MONITORING AND RETURN FEEDS
There are countless scenarios in broadcasting, live production and post-production, where show hosts, commentators, judges, directors, producers and even colorists need to receive low-latency high-quality feeds from remote locations – both before air and during live streaming.
In this featured case study, ITN Productions successfully used Video Transport for remote editorial review.
ITN Productions case study
ITN Productions is the production arm of ITN, the largest news organization in the UK, which makes sports, television and advertising productions – such as TV commercials and branded content.
Challenge
While operating under lockdown conditions, ITN Productions needed a low latency streaming solution for two reasons:
- Relocating talent is just unnecessary if we can produce a show remotely without compromising quality. That's where the Medialooks software comes in, it lets us bring back cameras in full quality—just like it's in a studio next door.
Solution
Each remote studio is equipped with a PTZ camera with NDI®, which is then fed into VT Publisher and transported to VT Receiver in the control room. From there, the final stream is contributed for distribution via YouTube Live, Pluto TV, DistroTV's, as well as proprietary apps for Android, iOS, Amazon Fire TV, Roku, and Apple TV.
Due to almost real-time latency provided by Video Transport, the live production process feels almost the same as if there were no distance between the master studio and the hosts.
Due to almost real-time latency provided by Video Transport, the live production process feels almost the same as if there were no distance between the master studio and the hosts.
- It was the most cost-effective and technically simplest way we found to meet our low latency requirement and also accommodate multiple cameras, remote manageability and ease of rollout. So, all this combined plus its value seemed to be the best fit for us.
Results
Since launching in this mode in 2019, the channel has been operating this way—bringing in more hosts and expanding its distribution network. With Video Transport, The First has achieved:
- Cost savings—compared to hiring local talent.
- Flexibility—allowing to scout for talent throughout the country as well as cover programming for different time zones.
- It gives us the ability to accomplish this in a simple, cost-effective way. And it works! The quality is very good, and, at the same time, the technology is very affordable. And all of these things have helped us out because any start-up has to be very conscious of money and budget.