NAB 2025: The Future of Remote Production Has Arrived

The NAB Show has always been the heartbeat of the broadcast and media tech industry, but this year felt different. It felt transformative.

Walking the show floor in Las Vegas, you couldn’t miss the energy: remote production isn’t just a trend anymore—it’s a foundational pillar of the modern media workflow. From cloud-based control rooms to AI-assisted video workflows, NAB 2025 delivered a powerful glimpse into where the industry is heading and why it matters now more than ever.

The Rise of Remote Production at NAB

For years, remote production has been evolving behind the scenes—driven by necessity, refined through innovation. But this year, it stepped into the spotlight. Everywhere you looked, manufacturers and software developers were showcasing technologies designed to untether creatives from the physical confines of the control room.

Cloud infrastructure, hybrid production tools, and intelligent automation were front and center. This shift is about more than convenience—it’s about scale, collaboration, and resilience in an unpredictable media landscape. CloudFlex was a very interesting solution we found. It’s a solution that allows you to easily deploy vMix, Vizrt Vector and other production solutions directly into AWS cloud environments. CLOUDflex Broadcast is the ultimate control center for all your cloud production tools and services. It seamlessly integrates with the tools and platforms you already use and love, bringing you the flexibility of cloud production without the additional complexity.

Hive Goes Public: Cloud Control for the Next Generation

One of the most exciting announcements at the show was the public launch of PTZOptics Hive. After months of hands-on beta testing and close collaboration with early adopters, Hive is officially ready for the world.

Hive is a browser-based, cloud-native platform that connects PTZ cameras to the internet for real-time remote control, monitoring, and management. From single-camera setups to complex multi-location productions, Hive empowers teams to build flexible studios that scale on demand.

New Features at NAB:

• Multi-Bridge: Link multiple Hive Studios into one unified control interface—perfect for distributed productions like sports leagues, universities, and corporate networks.
• Enterprise Plan: A flat annual rate of $3,000 unlocks unlimited Hive Studios—ideal for organizations scaling across departments, campuses, or clients.

Major institutions are already deploying Hive, from Division 1 universities to national worship networks. The feedback has been clear: Hive simplifies workflows while increasing creative possibilities.

Introducing Horizon: AI + Camera Control, Reimagined

Alongside Hive, PTZOptics unveiled Horizon—a beta firmware update for its Move 4K camera line that brings intelligent tools directly into the camera itself.

Horizon adds an intuitive, mobile-friendly interface that enables:

• Auto-tracking with clickable presets: Using built-in computer vision, Horizon detects people in frame and instantly generates PTZ presets.
• Pro-level color correction: Fine-tune image profiles without external software or hardware.
• Smart movement tools: Smooth out transitions and automate camera actions for hands-free operation.

Horizon represents a major leap forward for embedded AI in video production hardware. What used to take 10–15 minutes of manual prep now takes seconds—an enormous time-saver for any crew, especially those working remotely.

PTZOptics has also released a line of Studio 4K cameras, which are the very first “Hive-Linked” cameras. These cameras are available in 12X and 20X models (with a 1080p model coming soon as well). These are the very first PTZOptics cameras which offer the full Hive-Linked experience, allowing you to link your camera to Hive for remote viewing, control and management. This is a feature that is being rolled out to many PTZOptics cameras in the PTZOptics Beta Group.

AI Is Here—And It’s Practical

What stood out at NAB wasn’t just the buzz around AI, but its real-world application. Gone are the days of AI as a gimmick. Today, it’s about creating smarter tools that enhance user experience and reduce complexity.

From auto-directing workflows to metadata tagging, we’re seeing AI not as a replacement for creativity, but as a partner in productivity. This is especially critical in remote production, where teams must do more with fewer hands on deck.

A Convergence of Broadcast & ProAV

The conversations this year reflected a major shift: the once-distinct worlds of traditional broadcast and ProAV are merging. We’re entering a new era where remote production tools serve both high-end studios and agile event teams.

This convergence is paving the way for a new generation of creators—nimble, tech-savvy, and ready to leverage cloud, AI, and automation to tell stories at scale.

What’s Next?

If NAB 2025 is any indication, the future of production will be:

• Location-independent
• AI-augmented
• Deeply collaborative
• Accessible to creators of all levels

And we’re here for it.