The recent riots across the UK were viewed by a nation spellbound by the unbelievable scenes being broadcast from such channels as Sky-carried Sangat TV. This live coverage of the violence as well as the heroic community outreach efforts—described as “jaw-dropping” by the Guardian—were made possible courtesy of the broadcaster’s earlier decision to lease two of LiveU’s LU60 units from local UK distributor Garland Partners Limited for a completely unrelated event.

In these fast-moving, volatile situations, LiveU’s flagship LU60 product cost-effectively provided Sangat TV with the ability to deploy camera operators quickly and with a mobility that satellite trucks simply could not do. With cameras hooked into a video-over-cellular uplink unit all carried by the camera operators in a backpack, images were able to be relayed instantly from the very heart of the riots.

This ability to broadcast these events might not have happened had Sangat TV—normally a Sikh religious channel—not leased the LiveU units from Garland Partners. The station had intended to use the units to provide live coverage of a visit of a famous Sikh preacher. However, Sangat TV was contacted by a local councillor in the Handsworth area of Birmingham who wanted to warn the local community and help them work with the police.

Rather than having the councillor come to the studio, reporter Randher Singh took an LU60 unit with camera attached, and broadcast the councillor live using 3G connectivity from outside a local temple. From that point on, the station brought live pictures of the riots to Sky viewers that others simply could not, all due to their use of the LiveU technology.