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NEWSCASTSTUDIO.COM
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NEWSCASTSTUDIO.COM
Cloud adoption and streaming technol-
ogy investments lead broadcast industry
priorities, while concerns about artificial
intelligence and workflow challenges per-
sist, according to NewscastStudio’s annual
industry survey.
The survey gathered responses from 312
broadcast and media professionals. Among
respondents, 30% make final purchasing
decisions, while 52% contribute to product
research and specifications. Sixty-seven
percent identify as long-term Newscast-
Studio readers, having followed the publi-
cation for over a year.
Digital transformation progress
Sixty percent of broadcast profession-
als report implementing cloud production
tools, though implementation challenges
remain. Cost emerged as the primary bar-
rier, cited by 33% of respondents, followed
by workflow complexity (25%), security
concerns (17%), lack of technical expertise
(15%) and uncertain return on investment
(9%).
Two-thirds of organizations report in-
vesting in streaming, FAST or OTT delivery
tools, highlighting the industry’s continued
shift toward digital distribution.
“A big question for my newsroom is
how to translate what we make for TV to
third-party, online platforms. The work-
flows for this are slow and clunky... just to
get one broadcast segment published on-
line,” a survey respondent noted.
Industry innovation
and adaptation
Sixty percent of respondents agree
the industry is adapting to technological
change, while 44% believe the broadcast
industry is innovating in coverage. Regard-
ing workflow solutions, 51% agree current
broadcast production solutions meet their
needs.
One respondent addressed the state
of local news: “The mindset in local news
needs to shift to survive in a new time when
content is more accessible and local news
isn’t as necessary as it once was.”
Artificial intelligence emerges as both a
tool and concern for broadcast profession-
als. Forty-four percent report their orga-
nizations are implementing AI or machine
learning tools in everyday workflows. How-
ever, 51% express concern that AI technol-
ogy could eventually replace their position.
“AI and viewers getting information from
other sources is a growing problem that
could make broadcast obsolete, and we as
an industry need to face these facts,” a sur-
vey respondent noted.
Industry composition and outlook
from survey
The survey represents a cross-section of
the broadcast industry:
• National network and cable channels:
28%
• Local broadcast afliates: 25%
• Corporate and non-traditional media:
20%
• Streaming operations: 11%
• Production and post-production: 6%
• Vendors, integrators and consultants:
6%
Respondents’ most popular job titles
included broadcast engineer, technical di-
rector, producer, creative services director,
graphics specialist, C suite (including CEO,
COO, CIO, CTO), news director, editor and
production head.
Budget outlooks for 2025 remain stable,
with most respondents reporting their bud-
gets stayed the same or saw slight changes
in either direction.
Trade show attendance increased from
the last survey, with 49% of respondents
planning to attend major industry events
such as NAB Show, IBC Show or Live De-
sign. Twenty-six percent remain neutral on
trade show attendance.
“I do not believe that the broadcast in-
dustry is dying the way many people in the
industry believe,” one respondent noted. “It
is changing drastically and might cut back
in many areas but will not die out. I do be-
lieve, however, that local news stations
must do a better job adapting to this new
age and making more content that afects
viewers. Just reciting the news and spitting
back press releases won’t cut it any longer.”
The survey was conducted online be-
tween November 2024 and January 2025.
Results reflect responses from 312 News-
castStudio readers who opted to partici-
pate.
The self-selecting sample is not scientific
and may not represent the views of the en-
tire broadcast industry.
Ω
The initial wave of AI tools addresses
specific pain points rather than transform-
ing the entire journalistic process.
What they’re good at is clear: stream-
lining repetitive work, providing faster
insights and reducing production bottle-
necks. Transcription tools convert hours
of interviews into text in minutes. Analytics
systems surface real-time audience data
that once took days to compile. Content
management solutions adapt stories for
multiple platforms without manual refor-
matting. These applications target the ad-
ministrative burdens that drain journalists’
time and energy.
However, how these tools integrate into
newsrooms comes with important caveats.
Implementation requires significant in-
vestment in both technology and training.
Connecting AI systems with legacy infra-
structure often proves more complex than
vendors suggest. Quality control remains
essential as automation introduces new
errors requiring human oversight. Small-
er newsrooms may lack the resources to
adopt these technologies, potentially wid-
ening the digital divide in journalism.
Short-term realities
vs. long-term possibilities
The long-term impact of AI on journal-
ism will likely be more transformative
than current applications suggest but also
more complex.
Newsrooms that efectively integrate
AI or machine learning tools may redirect
resources toward investigative and com-
munity-focused
journalism.
