Introduction: A Brief Overview of TV 2 Denmark and Morten Brandstrup’s Role
TV 2 Denmark is the nation’s leading commercial broadcaster, producing a diverse range of content including 24/7 news, primetime programming, sports, and digital-first offerings. The organization is known for its efficiency and lean operation. Morten Brandstrup, Head of News Technology, leads innovation and production technology within the news division. With a four-decade career spanning every major production role—from cameraman and director to graphic and audio engineer—Morten brings a deep, hands-on perspective to modern broadcasting. His particular expertise lies in live storytelling, which has made him a passionate advocate for adopting new, flexible technologies like private 5G.
1. Origin Story & Vision of TV2 Denmark
Q: What was the initial vision behind TV 2 Denmark’s decision to deploy a private 5G network, and how did it align with your broader digital transformation goals?
Morten Brandstrup:
In reality, we weren’t initially interested in deploying a private 5G network. Ideally, we prefer not to manage the network layer at all. However, due to the lack of trusted, secure wireless networks on location, especially ones that met our production demands, we had no choice but to explore alternatives.
Our journey began with 4G, which worked well for news coverage, where latency wasn’t critical. But commercial networks lacked essential services and reliability for professional-grade live production. This led us to initiate our private 5G deployment, particularly through our involvement in the 5G RECORDS project, in collaboration with partners like Cumucore and the BBC. That initiative became the catalyst for our private 5G journey.
2. Private 5G Network Deployment Overview & Infrastructure Integration at TV2 Denmark
Q: Can you walk us through how deployment sites—such as studios, OB vans, or remote locations—were selected, and what infrastructure adaptations were required?
Morten Brandstrup:
TV 2 Denmark now uses a minimalist but powerful setup: a single 5G radio (antenna), connected to a server running Cumucore’s 5G core software. The radio resembles a Wi-Fi access point in size, making it simple to deploy. This setup enables multi-camera connectivity and full duplex communication—video feeds, audio intercom, camera control, tally lights, and machine signals—all over a single 5G connection.
We’ve integrated this setup across various environments:
- Studios: Like our breakfast/light entertainment studio where we use fixed setups but gain flexibility through wireless camera mobility.
- Remote/Ad Hoc Events: For temporary productions, such as political conventions or mobile news coverage, the deployment is fast, requires minimal cabling, and saves setup time.
- OB Vans and Venues: It’s particularly helpful in dynamic, on-the-go scenarios, replacing bulky infrastructure and complex wiring with compact 5G solutions.
3. TV2 Denmark’s Key Use Cases & Operational Benefits
Q: Which production scenarios—like live event coverage or wireless camera workflows—have benefited the most? Are there measurable improvements in efficiency or output?
Morten Brandstrup:
Absolutely. Wireless camera workflows have seen the biggest gains. Whether it’s live entertainment, sports, or news, mobility is essential. Traditionally, we used bundles of cables to set up static cameras at venues—a time-consuming and resource-heavy process. With private 5G, we can just place cameras where needed without the hassle, thanks to high-quality, low-latency wireless connectivity.
Additional scenarios where we’ve seen gains include:
- Live event coverage (e.g., Eurovision, sports matches): The flexibility to add roaming cameras.
- Press centers and post-event interviews: Enabling multiple countries’ production crews to operate wirelessly in congested areas.
- Temporary venues: Easily deployable for one-off productions with minimal technical footprint.
We’ve moved from trials to full production, seeing substantial time and cost savings while gaining agility in camera placement and crew workflows.
4. TV 2 Denmark: Spectrum, Security & Network Architecture
Q: How did you manage spectrum planning, and what were the key considerations around network security, data privacy, and compliance?
Morten Brandstrup:
We’re still in the early stages of spectrum planning. In Europe, the N77 band is designated for low-power private 5G use, but licensing is still in trial phases. In Denmark, regulatory approval can take three weeks, which is impractical for media, where you often don’t know three weeks in advance what events will need coverage.
From a technical perspective:
- We deal primarily with uplink traffic—sending high-quality video upstream—unlike consumer mobile networks.
- Our core and radio are self-managed, allowing priority control over traffic through TDD (time-division duplexing).
- Security-wise, 5G is inherently more secure than Wi-Fi, but we remain cautious of interference risks (similar to wireless mics). We always plan for contingencies.
We’re also experimenting with centralized core deployments in our data center. This allows us to place just a radio at the venue and link back to our core via Layer 2. It’s fast, secure, and easier to build redundancy.
“It’s a known risk. That’s why we design for resilience—fallback plans, centralized cores, and secure uplink-focused traffic profiles.”
5. TV2 Denmark: Strategic Impact & Future Outlook
Q: Looking ahead, how do you see private 5G evolving at TV 2? Are you exploring capabilities such as network slicing, 5G-Advanced, or deeper automation?
Morten Brandstrup:
We see future value in technologies, such as network slicing, AI-based network management, and possibly shared multi-tenant networks at large venues.
- Slicing is critical even in private setups. We divide traffic for device control, intercom, and video streaming—each with its own performance needs.
- In large venues (Eurovision, stadiums), we could share private 5G capacity across multiple media crews, while maintaining isolation via slicing.
- AI will be essential. Network visibility is limited; we need automated management tools that optimize in real-time.
- Latency improvement is massive: commercial networks deliver ~1.5 seconds; private 5G gets us under 200ms—huge for live media workflows.
We also anticipate 5G being delivered more like rental equipment in the future—bundled with cameras or mics, rather than operated by telcos. We currently operate the network entirely in-house with Cumucore; no mobile operators are involved. And that’s been a key lesson: broadcasters can manage this tech independently.
“Eventually, we expect private 5G to be just another part of the rental package—like a wireless mic or camera rig. You don’t need telcos for that.”
Currently, a two-person team runs TV 2 Denmark’s private 5G: one IT-savvy photographer and one connectivity expert, not the core IT department. This shows that small teams can deploy and manage advanced 5G, especially in the media domain.
Closing Thoughts
Hema Kadia (TeckNexus):
Thank you, Morten, for sharing such deep insights on the practical deployment and evolution of private 5G in the media space. Your experience highlights how 5G is not just a technical upgrade, but a fundamental enabler for transforming how content is captured, produced, and delivered.
Mika Skarp (Cumucore):
It’s been a privilege to be part of this journey. Private networks are changing work conditions, efficiency, and application models across industries, and the media is a leading example.
Morten Brandstrup:
Thanks for inviting me. It’s been a pleasure sharing our story and helping others understand that you don’t always need to rely on traditional telcos—you can do it yourself.
