News
EE , BT unveil 5G viewing experiences
EE and BT have unveiled new ways to watch or experience sports and the performing arts using the power of 5G technology which re-imagine the experience of watching and performing sports , dance , music and theatre through virtual , augmented and mixed reality applications . Using everyday devices such as smartphones , tablets and TVs , as well as the latest augmented reality ( AR ) headsets , the new prototypes enable users to take control and engage in an event from any angle of their choosing .
For example , rugby fans can take the experience of being at a match or event to previously unmatched levels with real-time , datarich AR insights such as ball trajectories and kick distances . Boxing fans can bring fight nights into their own living room with highly immersive holographic videos which puts them up close to the boxers as they fight .
Meanwhile , dancers , musicians and other artists can remotely demonstrate , teach and engage with students and fans using EE ’ s 5G network to provide real-time interactive experiences .
The prototypes are the first outputs from an EE and BT Sport-led project , 5G Edge- XR , which demonstrates how the potential of EE ’ s 5G network , paired with cloud graphics processing units , can enable consumers to view events in a range of new , highly immersive
“ We ’ re excited to be unveiling experiences that could transform sports , culture , and the arts .”
ways . 5G Edge-XR is supported by the Department of Digital , Culture , Media & Sport ( DCMS ), The Grid Factory , Condense Reality , DanceEast , Salsa Sound and The University of Bristol . Other high-end XR services being
explored by the project address the needs of industries as
diverse as construction , health and retail .
“ Our work at Adastral Park alongside world-class innovators including BT Sport and our 5G Edge-XR partners demonstrates how EE ’ s 5G network can support services that deliver uncompromised audio and visuals ,” commented Lisa Perkins , research realisation director , BT . “ We ’ re excited to be unveiling experiences that could transform sports , culture , and the arts as well as demonstrating the benefits 5G can bring to people and businesses .”
“ At this stage , we are investigating the technology ,” she advised . “ We think it ’ s the future of enhanced communications .”
“ EE and BT are again demonstrating the powerful creative and operational benefits that 5G technology can bring to sports and broadcast ,” added Jamie Hindhaugh , chief operating officer , BT Sport . “ These new experiences , which capitalise on the breadth of broadcast and mobile expertise across BT and EE , re-affirm the important role that 5G will play in re-imagining how sport is watched both at stadia and via television .”
“ We happen to be the first to introduce a number of broadcast initiatives ,” he noted . “ We ’ re looking at these concepts to see how we can deliver these experiences in the future .”
At the home of Saracens rugby in London , EE and BT unveiled a range of new experiences , aspects of which are being further developed by BT Sport for launch in the future . The demonstrations were supported by BT Media & Broadcast ’ s TV OB service .
The new outputs are the latest industry-first collaboration around the use of world-class 5G networks between EE , BT Sport , BT Applied Research and BT Media & Broadcast , most recently with the October 2020 teaming up between BT Sport and EE to launch Matchday Experience on the BT Sport App , offering fans the most immersive sports viewing experience anywhere in the UK , including Watch Together - the only service in the UK allowing fans to watch , see and chat with three other friends , alongside any BT Sport broadcast , thanks to a split-screen interface .
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W goes FTA
Multichannel commercial broadcaster UKTV is taking its premium entertainment channel ‘ W ’ free-to-air and making it available on its direct-to-consumer video on demand service UKTV Play , in a move that will significantly increase the footprint of W and its programme offering . Launching on Freeview slot 25 , viewers will have access to a plethora of hit UKTV Originals for free , including brand new
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upcoming shows .
“ We are thoroughly delighted to be bringing W ’ s brilliant original content featuring some of the best-known talent in the UK alongside heroes of everyday society , to a much wider audience wherever they want to watch or stream ,” commented W ’ s channel director , Adam
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Collings . “ We ’ re looking forward to showcasing the genuine human moments embodying W ’ s new mantra ‘ Life Unfiltered ’ and can ’ t wait to share W ’ s rich mix of shows filled with joy , tears and laughter with our new a free-to-air audience .”
“ We are confident that we ’ ve spotted a gap in the free-to-air market for W to fill ; providing premium
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entertainment for people with busy lives who want to engage with shows that shine a spotlight on personal stories from everyday lives ,” added Steve North , UKTV ’ s genre general manager for comedy and entertainment . “ W ’ s launch on UKTV ’ s direct-to-consumer VoD service , UKTV Play , will also mean that shows are more accessible than ever .”
Viewers can watch W on Freeview , Freesat and UKTV Play , and it remains available to Virgin Media and Sky subscribers .
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