Most organizations see remote video production as an extension of their on-site production, when in reality, the infrastructure, workflows, and staffing models are completely different.
These organizations typically have the same failure point: They try to scale their headcounts and events without scaling the infrastructure that supports their signal transport, monitoring, and control.
This results in decreased quality and consistency at scale because the systems aren’t able to execute the creative vision. Most companies are capable of simple remote production, but they lack a Network Operations Center needed for tier-one quality.
The Infrastructure You Need Before You Can Scale
Scaling remote video production requires a centralized production backbone that all remote feeds flow into and are monitored from. It’s far more than just cameras and internet.
The core components needed before you can scale your current systems are:
- IP transport paths
- Centralized switching and routing
- Redundant contribution infrastructure
- A cloud-connected control environment
If you don’t have centralized infrastructure, each production becomes a one-off show instead of a repeatable workflow.
BMG’s REMI workflow uses IP transport, fiber, LiveU bonded cellular, Starlink redundancy, and private cloud interconnects to route all feeds back to our NOC with full redundancy.
How to Maintain Broadcast-Quality Output Across Multiple Locations
The biggest threat to quality in remote production at scale is inconsistency: Different crew quality at different locations, different signal paths, and different monitoring standards.
When the same core team produces all of your shows, programming remains consistent even if the event moves across markets.
Quality control must be built into the workflow across the infrastructure, rather than managed reactively.
BMG did this at scale when we produced the Blue Origin NG-2 mission. All of the switching, graphics, replay, audio mixing, and video shading across 50+ live feeds and transmissions were managed remotely from the Broadcast Network Operations Center in Washington, DC, while communicating in real time with producers, directors, and reporters at five on-site locations.
Building Workflows That Scale Without Breaking
Repeatable workflows are the key to scale. If every production has a different setup, then you’re just doing one-off projects instead of scaling.
Shifting from traditional SDI to IP-based workflows enables repeatable, scalable production workflows. Legacy SDI setups a patchwork of SDI routers, ad-hoc IP links, cloud tools in silos, and manual workarounds.
You don’t need to rebuild everything at once; in fact, it’s better to go through a phased migration, so you can learn as things are added, instead of trying to learn it all concurrently. In the end, this results in a coherent design that all future productions can plug into.
BMG designs hybrid IP and cloud workflows that connect production environments to cloud infrastructure and distribution stacks, including IP signal paths using ST2110, NDI, SRT, and RIST.
When to Add Headcount vs. When to Add Technology
When scaling remote production, organizations commonly default to adding more people. In reality, the real bottleneck is infrastructure. More crew can’t compensate for inadequate signal paths or a lack of centralized monitoring.
However, technology alone can’t replace experienced human operators during live events; they need to scale together.
In the end, a managed model where staffing is tied directly to the operational infrastructure is usually the right answer. This way, headcount and technology aren’t managed separately from each other.
BMG provides production staffing as a fully managed operational service, supported by the Cloud Control Center and 24/7 NOC, so operators aren’t working alone and are backed by a complete broadcast facility.
How a Managed Services Partner Supports Growth at Scale
Trying to scale remote video production internally is a significant operational challenge for most organizations. It requires building infrastructure, hiring staff, managing operations, and maintaining quality all simultaneously.
A managed services partner removes this burden by providing the infrastructure, crew, and operational oversight as a single unified model.
The right partner has documented processes, performance reviews, and ongoing optimization to ensure operations become more efficient, resilient, and cost-effective over time.
BMG has been doing all of this for the Schwab Network since 2017, serving as the turnkey managed services partner. We’ve led every stage of the network’s growth from initial consulting and facility design through daily operations.
Learn more about how BMG can help scale your remote video production.
Andrew Ryback is the Executive Vice President of Production. He brings over 17 years of experience in production management across live events, entertainment, and on-location shoots. He has managed production logistics for high-profile events, including The Emmys, The Oscars, TIFF, SXSW, Comic-Con, New York Fashion Week, Sundance, and both national political conventions. At BMG, he oversees complex productions from crew and equipment coordination to budgeting, permitting, and on-site execution.
About Andrew Ryback
