Spiritland Productions, a leading name in audio technology, recently provided comprehensive communication and connectivity solutions for the annual Sidemen charity football match at Wembley. The company's state-of-the-art services were instrumental in ensuring seamless production and broadcasting of the event.
The charity match took place on 18 April, featuring 'Sidemen FC' against 'YouTube Allstars'. The star-studded line-up included popular personalities like KSI, AngryGinge, Max Fosh, and Niko. The game was organized to support Bright Side and M7 Education.
Spiritland Productions had its Connect Four OB truck stationed at the venue as part of a system that facilitated production comms and RF audio. This setup was rigged within an impressive six-hour timeframe by After Party Studios.
Comprehensive audio coverage
Over 80 Riedel Bolero comms were utilized during the event along with a Bolero S referee pack and referee camera. These devices were connected to both the stadium intercom system and broadcast equipment.
In addition to this extensive setup, Spiritland Productions also supplied all music playback equipment, microphones, IEMs (In-Ear Monitors), and infrastructure for Tinie Tempah's half-time performance. This ensured uninterrupted coverage from dressing rooms right up to the center of the pitch with assistance from Plus 4 Audio.
To enhance on-pitch audio coverage further, players were offered small Q5X RF packs that could be strapped onto them during gameplay - an offer one player availed themselves of. This was supplemented by stadium-wide RF coverage as well as pundit and presenter RF systems including all IFB in-ear feeds. This comprehensive network covered dressing rooms, tunnels, pitches plus intercoms for production areas allowing presenters complete freedom to roam while maintaining clear communication.
Live streaming and connectivity
Spiritland Productions also undertook some video work, live streaming the vertical video elements to the Sidemen YouTube channel using Connect Four’s bonding.
Spiritland released statement:
“The Sidemen Charity Match is a huge show for us, and it was great to be back for 2026. We were tasked with delivering flawless connectivity across every corner of a packed Wembley Stadium, ensuring presenters and pundits had total freedom to move while staying live on air and connected via talkback. We also enabled Tinie Tempah to start his set from the dressing room before walking into the stadium mid-performance. Delivering all of this required a mammoth radio frequency set-up, but it was a fantastic challenge – and even more rewarding to see it raise so much for charity.”
Furthermore, a sitewide WiFi network was provided for VixiUsers to connect and live stream mobile footage in the broadcast. This ensured that fans could enjoy an immersive viewing experience from multiple angles.
The successful execution of audio tech at the Sidemen charity match underscores Spiritland Productions' commitment to delivering top-notch audio solutions for large-scale events. Their expertise played a crucial role in ensuring smooth communication and connectivity throughout this high-profile charity football match, thereby enhancing both participant experience and viewer engagement.
