After leading broadcast innovation for more than 30 years, NEP Australia continues to deliver premium sports and studio content to the region’s major networks and streaming platforms.
From AFL and NRL to netball, international football, entertainment hits like The Chase, and top-tier boxing events such as SBW vs Gallen, NEP has earned a reputation for quality, agility, and technical leadership.
As the broadcast landscape evolved, NEP identified growing challenges in managing available RF spectrum, reducing setup times, and enabling more effective remote production.
To meet these needs, the team turned to Sennheiser’s Spectera wideband wireless ecosystem, a compact and bidirectional solution that uses software control to simplify and modernise traditional RF workflows.
“We provide broadcast services for most sporting codes in Australia, as well as a wide variety of studio shows. We were very excited to use Spectera across all of them”, explains Alex Wong, Senior Supervising Audio Director at NEP Australia.
NEP’s commitment to pushing broadcast workflows further made them the ideal partner for Spectera’s rollout in Australia. They had a very clear vision of how it could fit into their productions, and it was great to help shape everything from the ground up, says Peter Hall, Sales Manager, Pro Audio, Sennheiser Australia.
The challenge: RF spectrum saturation and logistical issues
NEP’s audio team faced an increasingly congested RF environment and the logistical burden of deploying multichannel systems. Spectrum coordination was especially challenging in cities like Sydney, where dense RF traffic limited flexibility.
“It’s a pretty hostile world out there for frequency management. We need something agile and easy to set up”, says Wong.
The logistical demands of Outside Broadcast (OB) production increased the need for simpler systems that would reduce time and equipment load at each event. Additionally, NEP’s shift toward remote production required systems that were reliable, remotely manageable, and required minimal on-site configuration.
The solution: Sennheiser Spectera
NEP implemented a Spectera wireless system that integrates microphones, IEMs, and control data into a single RF channel, simplifying frequency planning and reducing equipment complexity. The system includes a compact 1U Base Station, bidirectional SEK bodypacks, and DAD antennas, with remote monitoring through LinkDesk and the browser-based Spectera WebUI.
Initially attracted by the compact footprint and simplified cabling, NEP deepened its understanding of the system during a detailed technical RF session led by Volker Schmitt, Manager Technical Application Engineering at Sennheiser. “That session helped us see how Spectera could address our spectrum issues and improve remote control”, says Wong.
Today, Spectera is active across several key productions, including The Chase, Fox Footy, and AFL coverage, improving audio quality and streamlining workflows. Trials are also underway in sports and NRL events, demonstrating its versatility in live sports productions.
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Result: faster deployment, better audio, and smarter workflows
Since adopting the system, NEP has reduced setup time from several hours and substantial resources to under 40 minutes, allowing the team to focus on content production rather than technical logistics. Remote management has also improved: with Spectera WebUI and LinkDesk, engineers can monitor battery levels, RF performance, and pack status remotely, reducing the need for on-site adjustments and supporting NEP’s centralised and remote-first production model.
Spectera’s flexibility was also demonstrated during a live mariachi session, where engineers easily miked instruments and vocals—even using older cabling—showcasing its adaptability.
Furthermore, the implementation has transformed internal workflows: Spectera enables more responsibility to shift to A1s in central control rooms, reducing the workload on field-based A2s and enabling scalable, multi-site deployments.
The build quality is exactly what we expect from Sennheiser. But what really stands out is the flexibility and ease of use. We had the system installed and running in under an hour, and its footprint is only a quarter of what we’d typically need, says Annabelle Salomon, Audio Director at NEP.
The team also incorporates Neumann monitors and the Merging Anubis audio interface. Used alongside Spectera, they form “a very powerful setup” that allows the team “to transport, set up, and operate the system single-handedly”, adds Wong. “Clients were impressed with the small footprint, ease of use, versatility, and of course, how it sounded”.
From studio to stadium with Spectera
By mid-2025, NEP is preparing to bring Spectera into OB environments. Initial hybrid setups will combine the system with Sennheiser’s 6000 Series handheld microphones for increased versatility.
A recent trial took place during the live broadcast of the SBW vs Gallen fight at Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena, an indoor venue seating up to 20,000 people. The event provided a valuable opportunity to test Spectera at scale. Despite the complexity of the environment, the system performed seamlessly alongside NEP’s existing RF equipment.
“Even though it was a new setup, there were no nasty surprises. I was able to do most of the rigging myself”, shares Wong. “Once the system was up, the field crew—who hadn’t seen Spectera before—quickly adapted and ran it live; it sounded great”.
Following the success of this test, NEP is considering expanding Spectera’s use in high-profile sports broadcasts, including upcoming NRL events, where the combination of flexibility, fast setup, and reliable coverage could transform referee communications and IEM deployment.
“Our goal is to test Spectera for referees and IEMs in live games. The idea of placing a Base Station in the OB truck and running antennas out is a new opportunity for us”, says Wong.
A key focus is the upcoming integration of SMPTE 2110, a technology that allows audio signals to travel over IP networks instead of traditional cabling. This will enable Spectera to connect directly to mixing consoles, intercom systems, and commentary units remotely. “Its scalability and flexibility have already impressed us”, says Salomon. For NEP, 2110 will enable more connected, flexible broadcast workflows that overcome geographical limitations.
Wong sees this evolution as transformative: “If we can stream signals from anywhere to anywhere, we’re no longer limited by geography. That’s the future”.
Spectera: built with broadcasters, refined through collaboration
The long-standing collaboration between NEP and Sennheiser has been key in shaping several important products over the years.
Sennheiser has always built what we need. The MKH 8018 microphone, for example, filled a World Cup gap for us, and Spectera is exactly the same. They don’t just sell gear—they listen to the people who use it, says Wong.
As early members of the Spectera Pioneer Program, NEP provided feedback on UI design, hardware ergonomics, and bodypack monitoring—an opportunity Wong describes as rare in the industry. This level of collaboration allowed NEP to contribute to the evolution of the product, ensuring it met real-world broadcast demands.
Salomon adds that the collaborative process has been highly beneficial, and that the system’s adaptability fits perfectly within NEP’s evolving workflows.
Shaping the future of broadcast audio
NEP Australia’s implementation of Spectera represents a major step forward in simplifying and enhancing audio in live and remote productions. With faster deployment, improved sound, and a scalable architecture, NEP is optimising its production environments.
“Spectera isn’t just another RF system. It’s a shift in how we think about broadcast audio. And we’re ready for what’s next”, concludes Wong.
