Since the COVID-19 pandemic began roiling the broadcast industry in March 2020, technology vendors have stepped up to create new products and new facilities to meet the challenges of remote production. While the COVID situation in the U.S. has improved markedly this year and many broadcasters have returned to their studios, usage of these new remote production tools hasn’t slowed down as networks and sports leagues appreciate the new flexibility and efficiency they provide.

The common denominator among these new remote production systems is using the internet for live video and audio transmission as well as device control, often in a hybrid architecture that combines software applications running in the public cloud with traditional on-premise hardware located at a broadcast center or studio. They also include a healthy dose of the type of traditional customer service that broadcasters have come to expect from their key vendors.

BitFire Fills Remote Production Need

A new company taking full advantage of the industry’s shift to remote production is BitFire Networks, which was launched in July 2020 specifically to provide IP-based live transmission and production services.

The company was founded by former Scripps and Tegna programming executive Bob Sullivan with his brother Timothy, a former CEO of several large manufacturing companies, with input from broadcast veterans like Ken Aagaard, former CBS Sports EVP of operations. Bob Sullivan serves as president and CEO, while his brother is chairman; Aagaard is the other board member.