The role of broadcasters has never been more important than it is today. From newsrooms and concerts to award shows and sporting events, viewers demand timely content and news to experience these events from anywhere.
In the past few years, broadcasters were forced to step up to the plate and grapple with the demands of remote production. Accommodating these demands was no easy feat, but they have proved beneficial in the end, leading to the introduction of easy-to-implement remote workflows for budget-conscious studios that are interested in reducing overhead costs while producing engaging content and viewer experiences.
According to 360 ResearchReports, the broadcast camera market will significantly change this year compared to 2021. And it already has. From the high adoption of technologies like high-density sensors, lenses and vibrant pictures, coupled with the presence of large players in the region, we’ve seen ample growth opportunities in the North America market. Here are a few trends that are driving the broadcast production market.
Higher expectations for camera capabilities
Companies are expecting more from their professional cameras. High dynamic range (HDR) has become more popular because of its ability to deliver a wider range of highlights, shadows and more realistic colour and detail, allowing broadcasters to create stunning visuals and better appeal to their audiences. Similarly, as more monitors are able to show HDR, we expect this will become a requirement for broadcast production in years to come.
The need to capture and produce high-quality live stream more quickly, easily and intuitively continues to be more important than ever for broadcasters as they navigate changes in production workflows. Shooting in 4K, like HDR, is another prerequisite for professional cameras as it enables high-definition results for high-quality and realistic video. Giving viewers four times the detail of Full HD and more, 4K adds flexibility to video production workflows with the ability to zoom and crop fast-moving or distant footage.
Remote Production Solutions
With the increasing popularity of 4K and HDR capabilities, broadcasters are also seeking out smaller pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) cameras. And naturally, they aren’t willing to compromise on the high-end capabilities. Broadcasters want powerful, lighter hand-held models of cameras that can be controlled remotely, which not only minimises the number of staff needed to operate cameras, but also reduces operational costs.
This year, we’re seeing more PTZs capable of full-bandwidth NDI, SRT and FreeD, whereas these capabilities were previously only available on high-end cameras. We can also expect to see an increase in robotic camera systems – which use AI and machine learning for object recognition and tracking, image capture and avoid obstacles – as a main driver in powering intelligent remote production across broadcast studios, live experiences and sporting events.
Cloud-based Live Production Tools
Last but not least, we can’t forget the cloud. Remote productions are only as good as the connectivity and accessibility available to send footage from the field back to the production studio. As remote production workflows are strengthened, cloud solutions are being used more by broadcasters to improve flexibility, scalability and easier remote collaboration for teams to access content virtually anywhere. With remote PTZ cameras becoming more widely used, companies will invest in cloud-native solutions that fit the hybrid remote and on-premise work models to bring the studio to users wherever they are.
The integration of cloud tools in video production platforms, for both public and private networks, allows more storage and collaborative features between technologies including cameras, audio and switchers, and more.
Expanded remote production has continued to grow in popularity as more broadcast studios and companies take advantage of today’s “work from anywhere” environment. Broadcasters will continue to prioritise the ease of transmission and high-quality imagery capture enabled by cloud-based production tools, HDR, and 4K visuals as they look to elevate consumer experiences.
Jim Jensen is the senior category owner for PTZ and Remote Systems at Panasonic.
