Fremantle, a global leader in entertainment and media content production, has enhanced remote guest capabilities for the Dutch talk show RTL Boulevard by adopting the QuickLink StudioCall solution.
RTL Boulevard, airing since 2001 on RTL4, is produced by Fremantle and is the top entertainment news program in the Netherlands. It broadcasts daily across linear and digital platforms to millions of viewers.
Need for an Improved Solution
Fremantle required a high-quality, low-latency solution to integrate remote guests into their daily live talk shows. The previously used solution did not meet their needs. Fremantle selected QuickLink StudioCall to engage viewers more effectively through remote guests.
Implementation During COVID-19
Max Blaauw, Lead AI & Technology at Fremantle, stated that the adoption of QuickLink StudioCall began at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the challenging timing, the technology was essential for maintaining show operations during the pandemic.
Efficiency and Ease of Use
RTL Boulevard, being a daily live talk show, needed an efficient system to set up remote guest connections quickly. QuickLink StudioManager allows Fremantle to send invites via email, SMS, or WhatsApp, enabling remote guests to connect, test, and join the live show in less than a minute. Guests can join through a web browser on any device without the need for app or software installations.
Full Remote Operational Control
QuickLink StudioManager provides operators with full control over the remote guest’s camera, microphone, speaker device selection, resolution, audio mode, and gain. This user-friendly interface allows producers to manage guest connections without requiring technical engineers.
Integration into Live Production Workflow
Fremantle has installed multiple QuickLink servers in their gallery, providing professional outputs such as HD-SDI and NDI into their live production workflow. This setup is used year-round to introduce remote callers from around the world using various connection methods, including Fiber, 4G/5G, and SpaceX’s Starlink.
Reliable and Efficient Remote Feeds
By adopting QuickLink StudioCall, Fremantle has modernized the remote guest experience for RTL Boulevard, ensuring reliable and efficient high-quality remote feeds from contributors globally. QuickLink solutions were provided by VP Media Solutions, a Belgium-based media technology provider focused on delivering solutions that offer a clear return on investment and value to their customers’ content.
About Fremantle
Fremantle is one of the largest and most successful creators, producers and distributors of entertainment, drama, factual and film content in the world. Operating in over 25 territories, Fremantle’s global entertainment brands include producers of major TV franchises like American Idol, Got Talent, Family Feud, The X Factor and many more.
About VP Media Solutions
VP Media Solutions, founded in 1975 and based in Brussels – Belgium, customize media technology solutions and services to produce & distribute high-quality AV content with optimised and streamlined workflows. VP Media Solution’s primary focus, is not on the technology itself, but on the customers’ bottom line and business expansion, delivering and implementing solutions that will provide their customers with a clear return on investment and add value to the content you offer.
About QuickLink
QuickLink, supplies over 800 companies with award-winning software, hardware and cloud solutions for broadcast-quality multi-camera video production. As Emmy Award and Queen’s Award for Innovation winners, QuickLink are proud to have been recognized for the solutions we develop on a global scale.
