Into 2025: Appear discusses the evolution of sports production with remote workflows and hybrid compute

By Andy Rayner, Appear CTO.

The world of sports broadcasting is undergoing a profound transformation, driven by two complementary technological trends: location for agnostic, remote and distributed production, and the adoption of hybrid cloud and on-prem compute architectures.

As demand for richer, more immersive viewing experiences grows, broadcasters are seeking solutions that balance agility, scalability, sustainability and cost. Together, these innovations are redefining how live sports content is captured, processed, and delivered.

Evolution of remote and distributed production

Remote production has revolutionised live sports by allowing content acquisition and production to occur in separate locations. This innovation has reduced the need for large on-site crews and expensive physical infrastructure and significan logistics. Now, distributed (I like to call location agnostic) production takes this a step further, enabling the entire workflow – data processing, storage, and operational oversight – to be managed by geographically dispersed teams and facilities.

For instance, centralised control rooms can now manage multiple live events simultaneously, thanks to advancements in connectivity and cloud-based collaboration tools. Production elements like audio mixing, replay, and live graphics insertion can be handled by specialists working remotely, often hundreds of miles from the event venue.

This model brings unparalleled efficiency to sports production. Teams can optimise resources, manage more events within a single day, and reduce the costs and environmental impact associated with travel to sports venues. Additionally, distributed production enhances accessibility for those involved in the production by enabling individuals to work from well equipped locations to contribute their expertise.

Rise of hybrid cloud and on-prem compute

While the public cloud has become an essential component of modern production workflows, a fully public, cloud-based approach is not always the optimal solution. For continuous 24/7 operations, such as sports channels, on-premises compute infrastructure provides greater cost predictability and control. However, for event-based needs, such as high profile tournaments or one-off live events, public cloud-based solutions excel in scalability, sustainability and flexibility.

This hybrid model blends the best of both worlds, allowing broadcasters to dynamically allocate resources based on specific production demands. For example, cloud infrastructure can handle the burst of compute power required for encoding and distributing multi-angle camera feeds during a live match. At the same time, on-prem systems ensure that day-to-day operations continue seamlessly, with minimal latency and high reliability.

A key advantage of hybrid systems is their adaptability. They can support uncompressed or lightly compressed workflows in high bandwidth environments while relying on advanced codecs such as HEVC or JPEG XS when bandwidth constraints arise. This ensures consistent video quality, regardless of the infrastructure in use.

Synergies with benefits

Remote and distributed production relies heavily on the scalable compute power and secure connectivity provided by hybrid architectures. Together, these technologies enable a level of operational agility that was previously unattainable.

For example, real time data overlays – such as player stats or multi-angle instant replays – require low latency processing that hybrid solutions can easily deliver and the distributed nature of modern workflows allows production teams to collaborate across time zones, drawing on global expertise to create high quality sports content.

The combination of these approaches supports personalised viewing experiences. Fans will increasingly demand the ability to choose custom camera angles, access detailed analytics, or follow specific athletes. By leveraging distributed workflows and hybrid compute, broadcasters have the operational agility to provide the computational power and bandwidth necessary to meet these expectations.

Sustainable shift

As the media industry grapples with its environmental footprint, the move toward remote and hybrid workflows has emerged as a critical enabler of a more sustainable future. Distributed production significantly reduces the need for large on-site setups, cutting down on travel and associated emissions. Hybrid cloud models further contribute by enabling broadcasters to use resources more efficiently, only scaling up for peak demand.

In addition, high density encoding and compression technologies minimise the power requirements of live production workflows. This not only reduces operational costs but also aligns with the global push for greener production practices.

Major sporting events, from Grand Slam tennis tournaments to the Olympics, are leading the charge with ambitious sustainability goals. These include reducing on-site infrastructure and leveraging remote collaboration to lower energy use. By adopting remote production and hybrid architectures, broadcasters can meet their environmental commitments without compromising on the quality of the viewing experience.

Navigating the future of live

The integration of remote workflows and hybrid compute is more than a technological evolution; it’s a response to the changing dynamics of the sports broadcasting industry. Broadcasters need to cater to audiences demanding every increasing production value and personalisation while maintaining operational efficiency and adapting to tighter sustainability mandates.

Looking ahead, the seamless fusion of these approaches will pave the way for even more innovation. Artificial intelligence and machine learning will further enhance live production workflows, while advanced IP-based video transport systems will continue to reduce latency and improve reliability.

By leveraging the power of remote and distributed production alongside hybrid compute, broadcasters and operators can deliver compelling live sports experiences while staying ahead in an ever-competitive industry. The synergies between remote production and hybrid compute will drive sports broadcasting into a new era of innovation, efficiency, and sustainability.