Omicron connectors facilitate BBC Studios’ landmark ocean series
Teledyne Impulse-PDM, renowned for its high-performance interconnect solutions, has provided Omicron optical fibre connectors to BBC Studios for their upcoming underwater natural history series, premiering in 2026. The series features groundbreaking camera technology, custom-built to capture stunning marine life in the Arctic’s depths, with the support of Rev Ocean’s Aurora ROV.
To capture groundbreaking underwater content, BBC Studios and Marine Imagine Technologies designed a deep-ocean-rated camera system integrated with a telemetry bottle, the central hub for communications on the submersible. However, during the Arctic expedition, the crew encountered challenges connecting the camera system to the ROV’s telemetry bottle due to a missing optical fibre connector, critical for establishing communications for the system. Without this essential part, the team faced a considerable delay in capturing underwater footage.
BBC Studios reached out from their expedition for support and Teledyne Impulse-PDM rapidly supplied the Omicron 5030/5070 optical connectors, which deliver high-performance fibre connectivity in demanding environments.
Challenging conditions
Suitable for both single-mode and multi-mode operation, Omicron connectors were ideal for the BBC Studios deep-sea application and the stringent requirements of the Aurora ROV system. Despite a tight timeline, Teledyne Impulse-PDM was able to courier the connector to Svalbard, enabling the BBC Studios research crew to proceed with their mission.
The BBC production team praised Teledyne Impulse-PDM’s prompt support, stating: “Teledyne’s Omicron connectors were integral to keeping our project on track, and without the Teledyne team’s quick response we would not have been able to film in time.”
Commenting on the project, Carolyn Jones, head of business operations for Teledyne Impulse-PDM, said: “We’re delighted to support BBC Studios in their quest to capture the world’s natural wonders. Our Omicron connectors are specifically designed to perform reliably in the challenging conditions of deep-sea exploration, and we’re proud that our technology played a role in keeping this extraordinary project on schedule.”
This collaboration highlights Teledyne Impulse-PDM’s expertise in underwater communication technologies. The company specializes in designing and manufacturing reliable electrical and optical interconnection systems for use in challenging environments. Their products are used in diverse applications, ranging from oceanographic exploration and defence to offshore energy, medical devices, nuclear systems and wastewater management, demonstrating consistent performance under demanding conditions.