NAB is in full swing, Hive Studio is here, and so much more (April ‘25 Newsletter)

NAB is in full swing, and the Broadcast industry is at it again. Personally, I’m thrilled to officially release Hive to the public, but just as excited to reconnect with friends, make new connections, and explore the show floor to see how our industry is evolving after several years of record growth. 

2025 NAB Show

It’s wild to think about all the changes seen at NAB over the past decade. Last year, more than half the attendees were first-timers, bringing fresh energy and perspectives to the forefront of almost every conversation. I can’t wait to see this new generation of media professionals continue to embrace NAB as a hub for innovation, networking, and collaboration.

Here’s my overly excited Hive rant… 

PTZOptics Partners with Midwich

Thousands of users are already active on the Hive platform. We are launching a new Multi-Bridge feature that allows you to connect together multiple studios into a unified control room. We are also launching a new Enterprise plan that allows our larger customers the flexibility to create as many Hive studios as they need for one low annual cost of only $3,000. Over the past year, we’ve been deep in the trenches with our Beta group—testing, refining, and listening to Hive users to ensure it’s rock solid and packed with the features our customers need. Whether it’s sending a single PTZ camera feed directly to the cloud or linking multiple studios into a central control room, Hive is built to scale and ready to power the future of video production.

What’s especially exciting about this launch is the Enterprise deployments that have been waiting to launch. These are large-scale proof-of-concept rollouts that we believe will redefine the emerging Remote Production market. Major universities, full sports leagues, reality TV productions, houses of worship, and forward-thinking businesses are all starting to deploy Hive. 

PTZOptics Hive Awards Best Remote Production Software

The buzz from our partner team is real, and this NAB is shaping up to be one of the most exciting yet. If you’re curious about Hive or interested in becoming a partner, schedule a meeting with us at ptzoptics.com/trade-show. And through May 6th, you can get your first month of Hive Standard Studio free using the coupon code NAB.

Our team at PTZOptics has also been hard at work on something very special we are releasing at NAB: a new beta firmware update called Horizon. Designed for our Move 4K cameras, Horizon brings pro-level color correction and camera movement tools right into the camera—and it’s all accessible through a fully mobile-friendly interface. While currently in beta, Horizon is a major step forward in leveraging computer vision and AI to enhance the everyday workflow of camera operators and producers.

Horizon uses built-in auto-tracking to identify each person in the frame and automatically create clickable PTZ presets. What used to take 10–15 minutes of manual setup can now be done in just a couple of minutes. It’s smart, intuitive, and a real time-saver. Horizon will go through the same rigorous beta testing process we used for Hive Studio, so we’re excited to improve the platform and watch it evolve with user feedback through the year.

PTZOptics Studio 4K

PTZOptics has also released a line of Studio 4K cameras, which are the very first “Hive-Linked” cameras. These cameras are available in 12X and 20X models (with a 1080p model coming soon as well). These are the very first PTZOptics cameras which offer the full Hive-Linked experience, allowing you to link your camera to Hive for remote viewing, control and management. This is a feature that is being rolled out to many PTZOptics cameras in the PTZOptics Beta Group.

At NAB, I’ll be keeping my eye out for more innovations like this. It feels like engineering teams across the globe are finally tapping into AI in practical, meaningful ways that actually improve user experience. Auto-tracking has already reshaped our industry—but what about auto-directing? We’ll find out soon enough on the show floor.

Can’t make it to NAB this year? No problem—let us know what you’d like us to check out! During the show, we’re filming product overviews and capturing fun, behind-the-scenes, vlog-style content so you can still experience the show from wherever you are. Here’s a great interview we did Sunday with our friends from KitPlus.

Plus, I’ll be hosting a special post-NAB webinar on April 15th titled “The Convergence of ProAV and Broadcast.” We’ll dive into key takeaways from the show, share insights on emerging technologies, and explore where the industry is headed after several years of record growth. It’s going to be a valuable session, and yes—you can earn CTS credits for attending. Register here to save your spot!

Thanks for following along—whether we see you in Vegas or online, we’re excited to connect, share what’s new, and keep pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in live video. Until then, stay inspired, stay curious, and as always… keep streaming!

Paul Richards