A whole new world
Posted on Oct 7, 2024 by FEED Staff
The broadcast and AV industries are converging, introducing a third sector that’s a little of both. Vizrt is best poised to support broadcast AV with its comprehensive portfolio
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Imagine a Venn diagram with ‘broadcast’ in one circle and ‘AV’ in the other. The overlapping area represents the convergence of broadcast and AV technology, an emerging market where industry vendors are heading.
According to Liam Hayter, product manager at Vizrt, global events in the past five years have only accelerated this convergence. “We’ve all learnt to be on camera, to make ourselves sound good, sit centrally and look at the camera when we’re talking to each other,” he says. “It’s widened the net to people who want to create content. No matter the device, we’re all using computers, software and networks to make that happen.”
Vizrt, which provides software-defined broadcast AV solutions, knows the value of a strong network. “It has been this natural evolution; as much as everyone’s talking about different protocols, brands and platforms, the real big shift is that we’re all using software and networks more creatively now,” remarks Hayter. “No matter what vertical you’re in, you can pick from an immensely wide range of tools, devices and software applications – whether local or in the cloud – to help you achieve whatever it is you want with video and audio.”
For instance, “influencers and content creators are now upping their game,” explains Hayter, and the competition for viewership is fierce. “They’re starting to adopt technologies from AV and from broadcast to create more dynamic and engaging online content. On the flip side, the corporate clients are saying, ‘We want to look as good as the news at ten.’ There are all these outputs, but the one thing they all have in common is using video and audio to tell a story, to communicate.”
Compressed networks (such as NDI) have changed the game in broadcast AV. First of all, they are more environmentally friendly than traditional video and audio, as they use less data and thus less energy. Second, they’re more flexible; installing a network rather than having ‘miles of cable that does one job’ allows people to use old spaces for new projects – for example, by turning a meeting room into a studio. Finally, networks are introducing automation, freeing up operators to toggle between ventures, whether it be a pro-grade broadcast, video conference or basic live stream.
Vizrt has been introducing solutions, such as Viz Virtual Studio Go, Viz Libero Go and Viz Trio Go, that support every aspect of this growing segment, from small-scale projects to high-end productions. “We’re weaving the product lines together to cater to this emerging joint market,” says Hayter, “but we’re not saying: ‘We don’t do broadcast any more, or we don’t do AV’. It’s a new space.”
Industry convergence is inevitable – and the right partner with the right products will be invaluable as we all enter the next era of content.
Find out more at vizrt.com
This feature was first published in the Autumn 2024 issue of FEED.
