Broadcasting the Winter Solstice at Stonehenge
- Admin
- 6 hours ago
- 3 min read
Broadcasting the Winter Solstice for English Heritage.
solo16 was invited by English Heritage to return to Stonehenge to broadcast their Winter Solstice event after conducting two Summer Solstice live streams that was viewed over 400,000 times.
solo16 once again delivered six-camera coverage, utilising advanced wireless technology, aerial shots, and meticulous pre-planning to capture the unique atmosphere while respecting the sacred nature of the space.
Multi-Camera Coverage with Minimal Intrusion
Strategically placed cameras captured the popular event from all angles with minimal intrusion to the public.
An essential factor was to uphold a discreet and respectful presence during the entire broadcast.
This approach influenced every decision, from the placement of cameras to the selection of equipment used.
Wireless Video
"Our cost-effective wireless camera solution enabled our team to transmit high-quality, low-latency video over long distances without the need for extensive cabling. This was crucial for English Heritage, as Stonehenge is an ancient protected site where laying cables would be both impractical and inappropriate. The progress in affordable wireless technology allowed us to deploy numerous cameras within a reasonable budget," explains solo16's Technical Director Tom Sykes.
The best possible angles.
Our licensed drone pilot added a dramatic aerial perspective to the coverage by capturing live drone shots during the broadcast using the latest large sensor drone.
Flying close to this renowned site necessitated meticulous planning and obtaining stringent permissions.
Stonehenge is located within restricted MOD airspace and Class D controlled zones, which meant Marcus needed to collaborate closely with Wiltshire Police and the Ministry of Defence to secure flight clearance.
Satellite Connectivity
Broadcasting from a remote and historically sensitive location poses major connectivity challenges, especially with thousands of people using the cellular network. To address this, solo16 set up several Starlink satellite dishes to deliver internet connections and also used some provided by the client.
Outside Broadcast Trailer
All camera feeds were fed into an outside broadcast (OB) trailer. Equipped with full vision mixing, graphics, and live audio management. We brought in Graham Essenhigh's production trailer for this event and it was expertly engineered by George and Graham.
The broadcast was transmitted using industry leader and long time partner LiveU.
'In past years, we handled the live streaming of this event on our own, however, this year we decided to hire in a specialist team and solo16 / StreamWorks we’re an ideal broadcast partner. Their impressive broadcast portfolio and professional approach instilled confidence in us from the beginning, and after collaborating with them for our 2025 Summer Solstice, we were pleased to invite them back for the Winter Solstice and I’m delighted with the end result.' - Lisa Crowther, Senior Social Media Manager, English Heritage.
You can watch the broadcast below. The event was also streamed on English Heritage's Facebook page.
As of 22/12/25 the streams on Facebook and YouTube had been viewed 284,000 times.
solo16 are proud to have helped English Heritage bring this event to a global audience while preserving the atmosphere and integrity of the site.
Cameras: Simon Vacher, Warren Green, Luke Redmond. Drone: Marcus Gaines Production: Graham Essenhigh, George Tarplee, Paula Pearcey, Frans Lytzen, Evie Cowen, Isobelle Rideout.
Director / Vision Mixer: Tom Sykes.
To find out how solo16 can bring professional live streaming to your event — even in the most sensitive or remote locations — contact us today.
