LiveU’s intelligent production technology delivered immersive behind-the-scenes content in one of sport’s most challenging settings – covering 99.9% of needs on public 4G/5G networks alone
LiveU has announced that CRD Audiovisuel relied on LiveU’s LU900Q intelligent production unit, with built-in native LiveU IQ (LIQ™) connectivity, to deliver live content from the start of the 2026 men’s and women’s Tour de France. The event is considered, one of the most technically demanding events in sport for video transmission.
CRD Audiovisuel’s client, the organizer of the Tour de France, had long provided a daily live presentation of riders at each stage start. For 2026, the organizer wanted to go further: live paddock shots, interviews with sporting directors, behind-the-scenes access to mechanics, conversations with Tour management, and interactions with the public. Previous attempts had been held back by the practical realities of the race route: fewer connections available at the start of each stage than at the finish, combined with fluctuating connectivity caused by large crowds and bandwidth-heavy media operations. 2026 marked a turning point.
Stéphane Reibre, Managing Director at CRD Audiovisuel took on the project in early 2026, with no margin for error and no opportunity to test on-site in advance. Several key objectives were required including ensuring the most reliable connectivity available at each race start, a plug-and-play setup that avoided heavy RF infrastructure, minimal additional strain on crews, bitrate strong enough for broadcast-quality output, and a simple, efficient intercom system. The aim was exclusive and immersive breaking content beyond the daily rider presentation: turnkey footage of starting sites and logistics, ready for broadcasters and rights holders to use across their platforms.
The new LU900Q, built with the strongest antenna, modem and eSIM technology, met Stéphane Reibre’s specifications where other options had fallen short. Equipped with LIQ, LiveU’s AI-driven connectivity software that manages eSIM cards intelligently, the solution connected each unit to the strongest available network based on its location. Together, LU900Q and LIQ gave CRD Audiovisuel reliable performance even in congested or fully saturated network environments.
“I could never have imagined that LU900Q and LIQ would perform so well in the field,” said Stéphane Reibre. “We had exactly zero problems, which, in this specific context, is a small miracle. If you’ve ever covered a Tour, you know what I mean.”
“The trust Stéphane has shown in our teams and our technology honors us,” added Philippe Gaudion, LiveU’s Regional Sales Manager for France, Belgium, and Luxembourg. “We supported him as closely as possible to contribute to the success of his project, and we are all very proud and happy about it.”
The LU900Q’s success was unprecedented covering 99.9% of connectivity needs across the men’s and women’s races using only public 4G/5G networks (no private or priority 5G). For CRD Audiovisuel, the result was lasting client trust and the freedom to focus on enriching content, with LiveU removing the technical obstacles that had previously limited more immersive coverage