NAB Show Perspectives: How remote and cloud-enabled workflows are redefining live production

Conventional live production has always required a carefully choreographed deployment of just the right technology and talent, in the right place at the right time. Over the years, this model created reliance on massive production trucks, dedicated fiber lines, and satellite transmission to support live event broadcasts and streams. But more recently, the advance of remote production techniques and tools has brought content producers fresh opportunities to streamline workflows, cut costs, and increase flexibility.

Shifting from experimental concepts to fundamental components of modern broadcast workflows, today’s software-defined tools allow for more agile, scalable productions without sacrificing quality.

A natural evolution, not a radical shift

The shift toward cloud-enabled live production has been met with both excitement and hesitation. A move away from physical equipment greatly reduces expensive capital investments, while reducing the risk of obsolescence and the extra costs associated with downtime and shipping. Still, a foremost concern among broadcasters has been that the shift to software-defined tools and cloud-enabled workflows would completely upend decades of best practices while forcing engineers and operators to learn entirely new ways of working. Those are valid concerns, but it doesn’t have to be the case.

The goal of modern cloud-enabled production environments is to build on what already works, offering a more flexible and accessible model for high-quality production — without requiring a massive overhaul. Systems are designed to feel familiar, maintaining the traditional separation of switchers, replay, and graphics while integrating them into a modular, scalable cloud framework. This approach ensures that directors, engineers, and technicians  who have spent years mastering their craft can step into modern workflows with confidence.

Flexibility without sacrificing quality

The modularity of cloud-enabled live production is one of its greatest strengths. Rather than undertake a full migration from existing infrastructure, broadcasters and production teams can utilize a hybrid approach as needed..

Whether spinning up an altcast for customer graphics, different announcers, or replay angles, content producers can implement just the tools they need for just the length of time they need it. Free from physical and geographic constraints, they can call on their most talented operators more frequently and with greater flexibility, without added travel time and costs. They can make a gradual shift, or adopt a hybrid workflow, rather than take an all-or-nothing approach.

Because software-defined tools can be deployed on the ground, in the cloud, or in hybrid environments, production teams can find a balance that optimizes use of existing investment and pay-as-you-go applications and services. Moving away from rigid hardware-based solutions, operators can more easily configure and scale their tools to match the specific needs of each production.

Addressing the cost and transparency problem

Unpredictable costs have been a significant obstacle to adoption of cloud-enabled production. Many early cloud solutions were promising, but they left broadcasters with unexpectedly high bills due to opaque pricing models and complex configurations. In some cases, costs for these productions exceeded those of traditional approaches, negating any potential savings.

Advertisement

To counter this problem, newer live production platforms are prioritizing pricing transparency and providing greater visibility into cost. Rather than deal with convoluted billing structures, users can now configure their cloud environments, see an exact cost estimate before production begins, and pay only for what they use. This shift brings much-needed clarity to cloud production costs, improving accessibility and eliminating a key barrier to adoption.

The real-world impact: Enabling more productions, more efficiently

Beyond the financial and logistical benefits, cloud-enabled production is making  a tangible impact on how live event productions are executed. The ability to dynamically allocate resources and adapt to different production demands on the fly ensures that broadcasters, networks, and independent creators alike can take on projects with agility and efficiency, regardless of location.

For large networks, this means being able to scale operations without expanding physical facilities. A broadcaster that once had to choose between investing in additional control rooms or capping the number of productions it could support can now allocate cloud resources dynamically, never outgrowing its capabilities.

For smaller production teams and even individual content creators, cloud workflows open doors that were previously closed due to cost and complexity. Freelance operators, corporate event producers, and independent sports leagues can now access professional-grade production tools without the need for massive upfront investment. Whether it’s a veteran freelancer looking to expand their business or a new content creator aiming for broadcast-quality production, cloud-enabled production offers a pathway to higher-quality outputs with lower barriers to entry.

Looking ahead: The future of live production

The industry’s move toward cloud-enabled production and software-defined tools is the next logical step in the evolution of live broadcasting. By combining the best elements of traditional workflows with the scalability and flexibility of the cloud, production teams can maintain high standards while working more efficiently.

As the technology continues to mature, expect to see even greater adoption across a wide range of productions. Giving content producers the ability to build, customize, and deploy production environments on demand, cloud-enabled workflows are reshaping the way live content is created. Anyone, anywhere, can produce broadcast-quality content with greater flexibility, reliability, and control.

Matt Antalek, BitFireMatt Antalek is the director of engineering at BitFire.