RTL News has developed a plug & play set with which reporters can be on live television with their iPhone in less than 5 minutes. Apart from a satellite connection, apps such as Dejero and LiveU enable journalists to send live images on location with no more than a 4G SIM card and a smartphone. In order to professionalize the image and sound of these recordings, RTL has extensively tested various technical setups. The result is a user-friendly live set with a high quality output of light, image and sound. The high quality RTL has managed to achieve is unique. The set offers a stable and sharp image, has a good microphone with ID cap and an almost invisible earphone for the reporter’s return sound. By now the set has been successfully used by reporters of RTL News during the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, the day of the Brexit referendum in London and by correspondents in Israel, Turkey, and Italy.
Perry Feenstra, head of the economics desk at RTL News: “After experimenting with various parts and possibilities we have now composed a live set that works perfectly in all its simplicity. This simplicity is something we sought after. Everyone can be on television within five minutes, even if you have no experience at all. Just place the telephone in its cradle on the tripod, put in two plugs, start the app and go live. The technicians at RTL’s Master Control Room too are very enthusiastic about the quality and ease with which very good live connections can be made against very low costs.”
RTL News has several live sets ready to use by various reporters at home and abroad. In some cases it is the primary live video setup.
Technical specifications Every set consists of:
- A lightweight, strong, extra high tripod that enables reporters to be able to film themselves at eye level.
- A powerful LED fill light of which the brightness can be adjusted, fed by a rechargeable battery. When the battery is empty, batteries can be used.
- Microphone: the microphone is connected to the iPhone’s lightning port. Its volume can be regulated.
- Earphones: the reporter’s earphone is comparable to those used in the studio.
- The Beastgrip: this is the rig system for the iPhone that is mounted on the tripod.