NEWSCASTSTUDIO.COM
Cloud production is taking center
stage as broadcasters increasingly shift
computing resources from traditional
on-premises hardware to virtualized en-
vironments.
This infrastructure change modifies
how content is processed, managed and
delivered throughout the media supply
chain.
At the 2025 NAB Show, a variety of
cloud solutions will be showcased as the
cloud enables new levels of efficiency and
automation for broadcasters.
The maturing cloud landscape
The conversation around cloud tech-
nology in broadcasting has evolved dra-
matically over the past decade. Specula-
tive discussions about future possibilities
have transformed into debates about im-
plementation strategies and optimization.
“These conversations are shifting from
‘what’s possible?’ to ‘how can we imple-
ment this effectively?’” said Greg Mac-
chia, product marketing manager for live
production at Riedel Communications.
“Meanwhile, we are seeing more of our
solutions being actively used in real live
productions in the public cloud.”
According to NewscastStudio’s 2025
sentiment survey, 60% of respondents
are implementing cloud production tools,
though implementation challenges re-
main. This adoption reflects both the
technology’s maturation and the market-
place’s changing demands.
“The M&E space has transformed over
the past 10 years or so, with cloud-based
workflows being the norm in most areas
of the industry,” said Martins Magone,
CTO of Veset. “Not only is this change hap-
pening fast, but hardware is also quickly
becoming the oddity.”
Magone cites industry statistics sup-
porting this shift: “76% of enterprises us-
ing at least two cloud providers in 2025
and many professionals suggesting that
companies will need to adopt cloud-based
solutions in 2025 for better flexibility and
scalability without compromising on effi-
ciency.”
Balancing cloud
and on-premises resources
Despite early predictions that all broad-
cast operations would eventually migrate
fully to the cloud, a more nuanced ap-
proach is now the path forward.
The industry has largely embraced a hy-
brid cloud model that strategically lever-
ages cloud and on-premises infrastructure
to optimize performance and cost-effec-
tiveness.
“For 24/7/365 operations, maintaining
an on-prem infrastructure is often more
cost-effective than running continuous
cloud-based workflows,” said Steve Reyn-
olds, chief executive officer of Imagine
Communications. “The industry’s focus
has now shifted to a hybrid approach, le-
veraging the cloud where it makes sense —
live events and geographically distributed
redundancy to name a few — while main-
taining on-prem infrastructure for cost ef-
ficiency.”
This hybrid approach represents a prac-
tical evolution from the all-or-nothing
cloud strategies that characterized early
discussions. Companies have realized that
different types of productions and opera-
tional models require different infrastruc-
tural approaches.
“The next step is moving toward a
model where production and playout can
transition seamlessly between cloud and
on-prem infrastructure, and that’s a real
game-changer,” Reynolds added.
“Service providers and broadcasters to-
day are looking for more efficient ways to
deliver video, reduce infrastructure costs
and maximize monetization opportuni-
ties. The industry is moving fast, and em-
bracing new technologies is key to staying
ahead. At Harmonic, we welcome this shift
to hybrid workflows,” sad Eric Gallier, vice
president of video solutions at Harmonic.
Cloud production continues to mature,
offering new efficiencies in workflows
Continued on next page
CLOUD
NAB PREVIEW