Capturing the Solstice: How solo16 Live Streamed Summer Solstice at Stonehenge
- Admin
- Jun 24
- 3 min read
Updated: 8 hours ago
Capturing the Solstice: How solo16 Live Streamed The Summer Solstice at Stonehenge for English Heritage to over 700,000 people.
For the 2025 Summer Solstice, English Heritage once again opened Stonehenge to the public for one of the UK’s most cherished and iconic celebrations. As part of their continued commitment to accessibility and inclusion, English Heritage partnered with solo16 to live stream the event to viewers across the world — covering both sunset on the evening before and sunrise on the morning of the solstice.
solo16 provided a multi-camera live broadcast that combined advanced wireless technology, aerial footage, and sensitive pre-planning to capture the unique atmosphere of this spiritual gathering while respecting the sacred nature of the space.
Multi-Camera Coverage with Minimal Intrusion
The production utilised a total of five cameras, strategically placed to capture the unfolding events from all angles.
A key element of the approach was to maintain a subtle and respectful presence throughout the broadcast. As solo16’s Director of Live Broadcasting, Tom Sykes, explained:
“It was essential that our production didn’t become the focus. We designed the setup to be as discreet as possible — minimal cabling, compact crew, and remote-controlled equipment — so that we could respect both the sanctity of the site and the people who had come to experience it in person.”
This philosophy guided every decision, from camera placement to equipment choice.
Wireless Video
One of the standout technologies deployed was the DJI SDR (Software Defined Radio) wireless video system. This cutting-edge affordable solution enabled the team to transmit high-quality, low-latency video over long distances without the need for extensive cabling — a perfect fit for an ancient, protected site where laying cables would be both impractical and inappropriate.
The SDR system allowed for real-time wireless video feeds from roaming cameras positioned across the landscape, maintaining a consistent signal back to the outside broadcast trailer.
Live Drone
Adding a dramatic aerial perspective to the coverage, the licensed drone pilot Marcus captured live drone shots during both the evening and morning events.
Flying near this iconic site required detailed planning and strict permissions.
Stonehenge sits within restricted MOD airspace and Class D controlled zones, meaning Marcus had to work closely with Wiltshire Police and the Ministry of Defence to obtain flight clearance. Flight plans were submitted well in advance, with strict safety protocols followed to ensure full compliance with airspace regulations and public safety requirements.
Using the latest DJI drone, the Mavic 4, solo16 captured smooth, cinematic footage during both sunset and sunrise, showcasing the full beauty of the site from above. Its quiet operation and next-gen sensor made it ideal for the low-light conditions and respectful environment.
Satellite Connectivity
Broadcasting from such a remote and historically sensitive site presents significant connectivity challenges not aided by thousands of people on the cellular network. To overcome this, solo16 deployed various Starlink satellite dishes to provide internet connections.
This included providing a direct SRT (Secure Reliable Transport) path via LiveU for the main wide camera shot. This ensured that even if the main mast with the aerial receivers experienced issues, a critical angle would remain live via a fully redundant route.
Outside Broadcast Trailer
All camera feeds, including the drone and wireless units, were routed into an outside broadcast (OB) trailer. With full vision mixing, graphics, and live audio management, the OB trailer enabled solo16 to quickly rig and de-rig after the event.
The broadcasts were transmitted using industry leader LiveU's video encoders.
“In the past, we’ve always live streamed this event ourselves. But with viewing figures approaching half a million in 2025, we decided it was time to bring in a specialist team.
solo16 / StreamWorks, based in Wiltshire, stood out as the perfect partner. Their impressive portfolio and professional approach gave us confidence from the outset.
We’ve enjoyed working with them to share the experience of the summer solstice at Stonehenge with viewers from across the world. – Lisa Crowther, Senior Social Media Manager, English Heritage.
You can watch the two films below. We also streamed on English Heritage's Facebook page.
The 2025 Summer Solstice at Stonehenge was not just a spiritual and cultural moment — it was also a technical showcase of how modern broadcasting can be harmonised with ancient tradition.
solo16 are proud to have helped English Heritage bring this event to a global audience while preserving the atmosphere and integrity of the site. Over 700,000 people watched the two broadcasts across the platforms.
Cameras: Simon Vacher, Warren Green, Christian Driver. Drone: Marcus Gaines Production: Paula Pearcey, Frans Lytzen, Gabby Martin, Angelli Greenslade Live Streaming Engineer: Dominic Irving Director: 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.
