How Telemak (now 2 Stream) got involved in one of the worlds most challenging live stream

Christophe Lenaerts
Aug 2
2 min read

In 2006, long before live streaming was mainstream, Telemak (now 2stream.live) was tapped to make history — with a project so ambitious, most thought it couldn’t be done.

The occasion? The global launch of Jean Paul Gaultier’s new fragrance, Gaultier² — an event designed to blend art, culture, and technology in real time, across continents.

Rencontres - Gaultier² fragrance launch making of

The Concept: An Artistic Collision Between East and West

Directed by David Mileikowsky for Milly Films, the production brought together two artistic powerhouses:

Zhang Yimou, legendary Chinese filmmaker, performed calligraphy and poetry live from Beijing
Maxim Vengerov, world-renowned violinist, performed live in Wiesbaden, Germany

Each location was equipped with three cameras, feeding live video both ways. Meanwhile, a technical team in Zaventem, Belgium handled real-time editing of all six feeds, streaming the final output live to 600 VIP guests across the globe.

The China Factor: A Massive Technical Hurdle

Doing a live stream from China in 2006 was like walking a tightrope with no net. There were no local partners, no accessible production infrastructure, and no guarantee the internet would even allow outbound video traffic.

Sourcing equipment in Beijing was nearly impossible. From encoders to switchers to basic signal converters, everything had to be shipped in — often blindly, with no on-the-ground fallback options.

The biggest challenge? Getting a stable, high-bitrate live video feed out of China. We weren’t just pushing signal — we were pushing boundaries.

Christophe Lenaerts: Calm in the Chaos

At the center of this high-wire act was Christophe Lenaerts, who led the technical side of the production. With no room for failure, Christophe architected and executed one of the most complex live streaming infrastructures ever deployed at that time.

Nothing failed. Nothing dropped. The stream was executed perfectly — a staggering achievement considering the conditions.

Apple Took Note

Apple was so impressed by the technical execution — and the role its technology played — that it featured the entire production as Video on Demand on the Apple homepage. The video drew millions of views per day, becoming a case study in how live streaming could be used to launch a global brand moment.

From Telemak to 2stream.live

This event wasn’t just about fragrance. It was about possibility. About showing that live streaming could be artistic, global, and flawless, even under the hardest conditions imaginable.