The recent ADAC RAVENOL 24h Race at Germany’s legendary Nürburgring circuit marked a milestone for live broadcast production, and Clear-Com®played a pivotal role in keeping the entire operation connected. With nearly 28 hours of continuous coverage, the production broke the record for the longest live TV sports broadcast, supported by an extensive Clear-Com communications infrastructure.
Throughout the event, Clear-Com and its German distributor, Audio-Technica, provided direct technical support to ensure a reliable setup and operation. Using EHX configuration software and its comprehensive monitoring capabilities, operators maintained complete control of the communication network throughout the marathon broadcast.
A total of 21 FreeSpeak® II IP transceivers, 20 FreeSpeak II beltpacks, and four of the new FreeSpeak Icon™ beltpacks were deployed across the site, ensuring reliable and crystal-clear communications throughout the race. Despite the extremely high density of DECT systems in use across the circuit, Clear-Com delivered flawless performance thanks to precise planning and sophisticated configuration.
Featuring 130 cars and 500 drivers, the 24-hour endurance race is among the most demanding in the world. The live broadcast, managed by TV Skyline, one of Europe’s largest mobile TV production companies, utilized three OB vans and more than 70 camera feeds, including helicopter footage, a 650-meter cable camera, elevated platforms, and onboard views.
HDwireless GmbH, a specialist in wireless HD and UHD camera systems, provided the helicopter and wireless camera systems as well as the Clear-Com intercom infrastructure for the pit lane, paddock, start/finish area, and helicopter. HDwireless relied on Clear-Com’s Eclipse HX-Delta matrix system, fitted with an E-IPA-HX card, to connect the FreeSpeak II IP transceivers and intercom panels across an extensive AES67 fiber network.
“At an event as technically demanding as the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Race, communication has to be absolutely reliable,” said Alex Hemme, Regional Sales Manager at Clear-Com. “Working closely with HDwireless and Audio-Technica, we ensured that every team, from the OB vans to the pit lane, had clear, stable communication throughout the entire broadcast.”
The success of this year’s broadcast reflects the power of collaboration between Clear-Com, Audio-Technica, and HDwireless. Together, they delivered a successful communication network that kept teams connected under the most challenging conditions, reaffirming Clear-Com’s position as a trusted partner for high-stakes live productions around the world.