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NEWSCASTSTUDIO.COM
By MATT ANTALEK
Director of engineering, BitFire
Conventional live production has always
required a carefully choreographed de-
ployment of just the right technology and
talent, in the right place at the right time.
Over the years, this model created reliance
on massive production trucks, dedicated fi-
ber lines, and satellite transmission to sup-
port live event broadcasts and streams. But
more recently, the advance of remote pro-
duction techniques and tools has brought
content producers fresh opportunities to
streamline workflows, cut costs, and in-
crease flexibility.
Shifting from experimental concepts to
fundamental components of modern broad-
cast workflows, today’s software-defined
tools allow for more agile, scalable produc-
tions without sacrificing quality.
Natural evolution, not radical shift
The shift toward cloud-enabled live pro-
duction has been met with both excitement
and hesitation. A
move away from
physical
equip-
ment greatly re-
duces
expensive
capital
invest-
ments, while re-
ducing the risk of
obsolescence and
the
extra
costs
associated
with
downtime
and
shipping. Still, a
foremost concern
among
broad-
casters has been
that the shift to software-defined tools and
cloud-enabled workflows would completely
upend decades of best practices while forc-
ing engineers and operators to learn en-
tirely new ways of working. Those are valid
concerns, but it doesn’t have to be the case.
The goal of modern cloud-enabled pro-
duction environments is to build on what
already works, offering a more flexible and
accessible model for high-quality produc-
tion — without requiring a massive overhaul.
Systems are designed to feel familiar, main-
taining the traditional separation of switch-
ers, replay, and graphics while integrating
them into a modular, scalable cloud frame-
work. This approach ensures that directors,
engineers, and technicians who have spent
years mastering their craft can step into
modern workflows with confidence.
Flexibility without sacrificing
quality
The modularity of cloud-enabled live
production is one of its greatest strengths.
Rather than undertake a full migration
from existing infrastructure, broadcasters
and production teams can utilize a hybrid
approach as needed..
Whether spinning up an altcast for cus-
tomer graphics, different announcers, or
replay angles, content producers can im-
plement just the tools they need for just
the length of time they need it. Free from
physical and geographic constraints, they
can call on their most talented operators
more frequently and with greater flexibil-
ity, without added travel time and costs.
They can make a gradual shift, or adopt a
hybrid workflow, rather than take an all-
or-nothing approach.
Because software-defined tools can be
deployed on the ground, in the cloud, or
in hybrid environments, production teams
can find a balance that optimizes use of
existing investment and pay-as-you-go ap-
plications and services. Moving away from
rigid hardware-based solutions, operators
can more easily configure and scale their
tools to match the specific needs of each
production.
Addressing the cost and
transparency problem
Unpredictable costs have been a signifi-
cant obstacle to adoption of cloud-enabled
production. Many early cloud solutions
were promising, but they left broadcast-
ers with unexpectedly high bills due to
opaque pricing models and complex con-
figurations. In some cases, costs for these
productions exceeded those of traditional
approaches, negating any potential savings.
To counter this problem, newer live pro-
duction platforms are prioritizing pricing
transparency and providing greater visi-
bility into cost. Rather than deal with con-
voluted billing structures, users can now
configure their cloud environments, see
an exact cost estimate before production
begins, and pay only for what they use. This
shift brings much-needed clarity to cloud
production costs, improving accessibility
and eliminating a key barrier to adoption.
The real-world impact: Enabling more
productions, more efficiently
Beyond the financial and logistical bene-
fits, cloud-enabled production is making a
tangible impact on how live event produc-
tions are executed. The ability to dynam-
How remote and cloud-enabled workflows
are redefining live broadcast production
Please ssee TRENDS Page 39
ANTALEK
NAB SHOW PERSPECTIVES