A game-changing live broadcast kit has been used for the first time during Exercise Pitch Black 24 thanks to a few aviators combining their industry experience and a passion for innovation.
The adapted equipment, which fits in a backpack and can transmit a live video feed from anywhere in Australia – via a Starlink – has brought a new commercial-grade solution for public affairs specialists chasing news deadlines.
Squadron Leader Dean Squire, operations officer for 464 Squadron military public affairs (MPA), said the innovation was a solution for Defence MPA practitioners who were often among first responders at scenes of natural disasters, operations and civilian evacuations, and at the centre of global stories.
“The news cycle is driven by audiences who expect to see what’s happening in almost real time and our camera teams are often the first to arrive, and well ahead of journalists,” Squadron Leader Squire said.
“Getting imagery to news channels to meet their deadlines is a fantastic opportunity to show the public what Air Force and its aviators can do and the difference they make at times of crisis.
“News organisations are desperate for imagery and vision, but damaged infrastructure often prevents Defence from sharing product that showcases Air Force in time for news deadlines.”
A ‘game changer’, the Squadron deployed with Starlink for the first time on Pitch Black. Its super-fast connectivity to file imagery, no matter what the level of devastation and in time for bulletins, enables faster and wider communication effects.
Battery powered and using a simple $180 encoder, vision and audio are embedded via a single laptop input and adapted through existing camera equipment.
Using video conferencing software with a TV reporter earpiece provides live interview opportunities from any location to news organisations – the first successful live crosses were for Sunrise, Today and ABC News with the officer commanding Pitch Black.
International partners were quick to take advantage of the technology, with live Sky News and RTL broadcasts from the Italian flight line to their potential domestic audience of 13 million.
Commanding Officer 464 Squadron and Commander of the Combined Joint Information Bureau at Exercise Pitch Black, Wing Commander Pete Croce, said the team had excelled by rapidly developing a concept to full capability in just 10 days.
“Through our aviators using their industry experiences and having a good crack at a great idea, we have opened up the important Pitch Black story and literally beamed it into lounge rooms across Australia and Europe at an industry standard,” Wing Commander Croce said.
“Filing and broadcasting from the field presents a real opportunity to deliver immediate effects and will be a capability our military camera teams will be able to implement for emergent activities and HADR (humanitarian assistance and disaster relief) responses where media simply can’t get to.
“The team has effectively replicated a $500,000 commercial link truck with about $500 of investment in batteries and an earpiece, and used their ingenuity to adapt our existing cameras.
“That innovative behaviour has allowed national broadcasters to speak and interview directly into the exercise where they couldn’t access due to cost and distance – and they want to do more.”
In another first, the freedom of bespoke, dedicated connectivity delivered the first Air Force industry-grade live broadcast of the Mindil Beach flypast, adapted with commentary and multi-camera shoot – at no cost.
A multi-camera feed with commentary team via laptop over Starlink was fed to YouTube live. The 90-minute HD broadcast was tapped to an audience of 100,000 from across Australia, its region and Europe.
The ability to support evacuees in times of crisis by enabling a communication solution in a remote or devastated environment as they wait to embark an aircraft could also be a solution to stress and vulnerability.
