TGP Live Streaming

23. August 2006On the occasion of the Truck Grand Prix on the Nürburgring there were for the first time – in the course of a study – the commentaries at the circuit during a truck race broadcast via internet, as well as a life timing showing the results which were updated continuously. This project was supported by the ADAC Mittelrhein, the server company Manitu from St. Wendel and the “NOlimit Kartbahn – Öse’s kart circuit in Fulda”. Some 2,500 fans had logged on, some stayed non-stop all day long. As this was an absolute novelty, we had no idea how large an audience there would be. The capacities would have allowed about 2,000 users to listen to the Nürburgring Radio via internet at the same time, and with the additional server about 20,000 people could have watched the live timing simultaneously, the latter needing considerably less bandwidth than voice or even TV pictures transmitting.
It seems to be customary that, especially during the Truck Grand Prix on the Nürburgring, the most eager visitors of this website of the German speaking areas are all at the circuit anyway. And for all the truck racing fans speaking other languages – after all, they make up two thirds of the viewers – the commentaries in German would have been of no use. So, as expected, during the three days following the races there was a total of 282,745 page views, more than during the 3 days of the races with 243,623 page views.
In principle, we wanted to demonstrate that such a project could be realized at relatively reasonable costs. Instead of the commentaries and the live timing we could also have transmitted the TV picture directly via internet using a similar technique. Then the server capacities – of the image and sound qualities of the TGP video of D:SF as it can be watched now on this website – would have been sufficient for only 250 viewers at most, but certainly it would have been an easy task to increase the capacity.
It’s undeniable that the internet is the most promising information medium, and the purpose of this live streaming was primarily to demonstrate the extensive possibilities.
We would like to express once more our sincere thanks to the ADAC Mittelrhein, Manitu, and the “NOlimit Kartbahn” who, by giving their support, made it possible for us to realize this project.