Transforming ITV Studios into the cloud

Adobe Premiere Pro, the industry leading video editor, is packed with hundreds of tools that enable creative professionals to craft stories around the world. The value is further enhanced by its surrounding Adobe Video Ecosystem which adds even more power to the creative process for creative studios such as ITV.

ITV Studios, like many global companies, is looking to be more efficient and more sustainable across all of its territories and labels, and it is through innovation that it drives this.

As an example, “Come Dine With Me,” produced by ITV Studios label Multistory Media for Channel 4, is one of the UK’s most beloved and enduring TV shows. Known for its unique format and engaging content, the show traditionally relied on traditional on-premise editing systems. However, rising production costs has meant it has become more and more important to find a more cost-effective way to produce the show, and innovate for the future. 

Challenge

The primary challenges faced by ITV Studios included:

1. Rising Costs: Increasing production costs meant finding a more cost-effective production method was crucial.
2. Efficiency: The traditional on-premise editing workflows were time-consuming, leading to increased production time.
3. Environmental Impact: The carbon footprint associated with on-premise editing was substantial.
4. Reluctance for Training: A significant blocker to change was the reluctance of experienced editors and producers to undergo training for new systems.

Solution 

Edit Cloud has been working with ITV Studios, and their global innovation hub,  to deliver alternative solutions with an ambition to transform the editing process for “Come Dine With Me” by transitioning from on-premise systems into an Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud-based editing solution using Adobe Premiere Pro. The transformation means that the production can take advantage of advanced features within Premiere Pro like Speech to Text and Text-Based-Editing, significantly enhancing the logging, preparation, and editing process.

Implementation

1. Reevaluating the Process: The opportunity to move to the cloud offers significant cost advantages, but it required reevaluating the entire production process. This involved identifying workflow and designing a new, streamlined approach centred around cloud-based capture and editing. 
2. Overcoming Reluctance to Training: Recognizing the reluctance of experienced editors and producers to undergo training, due to work loads and time pressures, Edit Cloud delivered comprehensive training through their Edit Cloud Academy, working closely with Adobe that could be completed remotely, on cloud.  The academy provided tailored, hands-on training sessions designed to make the transition as smooth as possible. 
3. Cloud-Based Workflow: The shift to a cloud-based workflow allowed editors to access and work on projects from anywhere, eliminating the need for physical presence in the studio. This flexibility not only improved the efficiency of the editing process but also enhanced collaboration among team members. Edit Cloud’s unique workflows involved working with technology partners, base, and Cree8,  to implement their virtual editing environment on AWS.
4. Environmental Impact: By moving to cloud-based editing, ITV Studios significantly reduced their carbon emissions. The cloud infrastructure provided by Edit Cloud is optimised for energy efficiency, contributing to a 51% reduction in carbon emissions compared to the previous on-premise workflows.           

Outcome

A new solution from Edit Cloud

The new approach brought about by Edit Cloud unlocks several key benefits for ITV Studios, and labels like Multistory.  “Come Dine With Me” is now positioned to benefit from Edit Cloud’s new approach as it begins production this summer. 

1. Time Savings: Edit Cloud’s cloud-based Adobe workflow and advanced tools offers up to 60% reduction in logging time and  edit prep, accelerating the post workflow by up to 30%. This efficiency will allow the production teams to save time, and focus more on creative aspects rather than  mundane tasks like transcribing or manual logging content.
2. Cost Efficiency: Edit Cloud’s commitment to save time in the logging and text-based editing, plus the move away from costly on-premise infrastructure, enabled Multistory to shorten their production schedule and deliver crucial cost savings.
3. Environmental Benefits: Edit Cloud contributes up to 51% reduction in carbon emissions, which  aligns with ITV Studios’ commitment to sustainability, making the production process more eco-friendly.
4. Enhanced Collaboration: The cloud-based workflow offers up a superior  collaboration experience, among the production team, whether they are working at home or in a studio collaborating together. 
5. Positive Training Feedback: in order to support the CDWM teams new ways of working in cloud and on Adobe, training was provided by Edit Cloud Academy which was well-received, with participants giving an average positive feedback rating of 94%. Additionally, editors commented they felt more employable and versatile in their roles, having broadened their skills and become proficient in modern, industry-standard Adobe Creative Cloud. This is again important for itv to be agnostic and diverse. 

Conclusion

Edit Cloud’s innovative solutions, and their partnership with Adobe, have equipped ITV Studios to revolutionise the editing process for “Come Dine With Me’. It also presents  another option for productions to find efficiencies and viable ways to get commissions. The combination of being in the cloud, using Adobe Premiere Pro and its advanced AI-powered tools, and comprehensive training through the Edit Cloud Academy offers significant time savings, reduced environmental impact, enhanced collaboration, and improved employability for the editing team. The case study highlights the transformative potential of embracing cutting-edge technology delivered alongside effective training to increase creative productivity.

Learn more about Premiere Pro’s newest features by updating the app today. To enhance your workflow even further, explore the many solutions like Edit Cloud that are available as part of the Adobe Video ecosystem. Visit edit.cloud and get in touch to find out more.