The RC Racing TV team flew to Estonia with knowledge in their heads and essentially with their hands in their pockets. Television.ee brought the entire necessary technical solution to Rakvere – the broadcast station, cameras, audio, connections, and Estonia's Biggest TV.
The 1:8 electric buggy European Championships 2026 took place in Rakvere from 17–19 July. Over the three days, more than 20 hours of live broadcast reached an international audience, with over 50,000 live views in total. Post-race recordings and video clips are continuing to gather views.
The broadcast made by RC Racing TV in co-operation with EFRA and RC-Modelshop was sent to the most popular channel in the sport RC Racing TV Youtube and was partially visible on a huge Trackside LED screen. Viewers followed the action from all the continents, but were mostly from Europe.
Fast sport, in which everything happens at once
RC car racing is a rewarding field for television production: the sport is fast, visual, and full of action, and the entire track is, as it were, laid out on a platter for both spectators and cameras.
However, good visibility does not mean that a race is easy to narrate on television. In one short race, there can be 12 cars on the track at the same time, and in several places, overtakes, errors, and situations that change the outcome of the race can develop simultaneously. The director must be able to see the whole story of the race behind individual events and decide in a split second what to show the viewer.
Cooperation with RC Racing TV director Mat McCallum and commentator Tom Cockerill played a key role in this. They could fly to Estonia essentially „with their hands in their pockets“ because Television.ee handled the technical side of the entire broadcast on location.
The production was organically linked to the course of the competition by Rando Mere, who has over a quarter of a century of experience in model car racing. This allowed him to simultaneously fill roles on both the production and organisational sides of the competition, and to help the international television team understand which situations on the track deserved attention at that particular moment.
Comprehensive mobile television production
In Rakvere, we used our Big Blue OB Bus along with a complete mobile production solution. The production had at its disposal:
- Three track cameras cameras with three operators;
- one shoulder camera;
- two static cameras;
- drone;
- additional surveillance cameras to monitor competitors and key points of the track;
- Replay solution;
- Automated timing and results graphics.
The timing information automation was solved by RC Racing TV. Television.ee's regular replay system helped to quickly bring important race situations back on air. Additional recording cameras, however, provided the opportunity to assess situations that were not currently on the main broadcast if needed. Thus, the video solution not only served the viewer but also contributed to the fair and correct running of the race.
One event, four different sound mixes
The most technically exciting part of the production was the sound. You couldn't just send the same audio program everywhere because different areas required different information, volume levels, and source balances.
Separate audio programmes were made:
- to competitors and the track area where judges' instructions should be heard;
- to spectators where Estonian commentary and music could be heard;
- Pit area with ambient music and English commentary;
- And into the international live broadcast.
Through Television.ee, all sound direction took place for both the broadcast and the competition area. This meant that commentary, competition information, interviews, and the on-site programme reached each zone exactly as needed.
Local internet, 5G and Starlink as one reliable whole
For an international live broadcast lasting over 20 hours, the internet connection cannot rely on a single cable or provider. Video footage was transmitted from the Rakvere track using a combination of local internet, 5G, and Starlink.
The use of multiple independent connections is a common practice for Television.ee. Fluctuations in one solution do not necessarily mean a break in transmission, and production can continue even in situations where the usual internet connection at the event venue alone would not be sufficient.
Estonia's largest TV was more than just a results screen
In addition to the OB Bus, in Rakvere, was also present Estonia's Biggest TV. The 7 × 4-metre mobile LED screen showed the audience the race results and interviews, and also made the television production visible to people present at the venue.
After the competition day, the same screen, however, became a shared viewing area for the Football World Cup final. One mobile solution served both the event organisation, the spectators' information needs, and the evening's programme.
The construction began the day before the race
The Television.ee team had been to the RC Rakvere track previously, as we had built a stationary sound solution, screen management, and transmission solution there. The main technical setup for the European Championships began on the morning of July 16th, just one day before the start of the competition.
With a production of this magnitude, the setup doesn't need to take several days if the systems are prepared, compatible with each other, and transported to the venue on wheels. By the start of the competition, the television broadcast, various sound zones, an on-site screen, and an internet solution comprising multiple connections were all ready.
Team
- Mat McCallum, RC Racing TV – director
- Tom Cockerill, RC Racing TV commentator
- Tristan Põder – responsible technician
- Reuben Blackbird Technician
- Hugo Leinola – camera operator
- Patrick Mere – camera operator
- Frederic Mere – camera operator
- Markus Tähepõld – camera operator
- Rando Mere – production and competition collaboration and drone footage
Estonia can be a destination for international sports
The European Championships held in Rakvere demonstrated that Estonia can organise an international sporting event at the highest level. And with professional television coverage, it reaches tens of thousands of viewers worldwide, spreading Estonian culture and image widely.
The event organiser does not need to build a television production from scratch or bring in an entire technical park from abroad. An international director, commentator, or rights holder can bring their knowledge and format – we will provide everything else.
Are you organising a competition in Estonia?
We help make this attractive for the local audience, international viewers, and foreign guests alike. Television.ee handles teleproduction, cameras, sound, replays, internet connections and a large LED screen as a complete package.
Are you looking for a local technical partner for an international competition?
Invite your director and commentator to Estonia. There's no need to buy extra luggage for the plane for technical equipment – our production solution is on wheels, quickly deployable, and ready for international live broadcasting. Our solutions are also built to travel across Europe, if needed ;)
Tell us about your next competition, and we'll put together a suitable comprehensive solution for it.
