HACKENSACK, N.J.—As broadcasters and news organizations look for more reliable connectivity for their coverage of this year’s elections, LiveU is reporting that it is working with private wireless network orchestration and management software company, Pente Networks, to LiveU Private Connectivity. 

As previously reported by TV Tech, the solution gave major news broadcasters access to private network connectivity inside the RNC at the Fiserv Forum.

“Providing a private cellular network solution for major broadcasters covering the RNC and DNC adds a robust and reliable connection to the bonding mix, avoiding public network congestion and the instability of WiFi in the convention arenas,” said Dan Pisarski, LiveU CTO. “In addition, private cellular networks give us another layer of service for our customers – network segmentation, prioritization and greater security – while providing additional capacity for expanded remote production technologies and employee communications.”

As part of its LiveU IP-video EcoSystem of solutions, services, and integrations such as with Pente Networks, LiveU has made it simple to secure the network and deploy a robust connection for broadcasters. At the core of LiveU's EcoSystem is its LiveU Reliable Transport (LRT), the leading IP-video transport protocol designed for wireless networks, giving rock steady reliability, the companies said. 

“Having the ad hoc private mobile network solution means we can provide this service almost anywhere, and deploy it quickly, giving our customers new creative options as they share the stories of the day,” added Pisarski.

Pente’s orchestration solution streamlines the provisioning of ad-hoc private mobile networks, seamlessly handling the nuances required to ensure resilient and reliable broadcast quality connectivity from challenging environments like densely populated convention arenas. The LiveU Private Connectivity solution uses innovative radio and switching configurations to deliver total freedom of camera movement and placement within the locations.

For the RNC, LiveU provided on-the-ground technical support, rentals, and connectivity to ensure reliable, high-quality, and uninterrupted coverage. LiveU Private Connectivity proved so popular with major broadcasters that the initial offering was fully booked within a few days of announcing the solution.

“We expect this US Presidential Election to break records for the amount of continuous simultaneous live transmissions,” said Pisarski.

To learn more about LiveU’s 2024 Election Support, visit https://get.liveu.tv/us-elections-24/. 

MILWAUKEE—The recently launched PurpleTV, political broadcast TV channel has ramped up its content with a deal with Civic Media.

Civic Media owns a network of 20 radio stations across Wisconsin in 12 distinct news/talk media markets, that will allow PurpleTV to offer video-taped versions of some of the shows on those radio stations. 

The shows went live in the runnup to Republican National Convention (RNC) that's taking place in Milwaukee from July 15 – 18.  

PurpleTV airs over-the-air on channel 16.1 on WWMW in Milwaukee and is streamed live on its website. 

"Programs like The Maggie Daun Show, Matenaer on Air, The Todd Allbaugh Show, and so many others in the Civic Media family do a great job of covering politics, and their coverage of the RNC is sure to be exceptional, too," said Ken Switzer, director of marketing and communications for PurpleTV. "We want to help expand their coverage to broadcast television and reach a wider, potentially different audience than the one they already have."

As previously reported, PurpleTV was launched as an over-the-air service to tap into heightened interest in politics during the 2024 election cycle. It does not offer a conventional TV watching experience and was designed to more closely resemble an internet feed or social media stream. It provides bite-sized videos and informational text to the "purple majority"—those who aren't, politically speaking, all red or all blue.

PurpleTV said it will soon announce an expansion to other broadcast TV stations both in Wisconsin and other swing states. Matthew Davidge, CEO of PurpleTV said, "We'll be taking PurpleTV to West Palm Beach and other TV markets where people could use a purple perspective."

Milwaukee has, at 27%%, one of the highest percentages of over-the-air (OTA) audiences in America as measured by the percentage of TV households, the service reported. Channel 16 reaches 2.25 million people, so approximately 600,000 people can view PurpleTV.

LINCOLNSHIRE, Ill.—LG Electronics served as the official technology provider and 4K UHD display for both the Democratic and Republican National Conventions that took place in August.

LG supplied 4K UHD displays to support convention operations in both Milwaukee (DNC) and Charlotte, N.C. (RNC), including live speeches, pre-recorded segments and delegate roll call. The DNC featured 43-, 55 and 65-inch LG screens in its multimedia control center, while the RNC had 65- and 75-inch LG screens installed in VIP viewing areas and greenrooms.

“Innovation is non-partisan, but it plays a critical role in political conventions this year due to the pandemic,” said John I. Taylor, senior vice president, LG Electronics USA. “As official provider, LG is proud to help make this year’s reimagined digital conventions a reality.”

For more information, visit www.LG.com.  

DALLAS—AT&T doesn’t want its customers to miss a second of the Republican or Democratic National Conventions, announcing that it will offer “gavel-to-gavel” coverage of both. The company will offer both its DirecTV and U-verse customers access to coverage on TV as well as through streaming online and to customers smartphone or tablets.

DirecTV customers will be able to watch coverage on channel 347, on DirecTV.com, or through the DirecTV app. U-verse customers can watch SD/HD coverage of the RNC on channels 212/1212, and SD/HD coverage of the DNC on channels 213/1213, on uverse.com, or with the U-verse app. There will be no commercials or interruptions during either convention on these channels.

AT&T is the official communications, video and technology provider for both conference, and announced that it has boosted LTE capacity and cell sites in both Cleveland and Philadelphia.

The Republican National Convention takes place in Cleveland from July 18-21, while the Democratic National Convention takes place in Philadelphia from July 25-28.