Bob Knauf, senior product marketing manager at Poly offers some tips on broadcasting from home
By Contributor
Published: June 25, 2020
Bob Knauf, senior product marketing manager at Poly offers some tips on broadcasting from home
target=_blank title=Share on LinkedIn class=share-linkedin> Bob Knauf, senior product marketing manager at Poly offers some tips on broadcasting from home
https://www.tvbeurope.com/production-post/pro-tips-for-tv-production-at-home title=Share via Email class=share-email>
The current Covid-19 pandemic forced television productions to work remotely - from regular news reporters to programmes such as The One Show and Sunday Brunch. It resulted in the explosive growth of reporters, anchors and entertainers quickly turning to web-based videoconferencing platforms to produce programmes.
However, in many cases, networks were so eager to get their talent and content on-air as quickly as possible that they were doing so with haste.
A patchwork of hardware technology was packaged up that wasn't optimised to work together or designed for broadcasting purposes. A simple consumer-grade webcam connected to a laptop or smartphone with some home lighting is a common but ineffective set up.
This limits the viewer's experience, showing an unidimensional shot where the presenters are fixed in one place, and it's often exacerbated by poor audio quality and misplaced cameras and lighting.
Fortunately, it doesn't have to be this way. Studio-quality AV gear can be set-up quickly and easily deployed for home production - with no IT specialist required.
Gear for the presenter or host Top of the range gear is critical for presenters and hosts because they are on-air the most. To ensure high-quality audio and imagery, an all-in-one video bar mounted on top of a 24- or 27-inch monitor is the ideal system.
The best video bar solutions will ensure no computer or laptop is required because Cloud video services are built-in, for complete ease of set-up for the non-technical. Look for 4K cameras in these devices too, with automatic speaker framing so presenters can move around freely and stay in frame - as if they had a videographer in the room. Unlike the famous case of Professor Robert Kelly speaking on the BBC, if a child comes crashing in, the video bar will hold the frame on the speaker.
Audio needs to be crisp and clear no matter where the presenter is in the room, which state-of-the-art, portable video bars now deliver. Local background sounds can be minimised thanks to noise blocking technology powered by machine learning, which leaves the microphones open for conversation but eradicates the likes of next door's music.
Gear for the guest or remote expert For on-the-fly guests, there may be no option but for them to use whatever camera and audio set-up they have at their disposal. However, for recurring experts, panellists or pre-scheduled guests, technicians should provide them with solutions that will greatly enhance the viewer's/listener's experience.
Shouting into a laptop isn't a good experience for anyone and neither is the hollow echoing sound that some headsets produce. To sound professional from anywhere, enterprise-grade headsets with HD audio and active noise cancelling will ensure expert's voices can be heard clearly.
Channel 4's Sunday Brunch stayed on air during the pandemic by broadcasting from Tim Lovejoy and Simon Rimmer's homes Noise cancelling technology also means unwanted, distracting background sounds such as the neighbour's dog will be eliminated, both for the end listener and the user, so that they can clearly hear the questions they're being asked.
A portable speakerphone that provides rich, clear sound with 360-degree audio can also be delivered to remote experts. These turn anywhere into a more professional-sounding space with far-reaching microphones and echo cancellation. The plug-and-play nature means you only need a USB connection and many come with simple, intuitive one-touch controls or touchless functionality via a video conferencing provider's app.
For video, opt for enterprise-grade smart videoconferencing cameras, rather than a consumer webcam or built-in laptop camera for top-quality visuals. Studios need to look for camera cubes with state-of the-art HD video, automatic zoom and backlight compensation that make participants jump off the screen. In addition, choose a device with built-in stereo microphones for true-to-life audio quality and extra features such as flexible, easy installation and the ability to centralise device management.
In terms of camera position, the participant should always locate the camera at eye-level or slightly above. If this means stacking the camera up on boxes or books, it's worth it in order to not show off those nose hairs!
