Keeping Crews Connected On Set

Broadtech has been supporting Aotearoa’s broadcast and communications sector for over 50 years. For Screen Guild Members and ProdPerks users who may not know you yet - including production companies, project teams and individual crew - how would you describe what Broadtech brings to the screen industry?

Broadtech has over a 50-year history of assisting customers with the design, procurement, service and support of Broadcast, Film, AV and Pro Audio solutions. We have always quietly supported the industry in the background for many years, assisting production companies like Park Road and Rebel Fleet, along with independent Sound Recordists, Cinematographers and Mix Artists.

With the difficulties the industry has faced since Covid, we wanted to finally put our money where our mouth is and make a public statement that says: “We are here to support you, and we are here to help you”. We want to be able to use our expertise, and our product range to help different members of the Screen community achieve the outcomes they need, and we want to be able to provide a one-stop shop for both local and international customers to be able to get the tools needed to achieve the best results possible.

Whether it’s mics, wireless audio, consumables, cameras, monitors, comms, fibre, RF, or the bigger infrastructure pieces, we help crews get the right tools fast, at the best prices, with real tech support behind it, and we always try our best to keep as much stock as possible.

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Many productions struggle with technical gaps such as on-set connectivity, comms reliability, RF management, or linking remote locations. What are the most common pain points Broadtech helps productions solve, and how does this support fit into real-world production workflows?

Common pain points we see most often include but are not limited too unstable wireless audio in congested RF areas, unreliable on-set connectivity, difficulties linking remote locations via fibre or IP, and the need for lightweight but resilient camera, sound and production kits in harsh environments.

We regularly assist sound recordists in achieving clean audio in difficult RF conditions, build fibre and transmission paths for long-distance links, and develop compact production and camera solutions suited to demanding locations such as the Pacific.

In real-world workflows, this support typically happens at three key stages: during pre-production when systems are being designed and specified, during setup when equipment is configured and optimised for the environment, and during production when fast troubleshooting is required under time pressure. Our focus is always on delivering solutions that are practical, robust, and not overly complex, because on set, reliability and speed of recovery matter far more than perfection.

ProdPerks subscribers often work in high-pressure, fast-moving environments where reliable comms and signal stability are critical. In which areas do you feel Broadtech can offer the most immediate value to production projects and screen companies using the program?

Fast, efficient communication and outcomes is something we strive for, so we always try to ensure that subscribers get a response from our team in less than 24hours, but more often than not, we respond in less than one. We always aim to get pricing to subscribers as quickly as possible as well, and if we have the required product or solution in stock, we can have it ready for pick up or out on a courier that same day.

And speaking of stock, we are always working with subscribers and customers to ensure that we keep the products and solutions they need in stock so that when they need it, they don’t need to wait multiple weeks. We have it on the shelf, ready and waiting to go. This is of course, an ever-evolving target, so feedback from the community is really important for us to ensure our stock reflects the needs of the community and productions.

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Technology in screen production is evolving rapidly - from IP-based broadcast systems to remote monitoring, wireless camera links, and field communications. What key trends should productions and crew be aware of, and how is Broadtech positioned to support these shifts?

Right now, the biggest shift we’re seeing is how quickly IP-based workflows are taking over. Protocols like Ravenna, AES67, DANTE, IPMX, and ST 2110 are popping up in more gear and getting baked into more productions. Switching to IP can feel a bit overwhelming, especially if you’re still running SDI alongside it, so getting your workflow and signal paths sorted early makes a huge difference.

We’re also seeing more crews move to fibre transmission to speed things up on set and cut down the number of cable runs on stages and locations. Fibre can look expensive at first, but the time and efficiency gains usually pay for themselves pretty quickly. A lot of our clients have ended up saving money thanks to the cleaner setups fibre allows, and we have plenty of options that subscribers can check out.

Looking further ahead, there’s the upcoming shuffle in wireless audio frequency allocations. It’s not expected until the 2030s, but we’re already seeing wideband gear hit the market that’ll make the transition much easier for people who rely on wireless every day. When it’s time to upgrade, we can help make sure subscribers end up with kit that’ll handle whatever changes come to the spectrum.

Much of Broadtech’s work happens behind the scenes, quietly keeping productions running without interruption. Is there a project or example that best illustrates the difference Broadtech can make on a production’s efficiency, safety, or problem-solving?

We recently had a great example of this, where a long-time customer of ours had an issue with a piece of equipment that had recently returned from the US. During a hiatus in filming, we sent a Camera-Back Fibre Adaptor off for a service and repair, however, the unit returned broken, and created an issue for the production, where they were suddenly down a key piece of filming infrastructure. Through working with our brand partner, and the customer, we were able to arrange for spare parts to be sent out from the US, free of charge, so the customer could get the unit back up and running and get their production back to full efficiency as quickly as possible.

This was a strong example of our team going above and beyond for both the customer and the brand partner. Everyone worked together to find a solution that kept production running with as little disruption as possible. From early morning Teams calls to late-night email threads, the team stayed focused on delivering outcomes that help subscribers keep the show moving and, wherever we can, reduce their costs.

For freelance crew, small production entities, and short-term project teams, accessing high-level technical expertise isn’t always easy. Which Broadtech services or solutions do you think will be most helpful to ProdPerks subscribers who need reliable support but don’t have in-house engineering teams?

For freelance crew and small production teams without in-house engineering support, Broadtech’s most valuable offering is direct access to experienced technical designers, engineers, and service technicians who can step in as an external support department. Our team works hands-on with ProdPerks subscribers to spec systems, troubleshoot workflows, and ensure equipment is correctly matched to the job. This collaborative approach means crews get practical, production-ready solutions without needing deep technical resources in-house.

In addition, our in-house service and repair capability takes pressure off small teams by keeping essential equipment reliable and in circulation. Combined with the extended technical resources of our brand partners, Broadtech acts as a reliable technical safety net, giving freelancers and short-term project teams confidence that expert backup is always available when things get complicated, time-critical, or mission-critical on set.

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Finally, from your perspective, what excites you most about joining the ProdPerks ecosystem? How do you see this partnership growing, and what outcomes do you hope it will create for productions, screen companies, and crew across the country?

The biggest excitement for us, is being able to not only help people across the industry, but also do something where we can give back a little. We want to be able to help anyone and everyone we can, no matter if the production is big or small. Our level of service doesn’t change just because someone works with us on a small project, or a large one. We always reassure our customers that they all get the same, friendly, local service.

For us, our plan is for this to be a long-term partnership, we aren’t planning on going anywhere. The more subscribers we can help out with our in-house design and servicing teams, whilst also saving them money, seems like a win for everyone. And of course, we are always down to just have a chat about new technologies, or the cool things that subscribers are getting up too!

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