FA cup final: Instant replays to fans' phones tested

Mobile operator EE and the BBC will test mobile
apps at the FA Cup final using 4G Broadcast

technology to offer instant replays to
watching fans.

The trial will work with 20 devices, with a public
service planned for 2016.

4G Broadcast helps solve the problem of limited
bandwidth which hinders streaming when
demand in one area, such as a stadium, is too
heavy.

But EE says it has no plans to reduce data
charges for viewers, who could use up to 800
MB of data to watch a match.


Instant replay

The two companies first trialled 4G Broadcast
at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow last
year. In that trial several streams were
offered to mobile devices reflecting the
coverage on BBC1, BBC3, and the BBC's red
button service.

This time around, the plan is to offer multiple
live camera angles of the FA Cup final alongside
replays of any goals or incidents within one
minute of them happening on the pitch.

Users will be able to select which cameras to
view the action from and for the first time
instant replay feeds will be stored on the
device in the background, so fans can easily
access key moments of the match during the
game.