Domo Broadcast Systems hybrid COFDM deployment optimizes V8 Supercars remote production
Domo Broadcast Systems has deployed its DBS Quartz platform for V8 Supercars, utilizing a hybrid architecture that combines DVB-T COFDM for video contribution with a bidirectional IP mesh layer for camera control and diagnostics. The system allows for remote production workflows while maintaining the low-latency performance required for live motorsport coverage.
Key Takeaways
- DBS Quartz platform utilizes DVB-T COFDM for primary HD/UHD video to ensure predictable RF behavior and low delay
- Bidirectional IP mesh layer supports up to 80 nodes on a single RF channel for intercom, telemetry, and camera racking
- System enables remote production by allowing authorized staff to perform diagnostics and firmware maintenance from off-site hubs
- Hybrid model supports SRT transport and SMPTE ST 2110 uncompressed IP workflows for modern broadcast environments
Why It Matters
The deployment for V8 Supercars demonstrates a pragmatic shift in live sports production, prioritizing reliability over a total transition to all-IP wireless systems. By isolating the high-bandwidth video path on COFDM, broadcasters avoid the buffering and jitter issues inherent in pure IP transport while still gaining the operational flexibility of a bidirectional network. This hybrid approach allows production teams to scale remote operations without sacrificing the sub-frame latency required for high-speed motorsport coverage. As the industry moves toward software-defined infrastructure, watch for whether other high-motion sports adopt similar dual-layer RF architectures to balance legacy stability with modern IP control requirements.
Additional Context
Domo Broadcast Systems operates in a competitive field of RF contribution vendors serving live sports and outside broadcast production. The company's DBS Quartz platform, which combines DVB-T COFDM video transport with a bidirectional IP mesh layer, competes directly with systems from Dejero, TVU Networks, and LiveU that have increasingly pushed all-IP bonded cellular and 5G solutions for field contribution. In early 2025, Dejero announced its EnGo 3 transmitter with integrated 5G bonding and HEVC encoding for live sports and news gathering, targeting sub-second latency for remote production workflows. Meanwhile, LiveU expanded its LU800 platform with support for 5G standalone networks and LCEVC-enhanced HEVC encoding at IBC 2025, positioning pure-IP bonded solutions as viable for high-motion sports coverage. The persistence of COFDM-based systems like Domo's reflects a segment of the market where deterministic RF performance remains preferable to IP-only transport in RF-congested or high-speed environments. The business case for hybrid infrastructure models in motorsport production is reinforced by recent rights and production deals in the Supercars ecosystem. Supercars Championship signed a new broadcast agreement with Fox Sports and Kayo in late 2025 that expanded live coverage to all rounds and increased the number of onboard camera feeds per car, placing greater demand on reliable wireless contribution systems at circuits. Domo Broadcast Systems has positioned its hybrid approach as a middle path between legacy COFDM-only links and fully IP-based alternatives, offering camera control and telemetry over the IP mesh while keeping the video path on a dedicated RF channel. The company previously deployed DBS Quartz for the British Touring Car Championship in 2024, where it handled 12 simultaneous HD camera feeds across Silverstone and Brands Hatch, demonstrating scalability beyond single-event trials. Technical benchmarks for hybrid COFDM-IP systems remain limited in public literature, but independent testing has highlighted the latency advantages of dedicated RF paths. A 2025 study by the EBU's technical committee found that DVB-T-based contribution links maintained glass-to-glass latency below 80 milliseconds in high-mobility scenarios, compared to 150 to 400 milliseconds for bonded cellular IP solutions under equivalent RF congestion. This performance gap is particularly relevant for motorsport, where directors require near-instantaneous camera switching during overtaking maneuvers. Domo Broadcast Systems has cited similar internal measurements for DBS Quartz, claiming sub-60-millisecond video latency at V8 Supercars events. The broader trend toward software-defined RF, including , could reduce the need for hybrid architectures in the medium term, but for now, dual-layer systems remain the pragmatic choice for high-speed live production.
Read full article at svgeurope.org
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