- long runs that are not that long. hdmi does not like long cables at all. even an overhead projector in a classroom requires super expensive cables (ever wondered why it's still mostly vga?)
- packing multiple displays in a single cable. fiber is so thin that with trunk cables you get a lot of strands in a single cable, capable of running a lot of displays
- just getting a really thin cable that can be run in existing conduits or hard to reach places
I did buy such a cable for home for the third reason, to run from the PC in the office to the TV in the living room. It runs on a bog standard OM3 MPO cable. The specific one I got comes from HeyOptics and their website already showcases a few usecases [1]. (not affiliated, just a great product that just works)
As for stadiums and more generally broadcast video, they're using SDI instead of HDMI. Those are indeed most of the time fiber, both for range and weight (think of the cameraman running along the terrain during a sport event, and their long tail of cables). When they use HDMI it's more in the control room.
- long runs that are not that long. hdmi does not like long cables at all. even an overhead projector in a classroom requires super expensive cables (ever wondered why it's still mostly vga?)
- packing multiple displays in a single cable. fiber is so thin that with trunk cables you get a lot of strands in a single cable, capable of running a lot of displays
- just getting a really thin cable that can be run in existing conduits or hard to reach places
I did buy such a cable for home for the third reason, to run from the PC in the office to the TV in the living room. It runs on a bog standard OM3 MPO cable. The specific one I got comes from HeyOptics and their website already showcases a few usecases [1]. (not affiliated, just a great product that just works)
As for stadiums and more generally broadcast video, they're using SDI instead of HDMI. Those are indeed most of the time fiber, both for range and weight (think of the cameraman running along the terrain during a sport event, and their long tail of cables). When they use HDMI it's more in the control room.
[1]: https://www.heyoptics.net/products/8k-hdmi-mpo-optical-cable
(edit: fixed list formatting, I always forget this is not markdown)