Client Background:

FloSports is a subscription-based, over-the-top (OTT) sports media company based in Austin, Texas, offering live and on-demand streaming of sporting events, original content, and news with a focus on niche and underserved sports communities.

Founded in 2006, it has five million monthly unique viewers across 25 sports, offering live or on-demand coverage of over 200,000 competitions from around the world including basketball, cycling, rugby, ice hockey and gymnastics.

In January of 2024, it began operation of its first-ever broadcast studio and control room. Before this, all shows, hosting, and play-by-play were done on-location. This required intensive setup, logistics, and travel costs.

Following the lead of traditional broadcasters, the use of a primary studio with local talent watching the feed remotely eliminates these obstacles. It also greatly enhances the production value with elements including monitors, studio lighting, set pieces, and set decoration.

Flo’s talk shows also benefit greatly. Once relegated to a non-descript temporary space, they now have a home in a proper studio with the ability to host guests both in-person and remotely.

Behind the scenes, having a remote production control room (“REMI room”) allows live-production crew to direct camera operators and shows from afar. This eliminates the costs of traveling crew and equipment to events and either building a control room on-location or working out of a broadcast truck. Also, for a growing company with limited personnel it keeps producers in Austin focused on the shows and not worn out from travel. 

Challenge:

Though Flo’s in-house producers are experienced broadcast professionals, the nature of the REMI room requires a unique blend of skills to successfully operate it. One part Technical Director, one part A1 (audio engineer), one part Broadcast Engineer, one part Graphics Operator, and one part Producer/Director, you are a one-man-band conducting a broadcast symphony at a breakneck tempo. Even going outside of the company into the freelance pool, journeyman broadcast contractors are accustomed to control rooms with traditional workflows utilizing systems like Grass Valley, Ross or ATEM. Flo uses software-based vMix, a program specifically designed for the streaming age. Also, contractors usually only do one job.

It would be impossible to list for such a position as it did not exist until now.

Solution:

Despite a steep learning curve, short timeframe, and intense pressure to perform, Lonestar Streaming proved it was up to the task in providing personnel to do the job. Under the guidance of Flo’s Chief Engineer and Executive Producers, we learned the intricacies behind the unique engineering of the REMI room and how to troubleshoot issues as they arise. An amalgamation of traditional broadcast technology and the latest in streaming, Lonestar Streaming is now an indispensable part of FloSports broadcast team. Beyond the technical aspects, we continuously work with producers to better their shows and events with evolving graphics, animations, music, and directing.

Producers rely on us to lead their flagship shows and events to air and to set the standard for the growing team of REMI room techs.