Most organizations start with the same question:
Do we build it ourselves, or do we partner?
With content production increasing, organizations need to think more strategically about how they produce, manage, and scale content in a way that is accessible, efficient, and sustainable.
It sounds like a simple decision. It isn’t.
The Appeal of an Internal Media Operation
Building an internal media operation can be appealing.
You control the infrastructure, the team, and the output. You own the process end to end.
But that control comes with responsibility.
An internal media operation requires significant resources, often more than organizations initially anticipate, and more than they’re positioned to support long term.
What a Media Operation Actually Requires
Media operations go far beyond content creation. They involve creative, technical, and operational components, including:
- Developing the show format and creative vision
- Producing and executing content on a day‑to‑day basis
- Managing the production team behind the scenes
- Engineering and maintaining the infrastructure that powers the operation
- Designing and operating studios and control rooms
- Managing master control and playout
- Distributing content across multiple platforms and locations
Running a media operation requires a full production environment, something many organizations are not equipped to support internally.
Why This Becomes a Challenge for Most Organizations
Building a media operation often becomes more complex than expected.
Common challenges include:
- Limited in‑house expertise, especially when live production isn’t part of the core business
- Significant time and financial investment to build and maintain the operation
- Difficulty scaling infrastructure as content demand grows
- Maintaining consistency across productions
Most organizations producing content aren’t trying to become production companies. They’re trying to create meaningful content that strengthens their business.
The Shift in the Industry
The model is shifting.
Instead of building everything internally, many organizations are partnering with production companies that offer:
- Centralized infrastructure designed to support live production
- Cloud production capabilities that enable on‑site, remote, or hybrid models
- Distributed teams with experience running productions at scale
This shift isnt about outsourcing. It’s about accessing a system that’s already built.
The Partner Model
Organizations that choose to partner gain access to capabilities that are difficult to build internally:
- A full operating environment without having to invest in every component
- Infrastructure designed for speed, accessibility, and scale, enabling faster time market.
- Experienced teams who have delivered thousands of productions
- The ability to scale output based on demand
Key Considerations Before Deciding
Before deciding whether to build your own media operation or partner, it’s important to consider:
Scale of Content: Do you have the infrastructure to support your current content volume and future growth?
Internal Expertise: Does your team have the experience to consistently deliver high-quality, broadcast-grade content?
Long-Term Goals: Does building a media operation align with your broader business strategy?
Operational Complexity: Are you equipped to manage the day-to-day demands of running a production environment?
If the answer to many of these questions is no, partnering may be the better choice for your organization.
So, should you build or partner?
The real question isn’t whether you can build it.
It’s whether building it is the best use of your time, capital, and expertise.
Most organizations don’t struggle to build it.
They struggle to run it.
Schedule a Broadcast Operations Assessment to determine if building or partnering is right for your scale.
Todd Mason is the Chief Executive Officer of Broadcast Management Group (BMG), a broadcast infrastructure and media operations company helping define the next generation of television production, live media operations, and broadcast network infrastructure in North America.
About Todd Mason
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