robust solution tailored to the needs of broadcasters and media organizations by combining the link diversity, service quality, and centralized management benefits of software-defined blended connectivity, with the flexibility and scalability benefits of a cloud-based workflow for cost-effective global distribution. IronRoute blends broadband, cellular (3G/4G/5G), and satellite connectivity from Intelsat’s global network. The cloud-based solution also simplifies the simultaneous distribution of live and file-based content to multiple locations anywhere in the world, whether it be network affiliates, station groups, or to other broadcasters and media organizations in point-to-point, point-to-multipoint, and multipoint-to-multipoint scenarios with a simple drag and drop interface in a web browser.
GateWay for first- and last-mile connectivity
Access to reliable connectivity has become even more critical for contribution and distribution. New features added to the Dejero GateWay solution include reliable connectivity on any type of IP connection and faster file transfer methods. Dejero will also show how the GateWay solution can be used for backup connectivity as part of a disaster recovery plan, and other use cases that solve first- and last-mile connectivity challenges of broadcasters and media organizations.
Dejero Supports World’s First Human Hologram over 5G
Dejero, an innovator in cloud-managed solutions that provide Emmy® video transport and Internet connectivity while mobile or in remote locations, assisted Musion 3D – a leader in ultra-realistic, life-sized, interactive 3D holographic video shows and effects – in successfully transmitting a life-sized, interactive human hologram for a live performance across Vodafone’s 5G network. Dejero provided EnGo mobile transmitters and receivers to deliver video links from a studio in Bucharest, from which the hologram of a 10 year old guitarist was beamed live to a stage over a Huawei router and Vodafone 5G link.
In what is a world’s first in the area of entertainment, young guitarist Luca Mihail joined rock band Vita de Vie on stage as a hologram in a spectacular showcase of Vodafone Romania’s 5G technology and Musion 3D’s EyeLiner™ display. The event gathered thousands of fans, was live streamed on Facebook and became Vodafone’s 2019 flagship television commercial in Romania—with over 2 million YouTube views to date.
This event was also just the second time in history that hologram technology was used for a national TV commercial. As another crucial world first, the subsequent commercial was filmed using a 5G live link from a remote location, made possible by Vodafone Romania with support from Dejero, Musion 3D, Hawthorn and Huawei.
“Key to the success of the Vodafone Romania event has been Dejero’s extensive experience in live broadcasting amidst challenging conditions,” said Ian O’Connell of Musion. “It’s about having the confidence to get a high-quality live stream across the networks in a reliable way that creates a realistic image on stage. Any degradation in the service spoils the reality, so the combination of Dejero’s reliable live expertise and Musion’s stage experience made the Vodafone Romania 5G event and commercial a great success.”
Musion 3D relied on Dejero’s EnGo mobile transmitter for live remote contribution, as well as Dejero receivers to provide incredibly reliable low-latency, high-quality, HD video and audio links in both directions. As part of the project delivery, the Dejero transmitter and receiver were both centrally managed through Dejero Control from a web browser. The hologram data was streamed over a Huawei router and Vodafone 5G link.
“The combination of Musion 3D and Dejero’s technology and expertise enabled a spectacular live stage performance, allowing Vodafone to demonstrate that next-gen 5G networks can support more demanding, high-bandwidth content,” said Todd Schneider, chief technology officer of Dejero. “5G opens up all sorts of opportunities for the media and entertainment industry. For Dejero, 5G is the next evolution of cellular network connections that we blend to provide connection diversity and greater reliability.”
Musion provided turnkey production services for this event, including their unique patented flame retardant foil, patented filming techniques, lighting and stage design together with renowned AV partner Hawthorn. Vodafone’s 5G network provided part of the link between the filming location and the on-stage concert, a world first.
Dejero announces support for SMPTE ST 2110
Dejero, an innovator in cloud-managed solutions that provide Emmy® award winning video transport and Internet connectivity while mobile or in remote locations, has launched the WayPoint 204 receiver that supports SMPTE ST 2110 for customers who are in the process of shifting their infrastructures and workflows to IP.
Launched at NAB 2019 as the first Dejero product to support the SMPTE ST 2110 suite of standards for professional media industries, WayPoint 204 reconstructs video transported over multiple IP connections from Dejero transmitters, decodes HEVC or AVC, delivers four channels of balanced IFB, and provides four outputs supporting SMPTE ST 2110.
