Scottish OB and remote production specialist QTV has overhauled its camera fleet and expanded its operational footprint with a significant Sony investment

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Glasgow-based outside broadcast and production house QTV has invested in a range of Sony broadcast technology and unveiled a new OB vehicle.

It has bought 24 x Sony HDC-3000 series studio cameras, 10 x Sony PXW-Z200 camcorders and a Sony XVS-G1 vision mixer.

The investment comes as the company seeks to compete for a broader range of productions in Scotland and beyond. 

The investment reflects QTV’s ambition to grow from its established base in sports OB and remote production into a company capable of servicing larger-scale live events, arts, and entertainment productions. 

A new, purpose-built 14-camera OB truck now houses the Sony vision mixer and studio cameras, significantly expanding the range of QTV’s productions.

The truck is currently supporting QTV’s contract to cover weightlifting and powerlifting at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games for host broadcaster Actua Films.

“I can count on one hand the number of problems I’ve had with Sony cameras over the last six years,” said Gareth Gordon, chief technology officer at QTV. “The repair bills for some other brands made them unsustainable. When we looked at the cost-benefit analysis, it was clear that replacing the fleet with Sony was the right decision for the next decade.

“I’ve worked with the HDC series throughout my career. I want my junior engineers working with Sony kit because it’s what they’ll find on the vast majority of productions anywhere in the world.”

The company’s new OB truck is its first UHD and HDR-capable vehicle. “The truck is a statement,” said Gordon. “We are a remote production company, built on small vans and lean operations. This is the next stage of evolution for QTV – and part of that is the confidence that comes from being able to say we are a Sony house.”

QTV invested in the PXW-Z200 camcorders to service contracts with SPFL and the Football Association of Wales, providing single- and two-camera live streaming for the leagues’ respective OTT offers. 

“The Z200 gives you broadcast-quality pictures, consistent colour, and it’s easy to use under pressure,” said Nic Smith, senior key account manager, north, at Sony Europe. “For single-operator productions where there’s no one else to troubleshoot, the camera simply has to turn on and work every time - and that’s what it does.”