Ateliere Live gives Green Screen New Eco Friendly Meaning
The media obviously plays an influential role in promoting sustainability by shaping public opinion, raising awareness, and influencing individual and collective behaviors. But the industry also has an ethical responsibility to adopt their own eco-friendly practices by reducing carbon emissions and promoting sustainability in productions. In an industry where every second counts, the time for cost-effective, energy-efficient solutions in live media production is right now.
There are many examples of production cast and crews making efforts to go green by using eco-friendly materials, recycling, and even eating vegan to reduce their overall environmental impact. Yet, recent reports indicate that the carbon footprint of productions remains a significant concern.
According to the 2023 BAFTA albert review, the carbon emissions per hour of content actually increased by 33% year-on-year, averaging 16.6 metric tons of CO2e per hour, highlighting the continuing challenge of reducing industry emissions. To put it in perspective, the average emissions associated with an hour of TV or film production is equivalent to driving around the world twice in the average diesel car. Despite growing awareness and efforts to track and manage emissions, these statistics reveal the scale of the task ahead.
On-screen and off-screen efforts
Ateliere Creative Technologies recognizes the profound impact our industry has on the environment. In response to the urgency of the climate crisis, we are committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2040. This aligns with the ambitious goals set in Amazon’s Climate Approach. As part of our off-screen efforts, the office building that houses Ateliere headquarters has a LEED Platinum rating and is Energy Star Certified.
One fun example of our sustainability efforts, Ateliere is the headline sponsor of The Flint Green Line. This unique networking event takes place in a dedicated Eurostar carriage heading to IBC20204 from London’s St. Pancras Station. IBC attendees can enjoy low-carbon, direct travel from London to Amsterdam accompanied by an afternoon of networking with fellow media professionals interested in improving their sustainability practices.
Ateliere also recently sponsored Verte, an annual gala benefiting Grades of Green’s vision to create a clean and sustainable environment for future generations. We are also a member of Ad Net Zero, an organization that strives to reduce the carbon impact of developing, producing, and running advertising to real net zero.
Even more important are what we call our on-screen efforts; we are committed to leading the way in sustainable media technology, with our journey rooted in innovation, responsibility, and deep respect for our planet. This is a team effort. By optimizing our cloud-native media services, we aim to not only minimize our carbon footprint but to also set new standards for sustainability in media technology by enabling what we call true remote and distributed production—basically the staff involved don’t need to be onsite.
Take the example of Ateliere Live—a game-changing platform designed to streamline operations, significantly reduce costs, and minimize environmental impact for live TV production. If you're a media company looking to enhance efficiency while being eco-conscious, read on to discover how Ateliere Live can transform your workflow.
Going green AND reducing Live TV production costs
The concept for this innovative product began in 2019. It was primarily driven by the need for personalization in live productions such as sports events and music concerts. Traditional TV broadcasts rely on a single signal curated by producers, which often leads to wasted content from unused cameras. The vision was to create a solution that not only utilizes every camera angle but also personalizes the viewing experience for each audience member.
Ateliere Live is already in use by leading broadcasters and producers such as Sveriges Television (SVT) and Permafrost for live TV production. The solution’s innovative GPU processing and remote proxy capabilities help customers reduce costs by up to 70% per hour of live TV produced. “Lifting and shifting” existing software to the cloud rarely results in sustainability improvements. However, initial estimates from multi-week productions indicate that cloud-native Ateliere Live can provide carbon footprint savings of at least 30%, and likely well above 50%, compared to traditional broadcast technology production suites.
Ateliere Live integrates editing, mixing, graphics, and effects into a single software platform, which facilitates true remote production with advanced proxy editing. This consolidation means you no longer need multiple expensive tools and platforms to achieve a high-quality live broadcast. Specific features include:
- Integrated Software: Streamlines the production process, reducing the need for multiple tools and subscriptions.
- Advanced Proxy Editing: Allows for efficient remote production, minimizing the need for on-site staff and reducing travel expenses.
- Scalability: The platform's cloud-native architecture means you can scale up or down based on your production needs, eliminating the need for costly, static studio investments.
Traditional broadcast production comes with a hefty price tag due to the need for physical infrastructure like OB trucks and satellite dishes. By leveraging cloud computing and GPUs, Ateliere Live breaks this legacy cost structure, making high-quality production accessible and affordable.
The financial benefits of using Ateliere Live are not just immediate but extend well into the future. By lowering operational costs by up to 70%, media companies can allocate their budgets more effectively, investing in creative content and personnel rather than mundane operational tasks. Plus, Remote Production (REMI) workflows minimize the need for travel and shipping, thereby reducing not only costs but also the overall environmental footprint.
The greenlight: How Ateliere Live minimizes energy consumption
One of the standout features of Ateliere Live is its ability to significantly reduce energy consumption. The platform leverages cloud technology, automation, innovative GPU technology and proxy capabilities to reduce the carbon footprint for live production. This not only lowers electricity bills but also makes the entire process more sustainable.
Traditional broadcast solutions often rely on multiple dedicated hardware boxes, each performing specific tasks. This approach leads to inefficiencies and higher costs. However, with GPU processing, video remains in the GPU until just before distribution, eliminating unnecessary processing steps and reducing power requirements. The use of NVIDIA GPUs to accelerate video processing provides a significant advantage. NVIDIA GPUs offer rapid advancements in technology, providing the necessary power to process video efficiently. The platform employs a horizontal software architecture where applications run directly on the GPU, avoiding multiple encode/decode cycles and reducing latency.
Ending on a green note: Thoughts on sustainable Live TV
Reducing costs and energy use in live production is no longer a green dream—it's a reality with Ateliere Live. With its integrated software, advanced proxy editing, and energy-efficient features, Ateliere Live is revolutionizing the media production landscape.
Understanding that the challenges we face are bigger than any one company, Ateliere also actively seeks partnerships across the media industry to create a more sustainable future. Together, we can make a significant impact.
Want to be part of the solution? Start saving today with Ateliere Live and join the ranks of forward-thinking media production companies committed to efficiency and sustainability.
