Verizon Studios

Scaling Hundreds of Broadcast Events a Year Without Adding Complexity: Inside Verizon Studios’ Softron Workflow

On any given day, Verizon Studios may be producing a live executive broadcast, supporting a global webcast, and recording content for on-demand distribution—all at the same time.


Behind the scenes, a small team is orchestrating it all. In some cases, a single operator is managing multiple control rooms, switching between productions and keeping everything on air without interruption.


This is the reality of running one of the largest corporate broadcast operations in the country. The expectations mirror those of a traditional network, but the environment is different—faster-moving, less predictable, and often operating with fewer resources.


To keep pace, Verizon Studios needed a production workflow that could handle constant change without adding complexity. That shift led them to Softron, where software-based tools helped transform how their team delivers content at scale.


About Verizon Studios

Verizon Studios operates one of the largest corporate broadcast facilities in the United States, supporting internal and external communications across a global organization.


The team manages multiple production environments, including two primary studios, a lobby studio, large auditoriums and remote event locations—all connected to a centralized control hub in Basking Ridge, New Jersey.


From that hub, Verizon Studios handles switching, audio, video playback and recording across its network.


The scale is significant:


Much of this content supports executive and internal communications, with select content extending to external audiences.


Despite the scale, operations remain lean. In some cases, a single operator manages multiple control rooms and simultaneous productions—placing a premium on efficiency and reliability.


The Challenge

Verizon Studios operates in a high-demand environment where volume, speed and quality expectations converge.


The team must produce broadcast-quality content within a corporate budget and a relatively small staff.


At the same time, internal communications introduce a unique layer of complexity. Content requirements shift quickly, with last-minute changes to scripts, graphics and video assets.


“We’re trying to run like a traditional broadcast facility while also being flexible,” said Chris Toohey, Senior Manager of Studio Engineering and Operations. “Things change very quickly—almost as fast as a newsroom.”


The team also supports hybrid production, combining in-person and remote participants. Nearly all content is distributed on demand, often reaching both internal and external audiences.


This combination of high volume, limited resources and constant change created a clear requirement: a system that could keep pace while remaining easy to use, flexible and cost-effective.


The Solution

Verizon Studios began working with Softron in 2016, initially deploying OnTheAir Video to manage playback.


OnTheAir Video is a professional playout solution for macOS that enables operators to build and adjust playlists in real time—ideal for live, fast-changing productions.


“I was a little hesitant at the beginning,” said Bill Keller, Master Control Operations and Tape Operator. “But then I realized it was a whole lot easier to use—especially with last-minute changes.”


As demand grew, the team expanded its deployment across multiple studios and event spaces.


Verizon later introduced MovieRecorder to support ingest and recording workflows.


MovieRecorder enables multi-channel video capture directly to shared storage, eliminating the need for traditional hardware-based recording. The software-based approach allows the team to scale quickly by adding channels as needed.


“It was pretty painless,” Keller said. “We just added more channels and kept going.”


Together, these solutions created a highly flexible environment:


Because the system is software-based, operators can control playback and recording from virtually anywhere—without impacting production quality.


The Results

Since deploying Softron, Verizon Studios has improved its ability to manage high-volume production while maintaining broadcast-level standards.


One of the most immediate gains was operational adaptability.


In the past, video playback required building linear sequences in advance, making last-minute changes difficult. Now, content can be rearranged instantly.


“With OnTheAir Video, we can just move things around on the timeline,” Keller said. “If something changes, it’s easy to adjust.”


The shift to a fully digital workflow has also reduced operational overhead. Recording, transferring and managing media no longer requires physical handling, saving time and simplifying processes.


MovieRecorder has helped reduce infrastructure costs.


“It’s helped us financially,” Toohey said. “Instead of buying additional hardware, we can just add licenses and scale on existing systems.”


The system was put to the test during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the team shifted to fully remote production almost overnight. Softron enabled operators to continue running live broadcasts, recording content and supporting editors from distributed locations.


“COVID was really when everything clicked,” Toohey said. “The flexibility and ease of access made it possible to keep everything running remotely.”


Reliability has been equally important.


“It’s been very reliable,” Keller said. “We’ve had very few issues, and support has always been there when we needed it.”


Support responsiveness has reinforced that trust.


“You make a call and someone picks up,” Keller said. “That’s a big deal for us.”


Finally, Softron has enabled Verizon Studios to scale without adding resources.


“Softron lets us handle a high volume of productions without adding more people or complexity,” Toohey said.


By centralizing workflows and simplifying operations, the team has kept pace with growing demand—without increasing operational burden.