Connectivity tips As well as hardware, studios also need to think about connectivity for any live, conversational scenario. Ideally each participant needs a low latency connection to reduce any awkward cross-talking and long pauses. Among other factors, this is influenced by network quality, so ensure participants have a good service provider, or if a slow connection is caused by geographic location, a cellular hotspot can go a long way.
Choosing a reliable videoconferencing platform is also imperative, for presenters, guests and internal production teams alike. Standardising on a reliable platform and getting everyone up to speed with the user interfaces and content sharing functionality will ensure teams are ready for action.
For optimal flexibility however, hardware that integrates with any video platform should be considered, in case an important guest uses one specific platform that's different to those used by the studio.
The broadcast industry relies on the highest quality audio and video e
Most recent headlines
09/11/2025
Dalet today announced a transformative leap forward for media operations: Agentic Artificial Intelligence (AI) that unifies the Dalet ecosystem under one natura...
28/10/2025
ESPN Announces Monsters Funday Football', Its Latest Real-Time Animated Bro...
28/10/2025
SVG All-Stars: Catherine Chalfant, Manager, Remote Operations, ESPNThe Ole Miss alum is an operational force behind ESPN's extensive college-football catalo...
28/10/2025
Elevating the experience: AI and data take Ryder Cup to the next level By Joe OHalloran
Tuesday, October 28, 2025 - 10:25
Print This Story
NBC produced th...
28/10/2025
Conquering the Air (waves): Taking a close up look at the IBC Accelerator Priva...
28/10/2025
World Series 2025: Spectrum SportsNet LA Brings Dodgers Fans Closer to the Actio...
28/10/2025
Dylan Southern and Benedict Cumberbatch at the premiere of The Thing with Feathers (photo by George Pimentel / Shutterstock for Sundance Film Festival)...
28/10/2025
For three weeks in Lagos, Spotify's Greasy Tunes Caf pop-up brought the cit...
28/10/2025
Once a niche subculture, German rap has evolved into an influential cultural movement. Now, Spotify is giving the genre a new home with OFFCULT, a playlist dedi...
28/10/2025
Shane Delia's Malta serves up the Mediterranean this summer
28 October, 2025
Media releases
Feast on 9,000 years of culinary history Mondays from 24 No...
28/10/2025
SBS's global sporting festival continues with the FIVB Beach Volleyball Worl...
28/10/2025
Bilbao, October 28, 2025 - AgileTV, a leading technology solutions company for t...
28/10/2025
Disney, NBCUniversal, FOX, Paramount Each Achieve Double-Digit Monthly Growth
...
28/10/2025
CINCINNATI The E.W. Scripps Company has announced an agreement to sell WRTV, its local ABC-affiliated station in Indianapolis, to Circle City Broadcasting for $...
28/10/2025
Berklee College of Music and Berklee Valencia Named to Billboards 2025 Top Music...
28/10/2025
NEW YORK As AI usage continues to spike, a new study from IAB delves into an important aspect of how AI is transforming the advertising business with new data s...
28/10/2025
Charlie Jablonski, a broadcast tech pioneer who helped shape the modern era of Olympics television coverage, died Oct. 25 at his home in Lake George N.Y., the N...
28/10/2025
VIENNA, Austria Bitmovin has launched Bitmovin Observability, a new stand-alone video data solution that delivers real-time insights into video playback. The so...
28/10/2025
LOS ANGELES LucidLink, the file streaming platform, has announced a Frame.io integration and expanded mobile capabilities at Adobe Max....
28/10/2025
Mediagenix, a global leader in smart content solutions to profitably connect the right content to the right audience, today announced that it has joined the Ama...
28/10/2025
Lightware, an industry leader in connectivity and signal management solutions, has announced a major update to its Taurus
platform, which now delivers flawless...
28/10/2025
Following a successful mid-September International Broadcasting Convention in Amsterdam, Hiltron Communications will promote its full range of satellite communi...
28/10/2025
Open Broadcast Systems has chosen MC&S (Media Consulting & Services) as a reseller to help strengthen its presence in France.