“With an aim of delivering interoperability, the shift to a standards-based all-IP infrastructure as a replacement for SDI is gaining momentum,” said Todd Schneider, chief technology officer of Dejero. “IP is transforming how broadcasters and media organisations use and access live video, audio, and data within their content workflows as they strive to leverage new infrastructure and automate workflows. With the SMPTE ST 2110 standards now established and embraced by the professional media industries, Dejero is incorporating support into its solutions to help customers accelerate their transition.”
WayPoint 204 has been engineered for broadcast-quality reliability, equipped with redundant power supplies and RAID storage to give customers peace of mind. WayPoint 204 decodes up to four simultaneous ingests in a single 1U device, and with multiple output options, broadcasters gain flexibility and save valuable rack space in their facilities.
The support of the SMPTE ST 2110 suite of standards within WayPoint 204 offers format flexibility, scale and resource sharing, along with a simplified process for adding metadata such as captions, subtitles, and time codes. With the ST 2110 standards, component flows including audio, video, and metadata are synchronized to each other while remaining independent streams.
The SMPTE ST 2110 Professional Media Over Managed IP Networks suite of standards is a major contributing factor in the movement toward one common IP-based mechanism for the professional media industries. The SMPTE ST 2110 standards suite specifies the carriage, synchronisation, and description of separate elementary essence streams over IP for real-time production, playout, and other professional media applications. The SMPTE ST 2110 standards are quickly being embraced by the industry and are video-format-agnostic and therefore support Ultra HD, HDR, and other new and emerging formats.
Dejero and Source Elements team up to boost audio file transfers from the field
Dejero, an innovator in cloud-managed solutions that provide video transport and Internet connectivity while mobile or in remote locations, is joining forces with Source Elements, a high-quality audio software provider allowing users to work remotely and collaborate effectively over the Internet. This technology partnership means that broadcast teams can achieve faster remote audio file transfers from the field—using a combination of the Dejero GateWay Smart Blending Technology and Source Elements’ Source-Connect ISDN replacement.
The mix of Dejero GateWay and Source Elements’ Source-Connect allows users to reliably send live audio from anywhere in the world to any location of their choosing in real-time. Dejero’s Smart Blending Technology intelligently combines all available network connections, creating a single virtual ‘network of networks’ that is robust and reliable. This enables Source Elements users to confidently send high-quality live audio broadcasts from remote locations.
“Dejero’s Smart Blending Technology gives field production crews greater freedom when producing live remote broadcasts by providing high reliability Internet connectivity and flexibly using available IP connectivity,” explained Todd Schneider, chief technology officer, Dejero. “This gives production crews greater freedom on their broadcast locations. Source-Connect runs on a laptop connected to a Dejero GateWay router and the real-time, low-latency, high-quality audio is sent directly to the desired destination.”
Dejero GateWay provides field broadcast teams with reliable mobile connectivity by blending together wireless networking technologies from multiple providers, creating higher throughput over a secure connection. With access to reliable Internet connectivity on location, news, sports and live event broadcasters and media production companies can perform more activities remotely.
“What’s most exciting for us in regard to the Dejero Gateway is that we can provide our customers with a highly reliable method to conduct stable remote sessions, said Rebekah Wilson, technical director, Source Elements. “This is something that is difficult to achieve on the public Internet when broadcasting from the field.”
Source Elements is an industry-standard ISDN replacement with a deep feature-set for all remote audio recording and monitoring needs. Portable, high-quality and secure, it allows a user to record and monitor from anywhere in the world, using your professional tools. It’s the only remote-recording solution with support for every DAW and set-up, for almost every OSX and Windows system.
Dejero brings the latest AI features to newsrooms
Dejero, an innovator in cloud-managed solutions that provide Emmy award-winning video transport and Internet connectivity while mobile or in remote locations, is demonstrating a cloud-based workflow layered with the very latest in artificial intelligence (AI) at NAB. The demo shows how Microsoft Azure AI capabilities—including facial recognition, metadata tagging, and speech-to-text functionality—enhance collaboration between traditional newsroom and digital teams to produce stories faster than ever before.
The integration of Microsoft Azure AI services with Dejero solutions are being demonstrated on the Dejero booth at NAB Show 2019.
