Glasgow sports broadcaster and producer works with Sony to increase operational consistency, resilience and production for Commonwealth Games, and train up Scottish broadcast talent.
QTV, an outside broadcast and production company based in Glasgow, is investing and working toward a broader range of productions in Scotland and beyond. They have made a significant investment in Sony broadcast technology as part of a strategic expansion.
The purchase encompasses 24 Sony HDC-3000 series studio cameras, 10 Sony PXW-Z200 camcorders and a Sony XVS-G1 vision mixer - supporting a large increase in operational consistency, resilience and scalability.
The investment supports 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 purpose-built 14-camera OB truck will house the new Sony vision mixer and studio cameras, significantly expanding the range of QTV’s productions.
The new cameras made their debut in May, when QTV produced the world feed for Aston Villa's UEFA Europa League bus parade with a rolling 17-camera OB through Birmingham delivered remotely from Glasgow. At the Commonwealth Games, currently underway in Glasgow, the new OB truck is supporting QTV’s contract to cover weightlifting and powerlifting for host broadcaster Actua Films.
Reliable and Resilient
QTV's relationship with Sony began in 2017 with an initial investment in nine Sony HDC-1700 studio cameras to deliver its Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) and World Archery contracts. Over the following years, running Sony cameras alongside equipment from other manufacturers revealed a contrast in operating costs and reliability.
"We have encountered so few problems 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."
That decision was reinforced by the practical realities of broadcasting in Scotland. Sony cameras - with connectors positioned to prevent water ingress rather than sitting on top of the unit - have proved much more resilient in wet conditions than the alternatives. Standardising the fleet also simplifies operations across QTV's freelancers, partnerships and crew. Every engineer who walks onto a QTV OB encounters equipment with which they are already familiar.
"I've worked with the HDC series throughout my career," Gareth said. "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."
It has also been possible to upgrade the existing 2017 HDC-1700 cameras with 3G cards and licences, extending their operational lifespan and bringing them into line with the new fleet, which also shows the long-term value of the Sony platform.
Wider Scope for Local Production
The new OB truck targets the higher end of Scotland's live production market - particularly arts, festival and large-scale events where London-based facility companies have historically been the default choice. As QTV's first UHD and HDR-capable vehicle, it opens up production formats the company has not previously been able to work with, and will be equipped with the new Sony vision mixer.
"The truck is a statement," Gareth said. "We are a remote production company, built on small vans and lean operations. As the next stage of evolution for QTV, the ability to say we are a Sony house lends confidence."
Single-Operator Projects
While the new OB truck targets the higher end of the market, the PXW-Z200 camcorders address a different need. Ten units have been purchased to service contracts with SPFL and the Football Association of Wales, supporting single- and two-camera live streaming for the leagues’ respective OTT operations.
"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."
The consistency of the Sony ecosystem is a major feature of both investments. Whether a QTV crew is operating a 17-camera world feed or a single-operator livestream, they are working with kit they know and are comfortable with.
The deal was facilitated with the support of industry broker Ignicion Ltd whose deal to buy back QTV's outgoing cameras from other manufacturers helped make the capital available for the Sony investment, alongside an attractive commercial package from Sony.
Backing Future Broadcast Talent
Alongside its equipment investment, QTV has taken on a central role in the Host Broadcaster Training Initiative (HBTI), part of Actua Films' delivery for the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. QTV is running the entire programme, upskilling six broadcast industry entrants to senior-level roles and 20 entry-level trainees who will work across the Games. Sony contributed equipment, time and senior expertise to the programme - including four days of on-site training from Daryl Bidewell, a recognised vision supervisor, and Jacob Morris on vision mixing.
"Being able to bring someone of Daryl's calibre in to work directly with people who are at the very start of their careers is an achievement," said Gareth. "The HBTI is about creating a genuine pathway into the industry in Scotland. For too long, that pathway has been too narrow."
QTV has also worked with Screen Scotland, NFTS and BBC Studioworks on traineeships over several years, and is actively assessing HBTI graduates for future employment and freelance work as the company grows.
"QTV is the kind of company we want to work with," said Nic. "They are technically ambitious, undertaking increasingly high-profile work across a wide range of sports and live events in the UK and internationally, and developing talent for our industry." pro.sony
