Vienna 11-May-2022
ORS selects Rohde & Schwarz for live 5G Broadcast distribution during Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna
Vienna, Austria — The Eurovision Song Contest – a large scale, televised concert with fireworks, dancing and pop songs – continues to captivate audiences of nearly 200million viewers around the world. This year’s ESC22, hosted in Torino, is a special one as it witnesses the latest cutting-edge multimedia distribution solution, 5G Broadcast, which brings the live concert to mobile phones in Austria.
The live event will be produced and distributed to selected mobile devices by Rai Radiotelevisione Italiana – the national public broadcaster of Italy – using the latest broadcast and multicast technology: 5G Broadcast from the heart of Vienna. ORS – a technology leading broadcast network operator – will make the live demonstration via an end-to-end 5G Broadcast-ready system, offering visitors a totally new mobile experience.
In order to deliver the live show via a full end-to-end 5G Broadcast/Multicast streaming demonstration, ORS partnered with Rohde & Schwarz – a global leader in broadcast transmitter and media technologies, and Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. – the driving force behind the development, launch and expansion of 5G. Running throughout the show, the demonstration will showcase Broadcast/Multicast capabilities over 5G where the live encoded content produced by RAI in Torino, will be transmitted live by ORS using a 5G Broadcast signal over-the-air to smartphone form-factor test devices from Qualcomm Technologies Inc.
Rohde & Schwarz's end to end 3GPP compliant 5G Broadcast solution is the selected choice for the European countries broadcasting ESC22 live to their audiences in Italy, Austria, Germany and France. It comprises of the 5G Broadcast enabled R&S TLU9 transmitter and the Broadcast Service and Control Center (BSCC2.0) acting as a broadcast/multicast core network.
The 5G Broadcast solution is built on the 3GPP Rel-16 feature-set, operating in a Receive-Only Mode (ROM), Free-To-Air (FTA) and without the need for a SIM card (SIM-free reception). The 5G Broadcast dedicated mode will be demonstrated with a standalone broadcast High Power High Tower (HPHT) infrastructure while operating within the UHF band.
“5G Broadcast enables an unrivalled user experience, innovative service models and opens the way for new revenue opportunities,” commented Manfred Reitmeier, vice president broadcasting and amplifier systems at Rohde & Schwarz. “We are proud to partner with Qualcomm and ORS to show what can be achieved today with this exciting technology.”
Lorenzo Casaccia, Vice President of Technical Standards, Qualcomm Europe, Inc., commented: “We are proud to have worked with the EBU, RAI and Rohde &Schwarz to bring a new viewing dimension to fans of Eurovision. Eurovision is not only about what is happening on the stage but what is happening in the greenroom, in the audience, in the locations submitting votes and is the ideal vehicle to showcase 5G Broadcast’s capabilities. This exciting activation is another important step in the R&D development of 5G Broadcast.”
"Since 2019, ORS and its R&D team have been playing a pioneering role internationally in the definition, testing and establishment of 5G Broadcast. The use of this innovative broadcasting technology, in the context of the Eurovision Song Contest, shows how Austria can play a leading role in shaping a new TV era. In the future, we will also make our contribution to the international development of the most promising use cases and business models for 5G Broadcast", explains ORS Managing Director Michael Wagenhofer.
5G Broadcast offers network operators and broadcasters opportunities to create exciting consumer experiences across a range of new and existing business areas – all while enabling high spectral efficiency and reduced costs.
Broadcast/Multicast over 5G is not restricted to linear and live content distribution. For network operators and media content providers it offers a completely new range of business models for delivering content or data to large numbers of consumers and without affecting the regular cellular 5G mobile network. Venue and automotive sectors are particularly suitable for new consumer applications while the high power, high tower free-to-air/no-SIM offers emergency services and national authorities more secure ways to deliver public messages during natural disasters or emergencies.
Rohde & Schwarz
Rohde & Schwarz is striving for a safer and connected world with its Test & Measurement, Technology Systems and Networks & Cybersecurity Divisions. For over 90 years, the global technology group has pushed technical boundaries with developments in cutting-edge technologies. The company's leading-edge products and solutions empower industrial, regulatory and government customers to attain technological and digital sovereignty. The privately owned, Munich based company can act independently, long-term and sustainably. Rohde & Schwarz generated net revenue of EUR 2.93 billion in the 2023/2024 fiscal year (July to June). On June 30, 2024, Rohde & Schwarz had more than 14,400 employees worldwide.
R&S® is a registered trademark of Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Co. KG.
Rohde & Schwarz Broadcast and Media
For decades, Rohde & Schwarz has been a leading technology innovator in broadcast distribution and a trusted partner in media production. Broadcast solutions from Rohde & Schwarz deliver the latest generation of energy-efficient, software-defined transmitters and enable network operators to leverage new broadcast technologies. Providing solutions for live and studio production, post-production, multiviewing and playout, Rohde & Schwarz helps media professionals produce and deliver great content.
