The combination of private 5G and a specialist camera system gave football supporters a referee’s eye view of a top German football fixture, a move positioned as a significant step in an ambition to provide new fan experiences using the network technology.
Media technology company Riedel Communications explained its private 5G network product Easy5G and RefCam Live system was used during a game between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund last month.
The camera was worn by the game’s referee to deliver video footage which was then used across Deutsche Fussball Liga’s (DFL) social media platforms and in a standalone special broadcast.
Riedel highlighted the network was operational within an hour and the camera provided a high-quality live stream in the Allianz Arena, Munich, with 75,000 people present.
The deployment was initiated by DFL, which runs the operation of German professional football, in accordance with rules from various other football-related bodies.
DFL VP product management and innovation Dominik Scholler said the organisation was “constantly looking to enhance the fan experience within our media products and lead the way in innovation”, adding “this deployment marks a significant step in exploring how next-generation technologies like 5G and body-worn cameras can bring viewers closer to the game than ever before”.
Executive director strategy and innovation at Riedel’s Managed Technology division Jacqueline Voss added DFL gave it a “clear vision to redefine live coverage with cutting-edge connectivity and immersive capture”.