The Struggles of Broadcasting From Home During a Pandemic

This year has forced many broadcasters and other TV personalities to come up with new and creative ways to broadcast the news. When the pandemic first hit, most TV stations weren’t sure how to continue their shows. As they struggled with staying safe, the methods evolved and personalities came up with creative ways to stay on the air.

1. News Broadcasters

At the beginning of the pandemic, news broadcasters positioned their personalities several feet apart in an attempt to keep them safe. They quickly realized, however, that it was a much safer idea for commentators and guests to stay in their homes and present their information using a video communications application, such as Zoom, GoToMeeting or Skype. In any live broadcast, there are concerns about mishaps taking place, but using telecommunication devices from home makes the whole process more complicated. Let’s look at some of the challenges that TV news people have recently faced.

• Technological issues are common. When bringing an expert commentator into the conversation, TV news anchors sometimes lose the feed to their guests. The sound or video can also get distorted. Crackling sounds, sound cutouts and other disturbances are frequent. Visual feed can also become distorted. Frequently, the sound doesn’t match up with the person’s visible speaking either.
• Pets want to be a part of the broadcast. You’ve all seen videos of professional interviews getting interrupted by a dog or cat jumping on the commentator’s lap. While the videos can be entertaining for those not involved, they can disrupt a serious conversation. Kids have also been known to burst into the room with cheery greetings. Most of the time, these situations have become part of the culture we’ve accepted in these unusual days.
• Lighting is difficult to get just right at home. You need a light source that gives off a bright light, but it should always be placed in front of the person, not behind them.

As experts better understand how to safely navigate around the contagious virus, stations are bringing some of their TV personalities back to the studio, while maintaining a safe distance. For those who still broadcast from home, however, it’s smart to invest in a home broadcasting studio. Good quality video and sound equipment allows you to stay in your home and livestream all over the world.

2. Comedians and Other TV Personalities

Comedians with late night talk shows, such as Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel and Jimmy Fallon, have struggled to find the best way to provide entertainment for their viewers. With the help of their creative teams, they found interesting and funny ways to adapt. Family members have joined in the fun to give the show a more personal feel.

Most late night hosts still have remote guests, but some personalities have gone back into the studio with limited staff. The audience is typically members of the writing team and TV executives.

The pandemic is a tragic event in our country, but it’s comforting to know that TV personalities are working overtime to give us a respite and a reason to smile.