Westchester Cup 2018: Polo Live Streaming
Six camera live coverage of the 2018 Westchester Cup, integrating long lens polo coverage, slow motion replay, match sound, satellite IP and a bonded backup.
Following international polo across a full size ground
The 2018 Westchester Cup brought England and the United States to the Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club on 28 July. Online viewers needed to follow fast play over long distances while still receiving score, commentary and match context.
The live programme also needed replay, venue sound, graphics and a dependable internet route. Pololine retained control of its platform and editorial assets while Accolade Productions commissioned us for technical production.
Six cameras, replay and resilient match delivery
We built a six camera plan using four Sony HDW 750 positions with long lenses and two Sony FS7 end on cameras. Slow motion replay drew from up to two sources, while CasparCG carried the Pololine scorebug, adverts and prepared graphics.
Twelve ambient microphones, presenter mics, a dedicated sound mixer and eight comms headsets supported the programme. A booked satellite IP path carried the live match, with LiveU bonded connectivity available as an independent backup.
In numbers
International polo from Berkshire
England met the United States for the Westchester Cup at the Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club on 28 July 2018. The historic international fixture demanded coverage that could follow the speed and scale of polo while also giving online viewers the score, commentary and match context they needed.
Accolade Productions commissioned us for the technical production. Pololine supplied the online platform, advertising and graphics assets, and the full match was carried through a Livestream.com player embedded on Pololine.tv. England won the match 12 to 6.
Six cameras designed around the field of play
The six camera plan combined four Sony HDW 750 cameras with long lenses and two Sony FS7 positions at the ends of the ground. Lens doublers extended the principal cameras to the equivalent of 40x where required, helping the operators hold fast action over the length of the pitch.
A Teradek Bolt wireless link supported a position where a long cable run would have limited movement. Four of the camera operators were arranged by us, while Pololine supplied one operator as part of its contribution. Jay Rozanski led the technical production, with Simon Taylor operating slow motion replay and James Goodwin responsible for sound.
Replay, graphics and match sound in one workflow
Slow motion replay could draw from up to two cameras, allowing decisive passages to be revisited while preserving the live shape of the match. CasparCG supplied the playout environment for Pololine’s scorebug, advertisements and other prepared material, with the client’s director and graphics operator retaining control of the editorial mix.
Twelve ambient microphones built a full match sound bed, supported by radio handheld and lavalier microphones, a dedicated sound mixer and eight production comms headsets. A separate 1080/50i feed could also support the venue screen with the selected programme sound.
Primary connectivity with a bonded backup
Connectivity formed an integral part of the production system. A satellite News Spotter service was booked for the live window, using a static UK IP address and a confirmed 6 Mbps path. The schedule included a pre event test, while a LiveU bonded unit provided an independent backup route.
That resilience supported a match whose value depended on viewers being able to stay with the action. It also illustrates the overlap between our outside broadcast production and live streaming services: cameras, replay, sound, graphics and connectivity were planned as one connected operation.
A full match record beyond the live day
Following transmission, we supplied the camera recordings, the programme master, isolated audio channels and an international audio mix to the production team. The isolated sources preserved choices beyond the live cut, while the international mix created a clean audio foundation for later versions and distribution.
Pololine’s Westchester Cup page still presents the full match. The retained programme preserves England’s 12 to 6 victory and the pace of an international fixture for on demand viewers. Together, the public full match and production masters extended the value of the camera, replay and sound work beyond the event window.
Defined responsibilities kept the programme connected
Pololine supplied the platform, scorebug, advertising material and client side editorial roles. We led technical production, provided much of the camera team and integrated the replay, audio, communications and delivery systems around those assets.
The venue’s lifts and scaffolds completed the physical camera plan. This division of responsibility let each contributor concentrate on its own part of the programme while Jay Rozanski coordinated the technical chain across the ground.
For practical planning advice, read our remote sports commentary guide. Explore our Tankō MMA broadcast for related production work.
Frequently asked questions
Where was the 2018 Westchester Cup played?
The match was played at the Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club on 28 July 2018. England beat the United States 12 to 6.
How many cameras covered the polo match?
The production used six cameras: four Sony HDW 750 positions with long lenses and two Sony FS7 end on positions.
How did the match reach online viewers?
Pololine supplied a Livestream.com player embedded on Pololine.tv. The production used a booked satellite IP path, with LiveU bonded connectivity as a backup.
What was delivered after the match?
The handover included camera recordings, the programme master, isolated audio channels and an international audio mix.