Enhanced
data analysis capabilities could strengthen
reporting on complex topics like climate
change or public finance. Personalization
tools might help rebuild audience relation-
ships and subscription models.
Yet legitimate concerns persist.
AI development primarily serves com-
mercial interests that may not align with
journalistic values. Algorithmic systems
often perpetuate existing biases in news
coverage. Overreliance on automation
could erode essential editorial skills in
newsrooms. Market concentration may
accelerate as resource-rich news organi-
zations outpace smaller outlets.
And, of course, there is the sticky issue
of AI training data, which the legal system
may eventually weigh in on.
A balanced path forward
The most realistic approach for news-
rooms involves neither wholesale rejec-
tion nor uncritical embrace of AI technol-
ogies. But before jumping to AI solutions,
many newsrooms need to address more
fundamental technological challenges.
Cloud transformation represents a more
immediate priority, moving from legacy
on-premise systems to flexible, scalable
infrastructure that can support modern
workflows. This digital foundation — not
AI itself — often delivers the first wave of
efciency gains.
Adopting hybrid workflows that blend
remote and in-ofce collaboration has be-
come essential alongside cloud migration.
The pandemic accelerated this shift, forc-
ing newsrooms to develop systems where
journalists, editors,and producers could
coordinate seamlessly across locations.
These hybrid models, when thoughtfully
implemented, provide the flexibility and
resilience that modern news operations
require.
Once this foundation is established, tar-
geted AI implementation should identify
specific workflow problems where auto-
mation ofers clear benefits.
Newsrooms must maintain editorial pri-
macy, ensuring technology serves journal-
istic judgment rather than replacing it.
Investment in digital literacy is crucial
to equip journalists to understand both
the capabilities and limitations of these
tools. Clear ethical frameworks and poli-
cies will help protect journalistic integri-
ty. Perhaps most importantly, newsrooms
should measure whether these technolo-
gies actually free up time for higher-value
journalism or simply add another layer of
complexity.
The future of journalism doesn’t hinge
on technological adoption.
It depends equally on business model
innovation, rebuilding audience trust and
recommitting to core civic purposes of the
profession.
Neither cloud transformation nor AI will
single-handedly save journalism. These
technologies represent factors in a com-
plex ecosystem of challenges and oppor-
tunities facing an essential institution. The
newsrooms that navigate this landscape
successfully will approach technology
with openness and skepticism — willing to
evolve while remaining anchored in jour-
nalistic principles.
Continued from previous page
Haivision report highlights broadcast’s tech evolution
SURVEY
Haivision has released its sixth annual
“Broadcast Transformation Report,” provid-
ing insights into technology adoption trends
shaping the industry in 2025.
Based on responses from nearly 900
broadcast and media professionals sur-
veyed between November and December
2024, the report highlights the growing role
of artificial intelligence, 5G, cloud technol-
ogy, and video transport protocols in live
production.
The report shows an increase in Secure
Reliable Transport adoption, with usage
growing from 68% in 2024 to 77% in 2025.
Meanwhile, Real-Time Messaging Protocol
remains the second most-used transport
protocol at 58%.
Broadcasters are also turning to 5G to
improve efciency, with 76% of those using
cellular networks relying on the technolo-
gy. Key benefits cited include greater band-
width, lower latency, and cost savings.
Artificial intelligence adoption has more
than doubled, with 25% of respondents in-
corporating AI into their workflows, up from
9% the previous year.
Additionally, 64% believe AI will have the
most significant industry impact over the
next five years. Cloud technology continues
to grow steadily, with 86% of broadcasters
using it in some capacity. However, hybrid
models remain dominant, as 49% of respon-
dents reported using cloud technology for
less than a quarter of their workflows.
Video compression technology is also
evolving, with High-Efciency Video Coding
usage rising to 70%, closing in on the lead-
ing H.264 standard, which is used by 79% of
respondents.
“The findings in this year’s Broadcast
Transformation Report reveal both the ex-
citing innovations and the persistent chal-
lenges facing broadcasters today,” said Mar-
cus Schioler, vice president of marketing at
Haivision. “From the continued expansion
of SRT, 5G, and AI to the measured adoption
of cloud technologies, broadcast ecosys-
tems are evolving to leverage new tools that
drive efciency, enhance production quali-
ty, and future-proof their operations.”
The report underscores the balance
broadcasters are maintaining between
emerging technologies and legacy infra-
structure. While AI and 5G adoption are on
the rise, many broadcasters remain cau-
tious with cloud migration, reflecting a pref-
erence for hybrid workflows.
NewscastStudio finds digital transformation
continues despite implementation challenges