Inside the Cockpit:
How the Prism
Broadcast Encoder
Brings In-Car
Streams
to Supercars Fans
A High-Speed
Streaming Success
A High-Speed
Streaming Success
Overview
Overview
Supercars, Australasia’s leading motorsport category, is now producing real-time live video streams directly from their race cars for exclusive fan content. Discover how Teradek's cutting-edge technology overcame extreme challenges to deliver immersive, in-car streaming from 25 supercars simultaneously.
Mark Larkham reports on how the Prism Mobile provides exceptional live streaming for broadcast, judicial, and fan engagement.
Mark Larkham reports on how the Prism Mobile provides exceptional live streaming for broadcast, judicial, and fan engagement.
Introduction
Introduction
Picture yourself behind the wheel of a 650-horsepower V8 supercar — hurtling down the track at breakneck speeds, with thousands of fans hanging on your every move. Now, imagine bringing those fans right into the cockpit with you, sharing every heart-pounding moment in real-time.
This was the vision for Supercars Australia.
But how do you deliver high-quality, uninterrupted live streams from cars racing at over 300 km/h?
That’s where Teradek stepped in — offering a compact, high-performance bonded cellular encoder designed for high-speed motorsports.
The Prism Mobile encoder sends high-quality, low-latency video streams from inside the race cars.
The Prism Mobile encoder sends high-quality, low-latency video streams from inside the race cars.
Challenge
Challenge
Chris Beaumont, Head of IT at Supercars, engaged Teradek to help them achieve their ambitious goal. The primary challenges were to maintain high-quality, uninterrupted video feeds in highly-congested venues. Previous attempts with consumer-grade equipment didn't provide enough control and customization.
To pull off a feat of this complexity, the team faced several hurdles:
Handling connectivity with large crowds on mobile networks- Managing manual intervention and setup with GoPro
- Maintaining high-quality, uninterrupted video feeds in packed venues
- Managing power consumption and safety during races
- Addressing technical hurdles in change control and integration
But with advancements in IP video and cellular technology, Chris and his team believed that using Teradek’s solutions, their vision could finally be realized.
Solution
Solution
The suite of tools that helped the Supercars team make it happen:
- Prism Mobile: Mounted securely within the cars for high-quality video capture.
- Node: Secured robust connectivity support across three carriers.
- Teradek Core: Handled stream debonding and directed video feeds to Brightcove CDN.
- Teradek Core API: Automated various workflow aspects, significantly enhancing efficiency.
Technicians mount the Prism Mobile encoder and Node Modem
within each car, to enable video streaming and robust connectivity.
Technicians mount the Prism Mobile encoder and Node Modem
within each car, to enable video streaming and robust connectivity.
Teradek’s Prism Mobile encoder — capable of delivering broadcast-quality H.265 video — formed the backbone of the in-car setup. Teradek's high-performance Node modems, both LTE and 5G, provided the connectivity for the reliable bonded cellular transmission across Australia's three major carriers (Vodafone, Optus, and Telstra). Teradek Core, a cloud-based management platform, enabled remote management of Prism Mobile, debonded feeds, and distributed video to the CDN, while the Teradek Core API orchestrated transcoder activation and CDN connections, adapting to the unpredictable on/off cycles of the race cars. Tyler Riddle, Teradek's Product Manager for Live Streaming, provided essential technical guidance for the initiative.
This approach helped maintain connectivity even in severely crowded events.
The implementation process involved working closely with the Supercars commission to address safety regulations. The team fabricated custom mounting equipment for the Teradek devices in the cars, ensuring secure and compliant installation. An innovative safety feature was even implemented to cut power to the devices based on g-force measurements in case of accidents. The Teradek solutions underwent extensive testing, ensuring they met all technical requirements and facilitated a seamless viewing experience for all 25 cars.
The Prism Mobile and Node mounted in one of the Supercars race cars.
The Prism Mobile and Node mounted in one of the Supercars race cars.
Technical Requirements
Technical Requirements
Hardware: Prism Mobile units, Node modems.
Software: Teradek Core, Teradek Core API.
Network: High-speed LTE Cellular, 5G Connectivity.
Team: Dedicated IT and technical support team for setup and ongoing monitoring.
Streamlined Live Video Workflow
Streamlined Live Video Workflow
The setup process for streaming live video from the Supercars was structured to provide high-quality, uninterrupted broadcasts directly from the race cars. The workflow integrated Teradek's Prism Mobile encoder and Node devices, ensuring robust connectivity across multiple cellular networks.
1. Initial Setup and Configuration
1. Initial Setup and Configuration
- Device Preparation: Each car was equipped with Teradek’s Prism Mobile encoder and Node modem, for a total of 3 cellular connections. The devices were securely mounted within the cars, following custom fabrication to meet safety and operational standards.
- Network Integration: SIM cards were installed in the Node modems to enable connectivity across Australia's three major carriers — Vodafone, Optus, and Telstra. This multi-carrier bonding provided reliable transmission even in crowded events.
2. Connection to Teradek Core
2. Connection to Teradek Core
- Registration: The Prism Mobile encoders were registered and connected to Teradek Core. This cloud-based platform served as the central hub for managing and monitoring the live streams.
- API Automation: The Teradek Core API was employed to automate various aspects of the workflow. A custom Node.js application was developed to monitor the status of each device and manage reconnections automatically, ensuring seamless operation.
3. Live Streaming and Distribution
3. Live Streaming and Distribution
- Stream Initialization: On race day, the setup was streamlined to require minimal manual intervention. With the Teradek Core API, a single operator could initiate the entire system with one click, waking up all devices and starting the live streams.
