Broadcast production is getting a makeover, and the camera crew may no longer need to travel in full force. Panasonic is pushing remote production, IP-based workflows and AI-powered cameras to help broadcasters cut costs while keeping creativity in focus.
At A.B.I.S (India’s Broadcasting and Infotainment Show), Panasonic India deputy general manager for broadcast & proAV Omkar Talwar shared the company’s latest offerings and production plans with AnimationXpress. The showcase included box cameras, the Kairos live video production platform and AI-based camera systems, all aimed at making sports and broadcast production more efficient.
A major focus was remote production, with Panasonic demonstrating how its technology could reduce the need for large teams and multiple production setups. Its box cameras and Kairos platform are designed to support IP-based production, helping broadcasters streamline workflows and manage costs.
The AI-powered cameras add another layer of automation. Using AI-based controls, they can track a subject, maintain headroom and keep the person within the frame without requiring a camera operator to manage every movement. Talwar believes the technology can give production teams more room to focus on the creative side.
“AI is giving us more production environments, where we are able to do more creative part of it and more efficiently,” he said. He added that the challenge was to identify how AI could complement an operator’s creative skills and bring the entire production value chain together to improve quality and efficiency.
One workflow, multiple production formats
Panasonic is also preparing for the industry’s shift from traditional 4K broadcasting to IP-based production. Rather than forcing customers to make an immediate switch, the company is showcasing products that support both conventional broadcast setups and newer IP workflows.
These include ST 2110, Network Device Interface (NDI), Secure Reliable Transport (SRT) and Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG), giving broadcasters the flexibility to select a format based on their network bandwidth, internet availability and quality requirements. Talwar explained that customers with limited bandwidth could opt for more compressed formats such as NDI, while those with dedicated optical fibre could use ST 2110 for higher-quality production.
The idea is to offer choices rather than a one-size-fits-all solution. Since video files demand substantial bandwidth, broadcasters must balance transmission quality with the infrastructure available to them.
The Kairos platform also aims to reduce investment by allowing production teams to generate different aspect-ratio outputs from the same camera setup. Earlier, broadcasters often needed separate production rooms for OTT platforms, which use a 9:16 vertical format, and traditional satellite channels, which use a 16:9 widescreen format.
With Kairos, Panasonic aims to bring both requirements into a single production environment, reducing the need for multiple rooms and separate infrastructure.
Fewer people on the road, more production from a distance
For Talwar, the biggest advantage of remote production is the potential to reduce travel, crew requirements and operational costs. He explained that a conventional setup could require a team of around 20 people to travel to each production venue to establish a control room. With remote production, that number could come down to five, with the remaining team handling operations from a remote production facility.
“Out of 20, now only five will go to make sure that frame is correct. Rest all the team can do this remote production via remote production room,” he said.
The camera feeds can be sent back to the remote production site, eliminating the need for the entire engineering and switching team to travel. This could make productions more cost-effective while allowing teams to manage multiple requirements from a central location.
Talwar stressed that AI would not replace the creative workflow but would support it, helping teams deliver more sustainable and efficient productions.
For Panasonic, the future of broadcasting is not simply about adding more technology to the control room. It is about making production work smarter, travel lighter and deliver more with less. The camera may still be on the field, but increasingly, the production team can stay behind the scenes and miles away.
