Vista Studios Joins The Switch Network, Launches At-Home–Production Services

The at-home-production offering targets sports-streaming producers without traditional media infrastructure

Vista Studios recently completed installation of diverse-path dark fiber and is now on network with The Switch in Los Angeles, CA. As a result, the independent production facility can offer at-home–production services to its roster of clients. Within a week of installation, Vista produced its first live at-home show, WE tv’s Growing Up Hip Hop season finale.

Vista Studios has followed a network-level model in structuring its connectivity with The Switch and is using diverse-path dark fiber. This approach offers built-in redundancy, as well as a configurable architecture.

Based on Net Insight’s Nimbra transport platform, the network enables Vista to support clients that require baseband transmission, as well as those that require Layer 2 data connections.

“The modular nature of the Nimbra system, enabled over diverse-path dark fiber, allows Vista to adapt to whatever a client requires,” explains Vista Studios founder/CEO Randall Heer. “With all these systems backed by generator/ATS/UPS, clients can be confident that their productions are protected.”

With the new at-home/REMI (remote-integration) business, Vista Studios is targeting the increasing number of new sports-streaming–rights holders that may lack the infrastructure of traditional media companies.

“That is the niche that Vista is designed to fill,” says Heer. “Vista is ready to deliver live content now. There’s no need to build systems or infrastructure taking days, weeks, or months. We can deliver with our experienced staff. We believe the ability to provide turnkey solutions, at network standards of uptime delivery, will be sought after in the market place.”

Vista Studios’ first at-home production was a two-hour, live, interactive viewing experience for fans during WE tv’s Growing Up Hip Hop season finale. It featured the “base” feed from the channel origination facility, Skype live shots throughout the show, call-in questions from fans, and social-media interaction. The eight to 10 stars of the show were live in the studio, detailing all the events of the show’s season.

“The show aired flawlessly and delivered for a very excited, engaged fan base,” says Heer.

Although the first gig was a non-sports event, he sees sports content as one of the main drivers for Vista Studios at-home–production services moving forward: “Sports remains the most compelling opportunity for REMI business. The rising costs of rights fees along with remote-production costs has caused rightsholders to seek new cost savings and efficiencies. This trend in seeking efficiencies isn’t going to slow; it’s going to accelerate. Add to the traditional sports business the burgeoning world of e-gaming, and this feels like a key market that won’t cool down any time soon.”