World Record Live on Air I User Story

Broadcast Connectivity for Extreme Swimming Around Ibiza

When a sporting World Record is at stake, how do you deliver an uninterrupted livestream from a moving support boat to thousands of watchers?

With athletes swimming 110 kilometres across the open Mediterranean - day and night, through currents and choppy waves - it takes more than cameras and courage.

There is also the technical challenge of bringing this adventure into viewers' living rooms - live and without interruption.

The challenge: 110 kilometres of livestream on the open sea

When extreme swimmers Nathalie Pohl and Andy Donaldson set out to become the first people ever to swim around the island of Ibiza, TV production company TVN PRODUCTION faced a demanding task.

How do you deliver an uninterrupted 31-hour livestream from a moving support boat in the middle of the Mediterranean directly to thousands of viewers?

The companies involved in the project - Streamworks, Team A Media, and production agency MEAT Production - worked together with TVN PRODUCTION, part of the TVN GROUP, to develop this ambitious concept.

Their goal? To stage this historic moment as a live event for DVAG (Deutsche Vermogensberatung), the client and main sponsor of the Ibiza Swim Challenge.

Specialists came together for each area. Streamworks coordinated overall production, Team A Media handled editorial content, MEAT Production provided camera teams and equipment, whilst TVN PRODUCTION managed all the technical aspects for directing, streaming and drones.

Venn Telecom ensured the broadcast connectivity - delivering a stable connection between boat, land and broadcaster.

The challenge: broadcast connectivity

Constant movement: The support boat followed the swimmers for 31 hours around the entire island.

• No terrestrial infrastructure: There's no fixed-line connection or reliable mobile masts in the middle of the sea.
• Critical time window: When you're attempting a world record, every second counts - connection dropouts aren’t an option.
• Round-the-clock operation: From Thursday morning to Friday midday, the transmission had to stay rock-solid.
• Weather conditions: High waves, challenging currents, and salty sea air puts hardware through its paces.

The solution: Venn Telecom makes the difference

This is exactly where we came in. As specialists in business-critical connectivity in challenging environments, we brought the expertise this event demanded.

Our job was to give the production team an absolutely reliable internet connection, with no faltering, for 31 hours straight.

Our technology in action:

We combined multiple connectivity layers into one rock-solid connection:

• Satellite connectivity: Our enterprise-ready Starlink setup delivered consistent bandwidth, even miles from any coastline.
• 5G bonding: Multiple 5G connections were bundled together to guarantee maximum failover protection.
• Peplink routing technology: Using SpeedFusion bonding, we united all data sources into one robust main line.
• Remote monitoring: Our team watched the connection round the clock so we could react instantly to any fluctuations.

The success: World Record and a perfect livestream

On 3rd October 2025 at 14:27, they did it: Nathalie Pohl and Andy Donaldson reached the finish line at Playa d'en Bossa after exactly 30 hours, 57 minutes, and 49 seconds.

They had become the first people ever to swim completely around the island of Ibiza in relay mode - and every single second was broadcast live.

Here are the numbers:

• 31 hours of uninterrupted live transmission
• 120 kilometres of broadcast coverage on open water
• 150,000 euros raised for charity
• Hundreds of thousands of viewers followed the event live on Magenta TV

For everyone involved, the event was a complete success. Viewers experienced first-hand how both athletes battled against currents, seasickness and exhaustion. They saw the darkness of night, the changing conditions, and the triumphant moment when both swimmers tackled the final four kilometres together.

Why Venn Telecom was the right partner

This project demonstrates our mission: We deliver connectivity where it really counts.

Whether on the high seas, in remote regions, or at time-critical live events - we combine the best available technologies into tailored solutions.

Your next live event with Venn Telecom

Are you planning a broadcast from a hard-to-reach location, or a live event where downtime isn't an option? Do you need reliable connectivity for mobile production teams?

Talk to us about your specific requirements. We'll analyse your situation and develop a solution that works - guaranteed.

Venn Telecom: Reliable connectivity, anywhere.

Project partners

• DVAG– Client and sponsor
• Magenta TV – Broadcasting platform
• TVN PRODUCTION (TVN GROUP) – TV production company
• MEAT Production – Production agency
• Team A Media – Editorial management
• Streamworks Production – Overall production
• Venn Telecom – Broadcast connectivity