LiveU has announced the first large-scale deployment of its AI-driven LiveU IQ (LIQ) technology at a multi-venue sporting event. This project looks forward to setting a new benchmark for enhanced IP contribution at the Winter Games.

Broadcasters relied on LIQ to try to manage connectivity in some of the most demanding live production environments – from crowded arenas to remote mountain venues. Around 60% of supported sessions were transmitted using LIQ, achieving over 36% higher average bitrates and enabling consistent 4K and HDR coverage, at scale. Broadcasters were able to rely on IP contribution as a primary workflow, supporting traditional broadcast and digital-first distribution strategies.

More than 980 LiveU units were deployed by broadcasters from 37 countries, delivering over 15,000 hours of live broadcast and a total of 134TB of live video across nearly 12,000 live sessions.

LIQ is designed to use AI-driven predictive congestion management and real-time network analysis to try to optimize transmission paths dynamically. By anticipating network congestion and adapting in real time, LIQ intents to enable broadcasters to maintain premium video quality even in highly complex, bandwidth-constrained environments.

“The Winter Games marked a pivotal moment for LiveU”, affirms Ophir Zardok, Head of Sports Strategy & Business Development, LiveU. “This was the first time LIQ was deployed across a global sporting event of this magnitude. The results validated our vision for AI-driven connectivity – delivering significantly higher bitrates while maintaining rock-solid resiliency across thousands of live transmissions. For broadcasters operating in remote, high-density and multi-venue environments, that level of performance changes what’s possible”.

Cloud and remote production workflows were used by rights holders and broadcasters to centralize operations and streamline multi-platform distribution. Solutions including LiveU Studio, LiveU Matrix and LiveU Record aimed to support flexible production models while reducing on-site crew requirements.

Austria’s national public broadcaster ORF deployed 23 LU800 units across Milan and Cortina, equipping 17 camera crews positioned throughout northern Italy. LiveU’s longstanding local partner, ETAS High-Tech Systems GmbH, provided the units and the local support.

Christian Zettl, TV Production Manager at ORF, explains: “The LiveU deployment gave us maximum flexibility and optimal conditions for bringing the Olympics into our viewers’ living rooms as comprehensively as possible, while also contributing to significant savings in production costs. We primarily used the LU800 units for interviews and playouts, but also for transferring our footage from helmet cameras and for broadcasting scheduled interviews with up to three cameras”.

“What we’re seeing is a fundamental acceleration toward intelligent, IP-based production,,” Zardok adds. “Broadcasters are no longer asking whether IP can handle premium live sports — they’re asking how far they can scale it. As we look ahead to the upcoming world football championship in the Americas, we expect this momentum to grow significantly”.