At times of crisis it can often be observed that humans respond with great innovations. Conflicts have given rise to advancements in the fields of medicine, flight, communications and computing, to name but a few.

This phenomenon is currently being played out again today, this time in the world of live video production and particularly in the broadcast space. In essential efforts to slow the spread of coronavirus, many organisations and authorities are mandating social distancing policies, restricting people’s freedom of movement and ability to congregate.

This can be problematic to broadcasters and media owners who are seeking to continue to keep their audiences updated as to the developing situation so that they may make informed decisions about how best to safeguard themselves and their loved ones. If your crew can not get to the studio, or your presenter needs to cover for the director due to illness or logistics reasons, how do you get the story out today. How do you get it out tomorrow?

Remote video production is one solution that has seen dramatic developments in recent months. REMI (REMote Integration), as used in live sports productions has matured rapidly, thanks to advances in telecommunications and infrastructure. IP-based video protocols like SMPTE 2110 and Vizrt Group’s NDI® have provided further flexibility and options for broadcasters. Vizrt Group has worked with broadcasters using both standards, like CNN at their Hudson Yards SMPTE 2110 project and TV2 in Norway, who are enjoying the flexibility that NDI® can deliver.

These developments, when combined with software defined live video production solutions like Viz Mosart, a studio automation tool, designed to deliver faster, more error free, show creation in a manner that reduces resource requirements, make the virtualization of control rooms a reality. It is entirely possible for the modern control suite to be a remote and mobile asset that can be securely accessed at will. Here is a recent webinar that looks at how Viz Mosart can be deployed to drive automation and virtualization.

Getting the story out, often in the face of adverse conditions, has led us to think about how content creators can become more effective. Viz Story is a powerful, but swiftly mastered, digital production system that provides journalists with the tools they need to craft and publish their stories in the field. It allows them to produce broadcast quality content from within their browser from remote locations.

Back in the control room, our software based ‘super’ switcher, Viz Vectar is IP native (either SMPTE 2110 or NDI) to harness the opportunities that networks, software and computers can provide to storytellers. Viz Verdi blends studio automation with software defined switching to provide further control room flexibility and resilience, and it is designed with NDI® and SDI inputs and outputs to allow you to bridge between legacy equipment and your IP-based future, today.

If the show must go on, Vizrt’s IP-based, software defined visual storytelling tools are a powerful part of the solution. Our product specialists are ready to answer any questions you may have on these topics. We have created a virtual, online demo and meeting suite so that we can help you explore the best solution for your needs from the convenience of a screen near you.