Starlink, Suites, and the President: solo16 Brings Windsor to the World
- Admin
- Sep 28
- 2 min read
When global events occur, broadcasters need more than just cameras; they require dependable partners who can make the impossible appear effortless. This September, solo16 played a key role in providing broadcasted services in London and Windsor.
TURNING A WINDSOR HOTEL INTO A BROADCAST HUB
When it was announced that Donald Trump would be staying in Windsor as part of a second US state visit, solo16 understood that UK and international news organisations would require presentation positions in Windsor.
The team quickly booked rooms at a hotel across from the castle, providing broadcasters with excellent views of the castle.
Collaborating with the hotel, which had recently changed ownership, solo16 advised the senior management on the requirements of news orgs and worked closely with them to ensure balcony access for the presenters.
Four of the best rooms were secured, with the prime room reserved for solo16's own clients.
Since the hotel lacked a reliable wired connection, solo16 installed multiple Starlink dishes, one for each room. This provided dedicated, rock-solid connections for each broadcaster. While other crews struggled with unstable signals, solo16’s clients enjoyed seamless uplinks that kept their live broadcasts sharp and reliable.
Good Morning Britain broadcast every morning from room 1 with solo16 via our LiveU video encoder and Starlink.
You can see a few of the broadcast clips and one of our rooms in the video below.
From solo16's rooms, correspondents from ITV, AP, Bloomberg, AFP, and Turkish TV were able to share Trump's unprecedented second UK visit with the world — all thanks to careful planning, creative thinking, and a little bit of satellite ingenuity.
A BALCONY WITH A POLITICAL BACKDROP
Two day's prior to Trump's arrival solo16 provided multi-camera outside broadcasts from a London balcony with a view of the Houses of Parliament for Associated Press & their client.
The setting was breathtaking, with the Thames glistening below, Big Ben towering above, and Westminster offering a perfect backdrop.
Technically, it was quite challenging. Multi-camera broadcasts require precision, including matching cameras, good lighting, and ensuring clear audio despite the noise from London traffic and, in this instance, very strong winds and all on a balcony that is just 3.2m deep.
Two camera operators, multi-cameras, a teleprompter, location sound engineer and lighting were all supplied with the client handling the broadcast encoder and location.
The broadcasts were for a major US news network and guests included Dickie Arbiter a former press spokesman for Queen Elizabeth II and former UK Prime Minister Liz Truss.
solo16’s experienced team worked with quiet confidence turning a tiny balcony into a temporary TV studio. On air, everything looked effortless.
Why Broadcasters Trust Solo16
What ties these two projects together is trust. UK and global news networks know that when the pressure is on, solo16 delivers. Whether it’s deploying Starlink technology in Windsor to guarantee connectivity or orchestrating complex multi-camera productions in Westminster, solo16 ensures broadcasters can focus on the story — not the technical hurdles. Every detail is considered.
To discuss your special event or outside broadcast needs please do contact us.
