Facing the future: EVS shares the four trends shaping video production and broadcast technology
By Sébastien Verlaine, senior brand & corporate communications manager at EVS.
As we step into 2025, it’s clear that video production and broadcast technology are in the midst of profound transformation. The trends that began to crystallise in 2024 are set to grow in importance, redefining the industry’s landscape. Four key trends stand out: the rise of Generative AI for creativity, the growing emphasis on sustainability and ESG compliance, the shift towards flexible deployment options, and the ongoing transition to IP-based infrastructure. Each of these trends is paving the way for a more innovative, sustainable, and adaptable future.
- Generative AI: Bridging creativity and production equality
In 2024, Generative AI made its mark as a powerful tool for enhancing creativity in live video production. Far from being a simple automation tool, AI has evolved to provide production teams with creative capabilities that were previously out of reach. By enabling operators to craft dynamic and engaging content, AI is reshaping the art of live storytelling.
One remarkable example is the use of Generative AI to create super slow-motion replays from any camera source. This capability has proven itself in sports like auto racing, where high-speed cameras are often impractical due to their size or positioning constraints. AI can process footage from on-board cameras or helmet cams, delivering super slow-motion replays from perspectives that were previously inaccessible.
In women’s rugby, Generative AI has played a different but equally transformative role. By enabling high-quality production for second-tier sports, AI is narrowing the gap in production quality between less-publicised sports and top-tier events. This democratisation of advanced production capabilities not only elevates the storytelling for these sports, but also fosters greater equity in how they are presented to audiences.
As AI tools continue to evolve, we expect to see even greater integration of Generative AI into live production workflows in 2025, empowering production teams to push creative boundaries while overcoming logistical and financial constraints.
- Sustainability and the evolution of production workflows
Sustainability and adherence to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) policies have become central to the broadcast industry’s agenda. This trend accelerated in 2024 and is poised to gain further momentum in the coming year.
The industry’s shift towards centralised production hubs is a prime example of this evolution. These hubs reduce the need for large on-site production teams, minimising travel, reducing the carbon footprint, and improving cost efficiencies. Remote production workflows have also allowed operators to work from anywhere, opening the door to a more diverse and inclusive workforce. Notably, the growing presence of women operators in live sports production has the potential to bring fresh perspectives to live storytelling, which could resonate with younger and digitally connected audiences.
Power-efficient solutions are another critical element of the sustainability drive. Vendors are increasingly prioritising the development of hardware and software-defined servers that operate more efficiently, meeting both cost and environmental demands. This focus will likely expand in 2025, as broadcast companies strive to align their operations with global sustainability goals while maintaining the highest production standards.
- Flexible deployment: Hybrid models as the norm
Flexibility has become a cornerstone of modern video production. Hybrid production models, combining cloud-based and on-premises workflows, are likely to emerge as the norm. This approach allows broadcasters to adapt to the unique demands of each production, leveraging the strengths of both cloud and hardware-based solutions.
The cloud’s primary role in this hybrid ecosystem remains in content contribution and distribution, where it excels in simplifying workflows. However, challenges such as connectivity, especially when extra bandwidth is required for UHD productions, as well as concerns around security, reliability, and cost transparency, have limited the cloud’s adoption for large-scale live sports production. Instead, hardware servers with increased density are likely to fill the gap for UHD workflows, ensuring high performance and quality.
As hybrid models become more prevalent, we expect to see a growing demand for service level agreements (SLAs) that guarantee performance, uptime, and support. This shift is also driving the transition from capital expenditures (capex) to operating expenditures (opex), as companies opt for subscription-based models that offer greater financial flexibility.
- The transition to IP: A phased approach
While the industry has begun transitioning to IP-based infrastructures, many broadcasters remain heavily invested in SDI systems. For these customers, a phased approach to IP adoption is essential. Technologies with an IP backbone that also support existing SDI infrastructure are enabling a gradual transition, allowing broadcasters to maximise their current investments while progressively adopting new capabilities.
This phased approach ensures operational continuity and minimises disruption, offering broadcasters the flexibility to adopt IP at their own pace. It also aligns with the broader industry trend towards flexible deployment, where adaptable solutions are key to meeting the diverse needs of production teams.
In 2025, we expect to see continued investment in solutions that bridge SDI and IP workflows, providing broadcasters with the tools they need to evolve without overhauling their entire infrastructure at once.
A unified ecosystem for the future
These four trends – Generative AI for creativity, sustainable production workflows, flexible business and production models, and the phased transition to IP – are not isolated developments. They are interconnected elements of a larger transformation that is reshaping video production and broadcasting.
To navigate this evolving landscape, the industry must embrace a unified ecosystem that addresses these challenges. Flexibility will be essential, as broadcasters juggle hybrid workflows, diverse audience expectations, and varying levels of technological readiness. Sustainability will remain a priority, with vendors driving innovation in power efficiency and remote production tools. The transition to IP must continue at a pace that balances innovation with practicality, ensuring that no broadcaster is left behind.
Finally, AI’s role in enhancing creativity should not be overlooked. As Generative AI becomes more accessible and versatile, it will empower production teams to deliver richer, more engaging content while leveling the playing field for sports and events of all tiers.
In 2025, the broadcast industry has an opportunity to build on these trends, forging a future that is not only technologically advanced but also inclusive, sustainable, and inspiring. By embracing these shifts and fostering collaboration across the ecosystem, we can ensure that the next era of video production meets the demands of a rapidly changing world.