Fox Sports to broadcast US Open in 4K HDR over 5G

Fox Sports is to use 5G technology to stream 4K video for broadcast across the US at this year’s US Open golf championship in June. The broadcaster has tapped the services of its own Fox Innovation Lab and partners Ericsson, Intel and AT&T for the transmission.

The 5G wireless technology will transmit 4K HDR images from two Fox Sports cameras positioned on the seventh hole at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club through the Fox Sports production truck to viewers at home.

The offering is part of a Featured Holes enhancement to Fox’s coverage of the event, available on USGA.com, DirecTV and the Fox Sports app.

According to Fox, in the future, 5G could possibly be used to deliver real-time virtual reality views from the course to viewers.

Intel and its partners used 5G technology to stream video on a broad scale for the first time at the Winter Olympics in PyeongChang in Korea earlier this year.

The US Open will be the first broadcast using 5G technology from a leading US golf tournament. Ericsson is providing the 5G radios, baseband, simulated network core, and 4K video encoder and decoder.

Intel is providing the Intel 5G Mobile Trial Platform, a small device that acts as a wireless communication device capable of transmitting 1.6Gbps, which will be placed in a cart at the seventh hole to deliver the 5G to IP translation.

AT&T will use millimeter wave spectrum to deliver the 5G connection.

“As we prepare for the launch of 5G networks, it is essential for us to test real-world business cases, such as for wireless streaming of 4K video at sporting events. In collaboration with our partners, Ericsson is proud to demonstrate this type of innovative entertainment solution, utilizing both our networks and media technologies. This is just one eye-opening example of the increased relevance high performance wireless networks will have for delivering a superior consumer experience,” said Niklas Heuveldop, head of market area North America, Ericsson.

“5G ultimately promises to transform the video experience and enabling this live 4K broadcast is a great early example. The high-speed and low-latency delivered by this trial allows the cameras to move without being restricted by cables and create a unique filming environment.  We believe live sports will eventually be transformed by 5G – whether it’s virtual and augmented realities for those watching from afar or how connected sensors could help analyze golf swings, wind conditions, even the speed of greens for the golfer in future US Opens,” said Melissa Arnoldi, president, AT&T technology and operations.