With over twenty years of experi...
28/10/2025
Bitmovin, leading provider of video streaming solutions, has launched Bitmovin Observability, a new stand-alone video data solution that delivers real-time insi...
28/10/2025
Ease Live, the leader in interactive TV technology, today announced the successful launch of interactive graphical overlays for UEFA Champions League matches fo...
28/10/2025
LucidLink, the file streaming platform, today at Adobe MAX announced a Frame.io integration and expanded mobile capabilities, streamlining collaboration and hel...
28/10/2025
ATLANTA Gray Media has promoted Nick Hasenecz to general manager of WNDU, its NBC affiliate in the South Bend-Elkhart, Ind., market....
28/10/2025
Applications Open for Berklee Fenway Neighborhood Improvement Grant Boston nonprofits can apply by December 12 for funding to support community projects that ...
28/10/2025
28 Oct 2025
VEON's JazzCash Wins Silver Award for Innovation in Lending at ...
28/10/2025
Guests include Wayne Rooney, Maya Jama, Dame Laura Kenny, Chloe Kelly, Chris McC...
28/10/2025
The two-hour special, recorded live from the iconic Dolby Theatre in LA, will ai...
28/10/2025
Eutelsat upgrades teleports with Rohde & Schwarz satellite uplink amplifiers High efficiency and resilient Ku-band amplifiers for excellent RF performance
...
28/10/2025
These appointments come at a pivotal time for ABC, as the organisation continues to evolve to meet the changing needs of a digital-first media ecosystem. The ne...
28/10/2025
Scripps Research awarded $4 million to advance platform for neurodevelopmental disorders The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) grant support...
27/10/2025
You can touch this: Haptics becoming central to the virtual live experience By Adrian Pennington
Friday, October 24, 2025 - 09:12
Print This Story
The vid...
27/10/2025
A tale of two trailers: France's Stop & Go doubles up with its new hybrid tr...
27/10/2025
Pro Padel League Stages City's Cup Finals Inside NYC's Hammerstein Ballr...
27/10/2025
World Series 2025: Sportsnet Delivers Made-in-Canada' Moment for a Nation U...
27/10/2025
ESPN Extends Partnership With Sony's Beyond Sports To Expand Animated Altern...
27/10/2025
Reid Davenport attends the 2025 Sundance Film Festival premiere of Life After at The Ray Theatre on January 27, 2025, in Park City, UT. (Photo by Robin Marsha...
27/10/2025
As the days grow shorter and the nights get darker, there's nothing like getting swept up in a story that sends shivers down your spine. In honor of spooky ...
27/10/2025
UPDATE: Both parties have reached a new carriage agreement....
27/10/2025
LONDON As Hollywood jumps into the production of mini-dramas, a new study from Ampere Analysis finds that more than one in 10 internet users have watched drama ...
27/10/2025
LONDON Yealink, a provider of unified communication and collaboration solutions, has joined the NDI ecosystem with the availability of its SmartVision 80 premiu...
27/10/2025
ATLANTA Gray Media has named Chris Conroy as general manager of its stations in Cleveland, leading WOIO, a CBS affiliate, The CW station WUAB and Telemundo outl...
27/10/2025
ESPOO, Finland European connectivity leaders Nokia and Ericsson, have partnered with Berlin's Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute (HHI), to shape and drive ...
27/10/2025
PHILADELPHIA Comcast has expanded NOW TV Latino, its Spanish-language live TV and streaming offering, adding five more channels from Univision, ViX Premium with...
27/10/2025
Test & measurement innovator, Leader Electronics, will present its latest products and solutions at InterBEE 2025 (Hall 5, Booth 5218) Makuhari Messe in Chiba, ...
27/10/2025
Back to All News
City of Shadows, the New Netflix Thriller Arrives on December 12
Entertainment
27 October 2025
GlobalSpain
Link copied to clipboard
Downl...
Bob Knauf, senior product marketing manager at Poly offers some tips on broadcasting from home
