Volvo Ocean Race 2011-2012
Media System Introduction

Customer Objectives

To capture the drama of the worlds toughest yacht race as the fleet circumnavigate the globe. Ensuring that the excitement is captured for race fans and that media value is delivered for event sponsors.

Telling the story of The Volvo Ocean Race

The media delivery enables the story to be told to an estimated audience of 1.3 billion as the drama unfolds. TV coverage includes documentaries, race highlights, as well as live HD coverage of the 10 In-Port Races. Live interviews can also be set up from mid ocean to sponsors and broadcasters. This is combined with an online media campaign which includes the race website as well as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and a virtual yacht race game.

The Challenge

To design, produce, install, maintain and support the compact equivalent of an entire outside broadcast set up, which must be capable of withstanding the extremes of temperature, constant vibration, and the corrosive saltwater environment for the nine month epic adventure. All this, whilst making it simple enough to use by the Media Crew Member (MCM), who has the job of camera operator, sound recordist, editor, production engineer as well as being responsible for cooking and toilet cleaning.
The challenge at race HQ - to build a system for use by the Volvo Ocean Race shore team, for receipt and onward delivery of the various media coming in from the yachts, whilst also enabling them to set up live one on one and multiparty video and audio interviews.

Life Onboard

The Volvo 70 racing yachts are built for speed, not comfort. The 11 crew members on each yacht live in cramped conditions, eat freeze dried food, and take only one change of clothes. They will experience hunger and sleep deprivation as they race 24 hrs a day between ports. This is life at the extreme, and racing skills as well as physical endurance are tested to the limit.

The Media Communications Solution

The 2011-2012 media system built by Livewire Digital for the 11th Volvo Ocean Race event, meets these challenges head on. The system incorporates many new advances in technology from the point of acquisition through delivery over satellite and microwave to distribution of media to broadcasters and the Internet.