Remote evaluation study: Prepared for distant, digital touchdown
In a groundbreaking collaboration, RTL Deutschland, LTN, and Lumen have combined forces to deliver high-quality, low-latency NFL broadcasts for German audiences. This innovative remote live sports workflow, which was first announced in March 2025, has proven to be a game-changer for the future of international NFL broadcasting.
The Super Bowl LIX broadcast, produced using LTN's on-site production services and Lumen Vyvx Broadcast Solutions' extensive reach and low-latency connectivity, was a major milestone for RTL Deutschland. Over 1.7 million peak viewers tuned in to watch the event, with over 1.46 million football fans watching live throughout the night, peaking at up to 1.71 million viewers.
This remote workflow streamlines operations, produces localized fan experiences, and increases audience engagement. It allows RTL to deliver seamless, immersive live NFL coverage directly from venues like the Caesars Superdome to German viewers, ensuring mission-critical reliability and future-ready production quality.
Jens Schmitz, RTL’s head of sports production, emphasizes the importance of this collaboration, stating, "We aim to be innovation leaders in European NFL broadcasting, relying on this fully integrated, managed solution for live event producing and delivery."
The hybrid production model used by RTL blends best-in-class on-site and centralised workflow with the combined experience and innovation strength of live sports and remote production partners. The broadcast setup combined on-site production services from LTN, transmitted over by Lumen, with RTL's production facility in Cologne, Germany.
Mike Burk, LTN’s general manager, prioritizes delivering reliable and streamlined live venue-to-viewer sports workflows that maximize value and customization for rights holders. He highlights the rising demand for low latency transmission and flexible production services as rights holders push to bring more live events to global audiences.
The partnership between RTL, LTN, and Lumen set a new benchmark on the transmission side, using more capacity on the Vyvx network - over 500 GB - than any previous broadcasts of this magnitude. This partnership proves that when they combine production and transmission services as a unified team, they deliver a truly leading solution, especially for forward-thinking customers like RTL.
Schmitz concludes by emphasizing RTL's audience-first approach, stating that everything they do is about creating unique experiences for their audience. He emphasizes the importance of integrating specialised graphics and on-screen elements for German audiences with different viewing habits or expectations compared to fans in the US.
This collaboration is a best-in-class example of how venue-to-viewer workflows can deliver state-of-the-art, high-quality NFL broadcasts internationally by integrating remote production expertise with robust, low-latency broadcast infrastructure. The Philadelphia Eagles defeated the two-time defending champions, Kansas City Chiefs, in Super Bowl LIX, making it a night to remember for NFL fans in Germany.
Data-and-cloud-computing technology played a significant role in the successful delivery of high-quality, low-latency NFL broadcasts for German audiences. The hybrid production model used by RTL blended the best-in-class on-site production services from LTN with Lumen's extensive reach and low-latency connectivity, effectively utilizing a powerful combination of sports, technology, and American football expertise. European leagues and NBA games were also streamlined and produced using this innovative workflow, demonstrating its versatility and potential impact across various sports communities.
