KAIROS enables one of world’s largest remote productions at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan

IOWN APN powers live stream of Beethoven’s 9th with a cast of 10,000

Osaka, Japan, September 8, 2025 – Panasonic Entertainment & Communication Co., Ltd. announced today that its IT/IP platform KAIROS played a pivotal role in the successful live broadcast of Beethoven’s 9th with a cast of 10,000, a major event held in April to celebrate the opening of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan. The production, one of the world’s largest IP-based remote broadcasts to date, leveraged an all-photonics architecture powered by the Innovative Optical and Wireless Network (IOWN), which is operated by Japanese telecom giant NTT. The exceptional operational reliability and flexible system architecture of KAIROS contributed greatly to the project’s success.

Instead of using conventional outside-broadcast vans, the production adopted a fully remote workflow. Live signals from 21 cameras and 64 audio channels were transmitted in real time over approximately 40 kilometers—from the Expo venue along the Osaka waterfront to the main sub-control room at the headquarters of Mainichi Broadcasting System, Inc. (MBS) in downtown Osaka. IOWN technology was used for transmission, NTT West, Inc. provided technical support and KAIROS was chosen for its seamless compatibility with IOWN. The exceptional operability and stability of KAIROS played a key role in the success of this unprecedented large-scale remote production. The event’s technical success highlights the potential of KAIROS for advanced video production and sets a significant technological precedent for future expos and international events.

Panasonic is committed to supporting creators who deliver powerful, emotional experiences through video by offering next-generation production solutions centered on KAIROS. Moving forward, Panasonic aims to help build an emotionally enriched world through its ever-evolving IT/IP platform KAIROS for creators and audiences alike.

Hosted by MBS, the event brought around 10,000 vocalists together at the Water Plaza and The Grand Ring of the Expo site to perform Beethoven’s 9th Symphony. The performance was streamed live via MBS’s YouTube channel and TVer—a free, ad-supported streaming platform offering on-demand access to programs from major Japanese broadcasters. It rained during rehearsals, but the skies cleared just in time for the performance. The powerful moment of 10,000 voices singing in harmony was miraculous, leaving a lasting impression on viewers worldwide.

Mr. Atsushi Ichikawa and Mr. Seiji Tanaka, TV Engineers of MBS, commented: “When we were tasked with producing a remote broadcast on this unprecedented scale, KAIROS was the first switcher that came to mind. It handled everything—from switching over 70 Gbps of video traffic to managing multi-screen output, video effects selection and recording signal routing—all within the KAIROS. Its software-defined architecture allowed us to adjust configurations on the fly, making it easy to respond to changing needs during the live production.”

Note: All-Photonics Connect powered by IOWN, a next-generation network service of the NTT Group, ensures high-speed, high-capacity, low-latency, and ultra-stable transmission by using dedicated optical wavelengths across all segments of the communication network. Please visit https://www.rd.ntt/e/iown/

The IT/IP platform KAIROS was configured with 36 video inputs and 16 outputs. Two audio channels were routed into the KAIROS and mixed with video for seamless, real-time distribution.

The IT/IP platform KAIROS transforms the video production environment by innovating every stage of the “capture–create–deliver” process. By integrating IT/IP-based infrastructure into workflows that require creative flexibility and high operational efficiency, KAIROS enables the production of high-quality content in environments optimized for today’s production needs. KAIROS eliminates conventional constraints on time, location and resources to expand the possibilities of video creation. As an ever-evolving platform, KAIROS continues to respond to the latest demands for video production.

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Panasonic Entertainment & Communication Co., Ltd. established in April 2022 as part of the Panasonic Group’s switch to an operating company system, is strengthening the bonds among people and enriching our customers’ lives by providing consumer electronics, including AVC products such as OLED TVs, Lumix digital cameras, headphones, phones, intercoms, and more, as well as business products and solutions including for broadcast, professional AV, and sound systems globally. Our mission is to offer people new emotion and relaxation through our entertainment and communication solutions. To fulfill this mission, we strive to act with professionalism to continuously recreate the future by connecting people. For more details, please visit https://www.panasonic.com/global/peac.