Striking a balance: Videe explores the dual challenge of creating high-quality content and managing costs

By Diego Mercuri, innovation hub, and Andrea De Bortoli, technical sales manager at Videe.

In the dynamic realm of international television broadcasting, achieving growth in content value and economic sustainability is a challenge and an opportunity. Striking a balance between producing high-quality, engaging content both for linear TV and live streaming platforms, while maintaining financial viability, is essential for long-term success. This requires the strategic integration of innovative technologies, efficient production methods, and diversified revenue streams.

In particular within live sports production, several pivotal areas warrant focused attention to enhance viewer engagement and optimise operational efficiency.

  1. Enhancing immersive experiences through innovative perspectives

Today, the challenge is to think about content differently and to consider the different audience types in order to bring engaging content to a multigeneration audience and drive people of all ages to watch a live event via a main linear broadcast. The winning strategy here consists of finding a way to empower creatives to reach people on different screens in real time, something which requires evaluations on multi-aspect ratio streaming, immersive experiences and AI-driven tools.

The advent of advanced equipment such as microcameras, bodycams, gimbals, and FPV drones has revolutionised live sports broadcasting. These tools offer unique points of view, immersing viewers directly into the action and fostering a sense of participation akin to being part of the team.

Microcameras and bodycams provide intimate angles that traditional cameras cannot capture and offer viewers a first-person perspective of the game, enhancing the sense of immersion.

Handheld gimbals enable smooth and dynamic shots and allow for fluid tracking of players, delivering cinematic visuals that heighten viewer engagement.

FPV drone cameras can both navigate through the playing field and provide overhead shots, offering perspectives that were previously unattainable.

The integration of these technologies not only enriches the storytelling aspect of sports broadcasts but also caters to the evolving expectations of audiences seeking more immersive and interactive viewing experiences.

  1. Leveraging cloud-based software for live sports production

The adoption of cloud-based software on virtual machines has transformed live sports production. By harnessing the power of advanced processors and graphics cards, real-time effects can be applied and operations such as mixing, graphics, and replays can be centralised. This centralisation allows a single operator to manage multiple tasks efficiently, supported by automation and dedicated presets.

Cloud platforms enable the application of real-time graphics and statistics, overlays, and effects, enhancing the visual appeal of broadcasts and enriching the viewing experience.

However, as project size increases, so do associated costs – particularly those linked to redundancy. This dynamic, often observed in large-scale productions, can make the cost-efficiency of cloud-based workflows inversely proportional to the project’s scale. While cloud solutions reduce the need for on-site hardware and personnel, cost savings may diminish as complexity grows, emphasising the need for careful resource management to balance innovation and efficiency.

  1. Developing skilled professionals through collaborative training

In recent years, the skills shortage in the broadcast and media industry has become a matter of concern.

The transition from traditional broadcasting to OTT platforms and digital streaming, and the rapid adoption of advanced technologies (eg, 4K/8K production, virtual production, and AI-driven tools) have outpaced the industry’s ability to train and upskill its workforce. Many professionals lack expertise in these technologies, leading to a mismatch between job requirements and available talent, which should be addressed by the whole broadcast supply chain. This shift has created gaps in workforce readiness.

In addition, global competition for talent due to increasing demand for skilled professionals in adjacent industries such as gaming, tech, and marketing has diverted talent away from traditional broadcast roles.

Current educational and training programmes often lag behind industry needs, leaving graduates ill-prepared for the demands of modern media production and broadcasting. Moreover, many organisations face budgetary constraints, reducing their ability to invest in training and development programmes.

A lack of expertise may bring about operational delays, particularly in the case of complex productions or live events, and hinder the industry’s ability to innovate and adapt to emerging technologies, potentially impacting competitiveness. With an eye on economic sustainability, it’s also worth considering that higher demand for a limited pool of talent can lead to increased wages and freelance costs.

Addressing the demand for proficient professionals in live sports broadcasting requires a collaborative approach where local companies, freelance experts, educational institutions, and broadcasters can develop comprehensive training programmes. These programmes and partnerships between broadcasting companies and universities should blend theoretical knowledge with practical experience and hands-on training, preparing junior professionals to seamlessly integrate into live sports event workflows.

  1. Utilising AI-powered tools for cinematic visuals

AI has become instrumental in achieving cinematic visuals in live sports productions. By creating a database of AI-driven prompts, tasks such as colour grading, exposure adjustments, tracking, and correcting image aberrations can be automated. This approach ensures consistent high-quality visuals that meet the growing demand for a cinematic look, encompassing colour spaces, logarithmic curves, and HDR displays.

While reducing repetitive tasks in editing, post-production and content curation to improve efficiency, AI will also play a significant role in analysing audience preferences, enabling more tailored content recommendations, dynamic ad placements and real-time engagement strategies, thus increasing viewer retention and loyalty.

However, human expertise will remain essential for creative, strategic, and ethical decision-making. Human oversight is also essential to address potential biases in AI-generated content, while human creativity will still be indispensable for ensuring originality and emotional resonance in content.

The challenge lies in balancing technology adoption with workforce development, ensuring that professionals are equipped to thrive in an AI-enhanced future which combines efficiency with creative ingenuity.

Embracing technological advancements and fostering collaboration will be key to navigating the future landscape of sports media.

 

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