Remote Esports Production

Remote production has revolutionised esports broadcasting, enabling professional-quality broadcasts without gathering entire crews at physical venues. This guide covers how to plan, execute, and optimise remote esports productions.

What is Remote Esports Production?

Remote production (also called distributed production or at-home production) involves producing broadcasts with crew members working from different locations. Instead of everyone being on-site, team members connect through the internet to collaborate on live productions.

Benefits of Remote Production

Cost Efficiency

• Eliminated travel expenses
• No venue rental for production
• Reduced equipment transport
• Lower accommodation costs

Flexibility

• Access to global talent pool
• Easier scheduling
• Scalable crew size
• Quick deployment for events

Scalability

• Easy to add or reduce crew
• Multiple event coverage
• International crew integration
• Faster response to opportunities

Remote Production Models

Fully Distributed

All crew work from home or personal studios:

Best For:

• Online-only tournaments
• Budget-conscious productions
• Regular weekly content
• International crew requirements

Crew Setup:

• Director at home studio
• Observers at personal setups
• Graphics operators remotely
• Commentary from home studios

Hub and Spoke

Central production hub with remote contributors:

Best For:

• Hybrid events
• Productions needing some co-location
• Complex technical requirements
• Training new crew members

Setup:

• Core technical team at hub
• Remote observers and talent
• Centralised switching and streaming
• Distributed content creation

Player Remote, Production On-Site

Production crew on-site, players play remotely:

Best For:

• Studio shows with remote matches
• Invitational events
• Content-focused productions
• LAN-style production without player travel

Technical Requirements

Internet Connectivity

Each remote crew member needs:

Minimum Requirements:

• 50 Mbps download
• 20 Mbps upload
• Stable connection (wired preferred)
• Backup connection available

Recommended:

• 100+ Mbps symmetrical
• Dedicated line for production
• Mobile hotspot backup
• UPS for network equipment

Communication Systems

Real-Time Comms:

• Discord for primary coordination
• Production intercom (Intercom Solutions, Talkback)
• Video monitoring links
• Backup communication channel

Collaboration Tools:

• Shared documents for rundowns
• Cloud storage for assets
• Project management tools
• Time zone coordination apps

Remote Contribution Technology

Video Contribution:

• NDI Bridge for network video
• SRT streaming for reliable transport
• Zoom/Teams for talent feeds
• Cloud-based production platforms

Audio Contribution:

• Cleanfeed for broadcast audio
• Source-Connect for commentary
• Discord with professional audio setup
• Dedicated audio codec units

Cloud Production Platforms

Popular Solutions

Grabyo

• Browser-based production
• Multi-user collaboration
• Social media integration
• Clipping and highlights

Singular.live

• Graphics and overlays
• Remote graphics control
• Data integration
• Low-latency updates

Restream

• Multi-platform streaming to Twitch, YouTube, and more
• Basic production features
• Guest management
• Accessible for beginners

vMix Call

• Professional quality
• vMix integration
• Multiple guest support
• Low latency options

Building Custom Solutions

For advanced requirements:

• AWS/Azure/GCP cloud instances
• Containerised production workflows
• Custom contribution pipelines
• Automated failover systems

Workflow Design

Pre-Production

Planning Phase:

• Define crew roles and responsibilities
• Establish communication protocols
• Create technical requirements documents
• Schedule testing sessions
• Prepare backup plans

Testing Phase:

• Individual connection tests
• Full crew rehearsals
• Backup system testing
• Communication drills
• End-to-end stream tests

Live Production

Show Day Protocol:

• Early check-in for all crew
• Technical verification
• Communication check
• Final rehearsal
• Show execution

Monitoring:

• Stream health dashboards
• Crew status checks
• Backup readiness verification
• Issue escalation procedures

Post-Production

Wrap-Up:

• VOD verification
• Asset collection
• Crew debrief
• Issue documentation
• Improvement notes

Best Practices

Redundancy Planning

Critical Systems:

• Dual streaming encoders
• Multiple internet connections
• Backup communication channels
• Secondary crew for key roles
• Automated failover where possible

Latency Management

Reducing Delays:

• Use SRT/RIST for contribution
• Low-latency streaming options
• Regional server selection
• Optimised encoding settings
• Streamlined switching workflow

Quality Control

Maintaining Standards:

• Pre-flight checklists
• Real-time monitoring
• Quality benchmarks
• Regular calibration
• Viewer feedback loops

Common Challenges

Technical Issues

Internet Problems:

• Solution: Backup connections, cellular failover
• Prevention: Connection testing, quality requirements

Audio Sync:

• Solution: Delay compensation, careful routing
• Prevention: Standardised contribution settings

Video Quality:

• Solution: Minimum bitrate requirements
• Prevention: Contribution guidelines, testing

Human Factors

Communication Breakdown:

• Solution: Clear protocols, backup channels
• Prevention: Regular drills, documentation

Time Zone Confusion:

• Solution: Shared calendars with time zones
• Prevention: UTC reference times, confirmations

Crew Reliability:

• Solution: Backup crew assignments
• Prevention: Vetting, professionalism standards

Cost Comparison

Traditional vs. Remote Production

| Cost Category | Traditional | Remote | Savings | |---------------|-------------|--------|---------| | Crew Travel | £5,000+ | £0 | 100% | | Accommodation | £3,000+ | £0 | 100% | | Venue | £2,000+ | £0 | 100% | | Equipment Transport | £1,500+ | £0 | 100% | | Technology/Software | £500 | £800 | -60% | | Typical Total | £12,000+ | £800 | 93% |

Example for a 3-day production with 10-person crew

Future of Remote Production

Emerging Technologies

5G Networks:

• Mobile production possibilities
• Improved remote contribution
• Lower latency options
• Greater flexibility

Cloud Processing:

• Server-side encoding
• Distributed rendering
• Scalable compute resources
• Global CDN integration

AI/ML Tools:

• Automated camera selection
• Highlight detection
• Quality monitoring
• Content analysis

Conclusion

Remote production has become an essential capability for esports production companies. The cost savings, flexibility, and access to global talent make it ideal for online tournaments while maintaining professional broadcast standards.

As a leading esports production agency, we specialise in remote production solutions. Contact our esports production company to discuss how we can deliver professional broadcasts for your event.