Motorsports is unforgiving. Cars race at blistering speeds, pit crews make split-second decisions, and fans demand nothing less than a front-row experience — whether they’re trackside or tuning in from home. For production teams, the challenge is just as intense: build, run, and dismantle a full live-streaming workflow in a matter of days, with no room for error.
That was the reality at the Malaysia Sports Festival’s Merdeka Race 2025, a two-day motorsport showcase held under the Malaysian sun. The event organizers extended an invitation for Kiloview to join the team and demonstrate how Kiloview’s NDI-based solutions could transform the live production workflow.
Why Traditional Broadcast Struggled on the Racetrack
Before turning to Kiloview and NDI, the workflow relied heavily on a mix of SDI cables, RF links, and SDI routers to extend signals around the racetrack. On paper, this might sound like standard broadcast practice, but in practice, it introduced real pain points:
- Limited reach, limited coverage: SDI cable runs are capped on how far cameras can go. This meant fewer angles and missed opportunities to capture the heart of the action.
- High manpower and cost: Long cable runs demanded significant manpower, with costs quickly adding up for both labour and cable infrastructure.
- Tight timelines: With only one day to set up during qualifying and the main race the very next day, there was no room for lengthy rigging.
- Weather and durability: Under Malaysia’s scorching heat, cables were prone to wear, affecting signal integrity.
- Lack of scalability: Adding new camera positions required more cable, more labour, and more time — resources that were already in short supply.
In motorsports, where flexibility and speed are everything, this approach was showing its limits.
Kiloview NDI Solution: Reimagining Live Production
To meet these challenges, Kiloview introduced an IP-based transmission workflow powered by NDI to replace much of the traditional cabling. This wasn’t just a technological swap — it was a rethinking of how live production could be done under intense constraints.
Kiloview-Powered NDI Workflow at Merdeka Race 2025
- Efficient NDI Transmission: The majority of signals were carried over NDI HX by Kiloview Full-Functional NDI Converter N5, balancing efficiency and quality while making the most of available bandwidth.
- Wireless Freedom: By deploying wireless access points in point-to-point mode, cameras could be placed almost anywhere around the circuit — pit lane, grandstands, even remote corners — without the burden of running physical cables.
- Streamlined Signal Flow: The Kiloview Distribution System CUBE X1 became the nerve centre, effortlessly routing feeds into the software-based switcher and monitoring systems. This cuts out the complexity of traditional routers.
- Smarter Communication: Even tally lights for camera operators — often a nightmare over long distances — were carried via NDI, keeping crews in sync no matter where they were stationed.
With Kiloview, what once required heavy infrastructure and teams of technicians has now become a lean, agile setup that could be deployed in under a day, ready to go live immediately.
Winning Results On and Off the Track
The outcome of adopting Kiloview’s NDI workflow was undeniable:
- Rapid setup and teardown: The production team was fully operational within a single day and could remove all equipment just as quickly once the event wrapped.
- Nonstop reliability: Over two days of live coverage, the workflow ran without interruption, despite the tough weather conditions.
- Expanded camera coverage: With NDI and wireless distribution, producers had the flexibility to add more angles and capture more of the race’s drama.
- Cost and manpower savings: Fewer cables and less setup work reduced both labour and infrastructure costs.
- A better fan experience: The audience enjoyed dynamic, multi-angle coverage that brought the thrill of motorsports to life, whether on big screens at the venue or online streams worldwide. While the organiser, without breaking the bank, delivers them also distribute them.
“After running several tests using wireless point-to-point connections, we discovered that a multi-camera production across a venue of this scale was not only possible but also stable and practical. This project proved that NDI HX is not just a technology suited for smaller productions, but a scalable and practical solution capable of transforming how live events are produced, even in challenging, large-scale venues like Sepang International Circuit.”
— Azrina Jane – Sales Manager from Midwich Asia Pte Ltd
“As a race organiser focused on mid-range budget racing series, setting up a full live production across Sepang Circuit was something we never considered possible — the costs were simply too high. Traditionally, it required heavy infrastructure and investment that only top-tier events could justify. When this solution was introduced, the cost of delivering high-quality coverage was reduced by more than half. That shift made live production not only affordable but also achievable for our category of racing. For us, it wasn’t just about streaming the race — it was about opening the door to professional-level production that was previously out of reach.”
— Adian’s View – Principle of MSF
The Merdeka Race proved what many in live production already suspect: NDI isn’t just a technology; it’s a mindset shift. It enables teams to be more creative, more flexible, and more resilient — all while reducing costs and simplifying logistics.
In motorsports, where speed and reliability define everything, Kiloview’s NDI workflow provided the perfect match for speed and reliability. By turning a traditionally cable-heavy workflow into a networked one, the team was able to focus on storytelling instead of troubleshooting.
In short, the race wasn’t just on the track — it was in the streaming production too. And with Kiloview and NDI, the team crossed the finish line with style.
