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Stephy Zhang

Table tennis fans had a unique experience watching star duo Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha beat their Uzbekistan opponents in the Asian Games, after state media used three smartphones to stream the match live to viewers back in China.
The reason for the extraordinary measure? Out of nine competition tables, organisers of the Asian Games equipped only Tables 1 and 2 with broadcast cameras, leaving the rest without live coverage. Wang and Sun played on Table 4 at Sky Hall Toyota arena on Wednesday.
As the primary rights holder for the Asian Games, China Media Group (CMG) had been expected to broadcast the match on television. However, viewers tuning into its sports channel were met with scrolling text reading: “No broadcast signal for this match.”
To accommodate fan demand, state broadcaster CCTV deployed reporters on-site to conduct a multi-angle “lightweight” live stream using three smartphones, broadcasting real-time footage on its sports app.
Marking possibly the first time state media has broadcast a major match via mobile phones, the makeshift solution amused fans who watched the live stream.
“Add this to the list of things I never thought I’d see in my lifetime, CCTV broadcasting a match on mobile phones. This Asian Games budget ... turning our heavyweight athletes into lightweight streams,” one fan wrote.

“No broadcast signal, no problem – our CCTV will stream it on phones themselves,” another remarked.
One commenter noted: “The ‘lightweight’ stream on the CCTV Sports app was actually good. The picture quality held up against the cameras on Tables 1 and 2. Audio and stabilisation were a bit worse, but the cameraman’s post-match tracking was fantastic! I didn’t even realise it was a person following them.”
The fans who tuned in watched Wang and Sun beat Shokhrukh Iskandarov and Arujan Kamalova 11-4, 14-12, 11-2 in the mixed doubles round of 32.
Normal broadcast service resumed for the men’s and women’s team semi-finals later that afternoon, as those matches were on Tables 1 and 2.
China’s women’s team, comprising Sun, Wang Manyu and Kuai Man, defeated North Korea 3-0 to advance to the final.
The women’s team final is scheduled for 6.30pm Hong Kong time on Thursday, where China will face either South Korea or Japan.


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‘No broadcast, no problem’: Chinese media uses smartphones to stream Asian Games

Wang Chuqin (left) and Sun Yingsha beat Shokhrukh Iskandarov and Arujan Kamalova of Uzbekistan in the mixed doubles round of 32 at the Asian Games. Photo: Xinhua

Reporters set up the smartphones for the table tennis match at the Asian Games. Photo: Douyin

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CCTV devises unique solution to show table tennis match with star duo Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha after organisers limit cameras at venue


CCTV devises unique solution to show table tennis match with star duo Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha after organisers limit cameras at venue.


Wang Manyu

Sun Yingsha

Wang Chuqin

CCTV

‘No broadcast, no problem’: Chinese media uses smartphones to stream Asian Games

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}CCTV devises unique solution to show table tennis match with star duo Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha after organisers limit cameras at venue

CCTV devises unique solution to show table tennis match with star duo Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha after organisers limit cameras at venue