Broadcasters are relying more and more on bonded cellular technology to contribute news from the field as they move steadily away from traditional microwave and satellite technology. But executives speaking at TVNewsCheck’s NewsTECH Forum in New York on Dec. 13 said they are using other IP-native paths to send live video and edited packages through bonded modems, including both traditional wired broadband connections and the new option of low-earth-orbit (LEO) satellite platforms like SpaceX’s Starlink service.
Outside of its helicopter, Fox owned-and-operated WTFX Philadelphia hasn’t used microwave for a conventional live shot in almost two years, said Erik Smith, VP of news operations for Fox Television Stations, during the panel, Field and Remote Production’s Multiplying Options and the Quest for More Stories, moderated by this reporter.
WTFX relies on bonded cellular for almost all of its field contribution, equipping each photographer with a LiveU bonded-cellular backpack unit. Smith said that same usage pattern is true for most of the other Fox stations.
“There are a lot of reasons why, including infrastructure,” Smith said. “Ten years ago, we had six [microwave] receive sites in our market. By the end of this year, we’re going to be down to two. There are significant savings there, obviously.”
Local colleague Elizabeth Plyler, news operations manager for WPVI Philadelphia, said that her ABC-owned station also relies on bonded cellular for most live shots. WPVI uses microwave only for big live events where congestion on the cellular network might be problematic.
“For day-to-day [news], very rarely,”