Every year, broadcasters write off millions in obsolete hardware. Here's how to break the cycle.
Picture this: Your CFO just approved a half-million-dollar broadcast system. Six months later, the manufacturer announces a new model with must-have features. Eighteen months later, support for your "legacy" system costs extra. Three years later? You're shopping for another half-million-dollar system.
Sounds familiar? You're not alone. According to Gartner, "80% of total IT costs manifest after the initial purchase."
The Hardware Trap
A TV Technology’s cloud columnist observes:
"Most broadcasters are comfortable with the industry-specific proprietary technology they are accustomed to and scared of moving into software-defined networking (SDN), commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) data centers and virtualized production in the cloud." They just don’t grasp how much is possible by moving to a true software-based production model — and how much money they can potentially save.”
Traditional broadcast solutions have followed the same playbook for decades: proprietary hardware, locked ecosystems, forced upgrade cycles. It made sense when software was simple, and hardware was king. But clinging to traditional hardware nowadays comes at a price.
Today's broadcast challenges - from 4K to AR to AI-powered graphics - evolve at software speed, not hardware speed. Yet many broadcasters remain trapped in hardware-centric thinking, paying the price in both dollars and creative limitations.
Enter Software-First Thinking
At Pixotope, we built our entire architecture around a simple principle: Let software lead and hardware follow. Gideon Ferber, Pixotope SVP Product says:
“We want to deal with hardware as little as we possibly can. It gives us flexibility. It means we can upgrade faster; we can release fixes faster. Being software-only also gives us the ability to be more flexible with our licenses; all the licenses are cloud-based, and customers can reassign them between different users. They’re not tied to a machine, or a dongle. It just makes life a lot easier.”
Hardware Independence
Here's what this means in practice: run Pixotope on Dell servers today, HP tomorrow, or in the cloud next year. Use NVIDIA GPUs or AMD. Mix and match based on price, availability, or preference. Your creative tools remain consistent while your hardware evolves beneath them.
“Broadcasters face significant challenges in adopting new technologies due to their reliance on outdated infrastructure and legacy systems, which complicate integration with modern cloud-based workflows and AI-driven tools. The costs associated with technology updates, staff training, and hardware upgrades can be prohibitive, especially for smaller organizations competing against well-funded rivals.”
Elastic Scaling
Broadcasting the local news? Run minimal resources. Covering the World Cup or Olympic Games? Scale up to meet demand. With software-first architecture, you pay for what you need, when you need it - not for peak capacity that sits idle 360 days a year.
Continuous Evolution
When Unreal Engine releases new features, you get them through a software update, not a hardware replacement. The entire broadcast industry benefits from this approach: software-defined systems always run the latest versions, meaning Epic's billions in R&D flow directly into broadcast workflows.
When AI-powered tools emerge, they integrate into your existing workflow. Your system gets more capable over time, not less.
The Bottom Line That Matters
Major broadcasters have discovered what software-first really means:
- 50-70% lower total cost of ownership
- Zero vendor lock-in
- Infinitely more flexibility
- Future-proof investments
But perhaps most importantly, it means creative teams can focus on storytelling instead of worrying whether their hardware can keep up with their vision.
Making the Switch
Transitioning to software-first thinking doesn't mean abandoning your current infrastructure. Start small:
- Run Pixotope on one of your existing servers
- Test it alongside your current systems
- Scale up as you see the benefits
Hardware will always matter in broadcasting. But in 2025, it should enable your creativity, not constrain it.
Ready to break free from the hardware upgrade cycle? Contact our team to get a demo, pricing, or more information.
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