The 3 Key Benefits of Cloud-Based Live Production
Produce live content anytime, anywhere with Cloud-Based Live Production
A true paradigm shift for broadcasters, cloud production, enables the production and delivery of live video content from anywhere to anywhere by replacing ground-based hardware and infrastructure with computing and software-based production solutions that live in the cloud.
The advantages of live cloud production
To understand what you can gain by transitioning live production to the cloud, let’s look at ground-based production and then survey the three principal cloud-based alternatives to it.
Ground-based live production requires personnel and hardware where the event takes place. In cloud production, most workflows – including production, distribution and delivery – are virtual. In remote production, onsite and remote crews collaborate using technologies such as IP-enabled cameras, remote control systems and high-speed internet. And in hybrid cloud production, producers employ a mix of virtual cloud-based and ground-based technologies.
All three forms of cloud production offer unique benefits. In this article, we’ll focus on the three main advantages of cloud-based live production.
To learn more about the three forms of cloud-based broadcast production, click here.
1. Scale up as needed
Live cloud production allows you to expand or minimize resources as needed. Your existing ground-based and mobile resources may be sufficient for most events, but what happens when the Olympics come around or an unforeseen natural disaster occurs? A ground-based operation can’t just conjure the additional computing, production and staffing resources necessary to ramp up production.
Cloud live production makes it relatively easy to access additional computing power, as well as production, distribution and delivery tools. And online collaboration is a whole lot easier than assembling teams onsite.
2. Flex your capabilities
Cloud production confers remarkable flexibility. When most of your production tools are virtual, options for various types and styles of production abound. Today’s live cloud production technologies enable camera switching, graphics, slow-motion replay, recording, and more.
But live cloud production provides flexibility in other ways, too. Consider the fact that unexpected events, technical problems or schedule changes can happen at any time. To avoid disruption, production teams must move fast when equipment malfunctions or there’s transmission interference.
Cloud production typically features built-in redundancy features and backup systems. If there’s a spike in viewership or bandwidth requirements, additional resources can be allocated rapidly. Moreover, remote access and monitoring enable your team to troubleshoot problems from almost anywhere. And since infrastructure is managed in the cloud, equipment and software updates and fixes can be executed quickly without dispatching a crew to the site.
3. Efficiency is everything
Cloud live production enables you to do more with less by speeding up workflows, reducing the need for your own technical infrastructure, and enhancing flexibility and scalability at a relatively low cost. Why invest in high-dollar hardware like dedicated broadcast studios, production switchers, servers, and storage systems when you can access those capabilities via the cloud? And since many cloud platforms charge on a per-use or subscription-based model, you’ll only pay for the services you use.
Likewise, staffing costs plummet because much of your production workflow occurs through web-based interfaces. The elasticity of cloud production capabilities removes the need for expensive hardware upgrades or expansions. You can also expect to realize significant economies from improved efficiency and collaboration. When production assets and tools live in the cloud, broadcasters can improve overall efficiency in several ways.
Note also that cloud production speeds deployment and rollout of live broadcast offerings. You can provision and configure production resources rapidly compared to traditional hardware procurement and setup.
Fulfilling the promise of live cloud production
No wonder, then, that cloud production has proliferated across industries including broadcasting, sports and Esports, corporate communication, and other markets. Every client’s needs are unique, and cloud production can be customized to accommodate them. But as diverse as cloud production applications are, the success of your solution will depend on careful integration of existing infrastructure and use cases. That’s where the need for an expert cloud production partner comes in. Cloud production’s capabilities are vast, but to realize their full potential, you’ll need to tailor the technology to your individual needs.