- Feed Management: The live video feeds were transmitted from the cars to Teradek Core, where they were managed and distributed to the CDN (Brightcove). This process included real-time monitoring and adjustments to deliver optimal video quality.
4. Post-Event Analysis and Replay
4. Post-Event Analysis and Replay
- Data Retrieval: After the live events, the recorded feeds were retrieved from Teradek Core for replay and analysis. This included accessing footage for technical analysis, enhancing broadcast segments with in-car perspectives.
- Continuous Improvement: Feedback from each event is used to refine the setup and workflow, ensuring continuous improvement in the streaming quality and reliability.
Results
Results
The system worked flawlessly, streaming live video from 25 cars to thousands of fans — creating a fully-immersive live streaming experience.
At the heart of this innovation is the groundbreaking 'Shotgun' feature in the Supercars app.
Supercars app’s Shotgun feature provides an ultra-immersive viewing experience for fans.
Supercars app’s Shotgun feature provides an ultra-immersive viewing experience for fans.
Shotgun allows fans to choose any driver's cockpit view, complete with real-time telemetry data and immersive audio. Subscribers can virtually sit in the driver's seat, viewing live footage, hearing the roar of the engine, and accessing performance data in real-time. This level of access and interactivity has transformed how fans experience races, offering an unprecedented connection to the heart-pounding action on the track.
Node modems provide reliable, high-speed global cellular connectivity over public and private LTE / 5G networks.
Node modems provide reliable, high-speed global cellular connectivity over public and private LTE / 5G networks.
The switch to Teradek's solutions resulted in 15 major benefits for Supercars:
The switch to Teradek's solutions resulted in 15 major benefits for Supercars:
- Bang for Your Buck: "We were looking for a way to put the live stream of the cars in the app. To do that, you need to have live feeds in all 25 cars, all the time. We realized that if we were to do this efficiently and cost-effectively, 4G and 5G was going to be the way to do it."
- Automatic and Reliable Streaming: "As soon as the car turns on, the feed establishes. It's live and ready for us."
- Improved Connectivity: "Having bonding over the 3 different carriers working so seamlessly has made the difference."
- Seamless Setup: "The setup of the devices themselves, it was essentially plug in some SIM cards, connect them to Teradek Core, and they were ready to go."
- Low Power Consumption: “The devices are fairly low power consumption in comparison to some of the other equipment we're running in the cars, which is great."
- Improved Connectivity: “Whenever we have a large event, a large proportion of our fans are on the Telstra network… Having bonding over 3 different carriers working so seamlessly has made connectivity really good.”
- Customization Options: "The ability to — on the fly — configure the devices, change resolutions, change buffer times — all of the video settings is really awesome."
- API Integration: "With the introduction of the API, all we need now is one person to click the start button, and the whole thing wakes up."
- High-Quality Video: "The quality of the video was nicely packaged. The team has even improved from 720 to 1080 on some cars.”
- Enhanced Fan Experience: "You can choose a driver. You can see the cockpit. You can see them driving — all of their telemetry data. When they're accelerating, when they're braking. The g-force on their turn. You can see the driver turning the steering wheel. You can hear the engine noise. So it's an immersive experience of what it looks like in the race car."
- Simplified Management: "Just having everything all in the one dashboard and available in multiple screens, multiple browsers. It's really versatile and a very simple-to-use platform."
- Versatile Usage: “We now also have a circuit presenter that does the technical analysis of the sport. He talks about things within the car, or how the drivers are driving, and does comparisons using the footage.”
- Enhanced Replay Capabilities: "A lot of the feed usage is collecting replays. If they want the feed from within the car, they're downloading them (from Teradek Core)."
- Positive Feedback: “Viewership of the ‘Shotgun’ product has absolutely grown. I can 100% say that."
- Trusted Support: “Teradek’s been absolutely fantastic. Really, really knowledgeable. They jump on issues quickly. Even stayed up late to support us through some of the bigger races.”
Supercars' success story wouldn't be complete without highlighting the crucial role of the Teradek Core API — as well as Chris’ creative workaround:
One of Supercars’ video technicians managing the remote video fleet through Teradek Core.
One of Supercars’ video technicians managing the remote video fleet through Teradek Core.
Here's how this powerful API
made all the difference:
Here's how this powerful API
made all the difference:
- Automated System Start-up: It allows the entire system to be started with a single click, significantly streamlining the process.
- Automatic Reconnection: If the application detects a drop in connection, it uses API commands to both Teradek Core and the Brightcove CDN to reestablish the connection automatically.
- Resource Efficiency: It replaced the need for manual monitoring and intervention, freeing up human resources.
- Transcoder Management: It starts and stops individual transcoding servers for each device, providing greater control and reliability.
- Real-Time Configuration: It allows for on-the-fly configuration of devices, including changing resolutions and buffer times.
- Improved Reliability: The automated system has reduced manual errors and improved uptime.
- Simplified Troubleshooting: The API-driven system allows for quicker identification and resolution of issues.
- Scalability: The API solution made it easier to manage an increasing number of devices and streams.
- Custom Control Panel: Chris and his team developed a control panel that leverages the API, giving them full control over streams and devices.
Mission = Success
Mission = Success
This achievement marked a significant milestone for Supercars. It revolutionized how fans engage with the sport. Teradek and Supercars together have shown that with the right tools and expertise, even the most daunting technical challenges can be overcome.
Whether you're in motorsports, public safety, or any field requiring reliable, high-quality mobile video transmission, Teradek has the only streaming solution that combines broadcast-quality video, multi-carrier 5G, and API-driven automation for your broadcast needs.
Contact us today to discover how our solutions can drive your organization forward and take the lead.
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