Customer Stories
Okinawa Television Broadcasting Streams Live Coverage of 29th Okinawa Marathon with Matrox Monarch EDGE S1
Okinawa Television Broadcasting Co., Ltd. (OTV) is a regional television station based in Naha, Okinawa, and a key affiliate of Fuji Television Network. OTV produces a wide range of programming, including local news, sports, documentaries, and entertainment, with a strong focus on community-driven content that reflects the unique culture and identity of Okinawa. OTV was tasked with delivering live coverage of the 29th Okinawa Marathon in 2024. With multiple relay points spread across the course and a need for clear communication and high-quality video transmission, the production team sought a reliable, efficient, and compact solution to power their live broadcast.
Challenge
For the Okinawa Marathon, OTV needed to establish video and audio links between its headquarters and two key remote locations: the start/finish line at the stadium and a mid-course relay point known as Kaiho Bridge. To achieve this, OTV traditionally used separate sets of encoders and decoders for each direction of transmission, as well as dedicated 4-wire intercom system lines for communication. This resulted in a complex system requiring multiple applications and heavy on-site equipment.
Solution
To streamline operations and improve reliability, OTV deployed four units of the Matrox Monarch EDGE S1: two at its headquarters, and one each at the stadium and Kaiho Bridge relay point. Unlike traditional setups that required multiple devices and dedicated communication lines, Monarch EDGE S1 offered an all-in-one solution capable of simultaneous bidirectional encoding and decoding, tally signal output, and supporting two-way intercom via balanced analog audio I/O.
The compact form factor significantly reduced equipment load while simplifying both signal flow and on-site setup. Monarch EDGE S1 also enabled high-quality SDI signal transport with low latency, while using fewer network lines overall. These devices also enabled seamless bidirectional signal transmission between the control center and both field locations, with no need for separate encoders, decoders, or external communication systems.
“We highly valued Monarch EDGE’s ability to handle everything in one box, including simultaneous bidirectional encoding/decoding, tally output, and audio talkback.” That combination was a clear advantage over other solutions and allowed us to significantly improve operational efficiency and reduce setup complexity.”
-Kouki Shohei, Production Technology Department at OTV
Results
By consolidating encoding, decoding, and communication into a single unit, OTV:
- Simplified system design and reduced setup complexity
- Replaced 4-wire intercom system circuits with intercom channels over standard audio interfaces
- Maintained high reliability across both video and communication links—critical for live outdoor production
- Enabled SDI signal transport between headquarters and field locations in both directions
- Reduced overall bandwidth use while preserving video quality and low latency
Looking Ahead
Following the successful deployment at the Okinawa Marathon, OTV continues to use Monarch EDGE S1 in various live broadcast scenarios. With its proven reliability and compact footprint, the team is actively evaluating the technology for future remote production workflows, aiming to reduce on-site crew and streamline live event logistics even further.