From the outside looking in, news broadcasting seems like a simple task. You look at the notes, sit down, turn the camera on, and begin the entertainment. However, there are many different forms of technology that are necessary for the broadcast to run. Not only is that tech necessary, but it’s also evolving quite consistently. Take a glimpse at these tips for improving live broadcasts with the best and most efficient tech on the market.
Optimize Your Lighting Set Up
Like many of the production factors we’ll discuss in this guide, lighting is incredibly important to viewer engagement. If viewers are trying to watch a news broadcast, but the lighting is either way too dark or way too bright, why wouldn’t they stop watching and head over to a news station with better video quality? A great piece of guidance to use when buying a contemporary lighting setup is getting LED lights. The popularity of LED lights in broadcasts has increased
for a bevy of reasons, including their low power consumption and flexibility in outdoor environments.
Use Modern Teleprompter Methods
Another key piece of technology used for live broadcasts is a teleprompter system. These long-used pieces of video equipment provide necessary talking points to presenters during the broadcast, often set up behind or beside the camera. Today, productions can obtain teleprompter rigs that have a slot for iPad use. An iPad can be easily transformed into a teleprompter with the right app and a compatible teleprompter system. These iPad teleprompter systems are recommended because they can be used for your normal broadcasting needs or can function as a quick back up if anything happens to your current system. Technical difficulties aren’t rare during live broadcasts, so having a Plan B for any production is a good idea.
Test Your Tech Before Broadcasting
As mentioned above, technical difficulties can occur during a broadcast. It’s not that rare but it can be avoided with the proper precautions. Before going live, test all of the essential equipment to make sure it runs smoothly. Proper lighting, camera functions, lighting arrangements, and all of the important production equipment make your show as great as it can be. That way, if something fishy is going on with your equipment or the broadcast itself, you can catch it early on and fix it. Whether it’s a loose power cord or a network connection on the fritz, you’ll be happy you caught it before the stream, as opposed to halfway through.
These tips for improving live broadcasts will help your production flow smoothly while staying up to date with the most useful production technology, and techniques, available today. By keeping a close eye on the shifting video production tech market, you can keep your broadcast relevant and functioning on a regular basis.
