Learning from broadcast production

Broadcast is one of the most demanding production environments. Quality and consistency are critical. Delivery deadlines are absolute. Turnaround time needs to be calculated with precision. And everything has to work every day. Broadcast, therefore, provides a perfect laboratory for post-production efficiency.

What can we learn from broadcast production?

The core principles of efficient broadcast production apply for all video content creators:

• Keep it simple: Avoid having multiple applications open, avoid switching between windows and avoid leaving your NLE. Choose a core platform to build your business around and then ensure that all additional applications and tools can work within or compliment that platform.
• Standardize workflows: Map your edit process, recognize bottlenecks, remove them and then aim for consistency. Not only does this help you recognize where tools and integrations might improve your workflow but also help you scale smoothly in busy periods.
• Automate repetitive tasks: So much time is spent on laborious, repetitive tasks which can easily be replaced with automation. Once you have mapped your workflow, look at each stage and ask whether it is a good use of time. This often helps identify the processes that could be automated. And if you think it’s perfect for automation then there is a good chance that an application exists that can be integrated into your workflow.
• Concentrate on content, not codecs: Technology should be configured and deployed to get out of your way, so you can focus on making content. All too often technology limitations, inflexibility, or poor workflows can mean that production teams spend their time focusing on the technology, rather than their content. Production and technical teams should always feel happy that the technology is working to their requirements and not the other way around.

And the basic steps in broadcast production are also the same for all video production.

• Bring media into the editing application 
• Edit and enhance content 
• Incorporate branded graphics and audio elements 
• Collaborate with other teams and team members 
• Export for viewing platforms

Integrating production tools

In the simplest terms, integrations put extra features at your fingertips. They save you time and money by avoiding the disruption of navigating multiple applications and systems. Aside from simply working faster, deep integrations can transform how broadcasters (and all video professionals) create content.

Premiere and the Adobe Creative Cloud applications are designed as open platforms with extensive APIs for third-party technologies. Hundreds of companies have created extensions and integrations that accelerate productivity and save costs. You can find Adobe technology partners here.