Booth visitors will be guided through a cloud-based workflow, where a low-latency live feed from a Dejero encoder will be transported over multiple IP connections, using Dejero’s Smart Blending Technology, and received in the cloud by a virtualised Dejero receiver. Once in Azure, metadata enrichment and tagging, facial recognition, and speech-to-text functionality will be enabled using Azure Media Services Video Indexer, automatically enhancing the live content through artificial intelligence. With rich metadata added to the incoming video content, newsroom teams save valuable time searching and retrieving media assets, and it enables new capabilities such as breaking news alerts.
“Broadcasters are shifting to IP-based workflows and embracing the cloud for new functionality, beyond storage and distribution. We’re showcasing the ability to bring AI to live content at a time when news organisations are creating hybrid digital-traditional newsrooms, and looking for story-production efficiencies,” said Bogdan Frusina, chief strategy and innovation officer and Dejero founder. “Dejero, with Microsoft Azure, can help newsrooms take advantage of AI and automation to enhance their efficiency in producing content for global audiences across traditional and digital formats.”
The power of cloud-based services to streamline and automate manually intensive tasks—including watermarking, localising content with translations, and controlling content permissions for distribution—can help take newsroom workflows to the next level of efficiency, saving time, and reducing costs.
“Dejero helps solve the first-mile challenge of getting live content reliably to the cloud,” said Sudheer Sirivara, general manager, Azure Media, Microsoft Corp. “Once ingested, Microsoft Azure Video Indexer can automatically enrich the content to enhance newsroom efficiency and enable news organisations to truly get ahead of the competition.”
TLC incorporates Dejero to simplify logistics on This is Life Live production
Dejero, an innovator in cloud-managed solutions that provide video transport and Internet connectivity while mobile or in remote locations, enabled America’s leading unscripted production company, Fly on the Wall Entertainment (FOTW), to reach a new level of flexibility during its production of the second season of TLC’s This is Life Live show using Dejero’s mobile transmission technology.
The popular series airs human-interest ‘reveal’ stories live, over four consecutive nights from two different US cities simultaneously. FOTW’s back to back productions were supported by broadcast solutions provider and Dejero partner Bexel.
“It’s a very unique show that’s incredibly logistically challenging,” explained Jeff Anderson, executive in charge of production at FOTW. “Approaching season two, we wanted to find a solution that didn’t rely on the deployment of satellite trucks in both locations each night. Previously this required the deployment and briefing of two sets of production crews, troubleshooting for each, and basically reliving ‘Groundhog Day’ every time we hit the ground in a new city.”
For season two, FOTW used Dejero’s HEVC-capable EnGo mobile transmitter to transmit high-quality video over multiple IP networks, simplifying the show’s production cycle dramatically by removing the need to hire satellite trucks and broadcast crews at each location. This saved FOTW significant amounts of time, resources, and production costs.
“With any live unscripted production, the only way you can make it efficient is to keep it constant and remove the element of surprise and as many variables as possible. Dejero enabled us to do just that, and it translated directly into more efficiency and cost savings,” continued Anderson.
Dejero’s EnGo had already made FOTW’s on-site presence incredibly low-impact, flexible, and agile during the production of Katy Perry’s 96 hour live unscripted Witness World Wide! show in collaboration with YouTube last year. It worked flawlessly using IP network connectivity and gave Anderson the idea to park a single satellite truck in Los Angeles during the production of the second season of This is Life Live and use the Dejero units to send signals back to the truck from any location across the country.
“You can’t ship a satellite truck, but you can ship an EnGo,” concluded Anderson. “The EnGo is solid, versatile, dependable, and quite an amazing piece of mobile technology. The decision was made for us when we tried it the first time; it’s a domino effect where the benefits add up.”
The EnGo is a compact and modular mobile transmitter that encodes high-quality video and transmits over multiple IP networks to reliably deliver exceptional picture quality with extremely low latency—even in challenging network conditions. Camera-mounted, vehicle-mounted, or wearable, EnGo is ideal for newsgathering, sports coverage, and live event broadcasting from remote locations, and while in motion.
“To accompany FOTW on their journeys across the US, producing unique and unscripted live reality content, is an honor,’” said Yvonne Monterroso, director of product management, Dejero. “Solving these types of live broadcast challenges is what we’re passionate about at Dejero. We’re very pleased to have made FOTW’s operations more efficient and their jobs easier on the road.”