WhatCulture YouTube channels and podcasts powered by Blackmagic Design

Blackmagic Design today announced that international entertainment portal WhatCulture has equipped five new studios with a streaming and web broadcast workflow based on the Blackmagic Studio Camera 4K Pro and ATEM Mini Extreme ISO.

Reaching more than seven million subscribers, the media production company’s workflow also uses the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K Pros to capture content for its hugely successful pop culture channels.

WhatCulture launched in 2006 as a news destination and conversation hub about all things Hollywood. From a simple two person hobby publishing blogs on TV and movies, the enterprise has grown into a fully fledged professional media production business.

The group now employs 30 full time staff producing content for 12 YouTube channels spanning: TV, gaming, music, history, science, technology, comics, sport and literature, as well as the biggest unofficial wrestling channel in the world.

Having outgrown its offices, the company moved into a larger space this year, where it has built five bespoke studios.

“Each space is specifically designed to produce a different type of video or content for one of our channels, including live streaming and podcasts,” explains WhatCulture’s Phil Chambers. “We were immediately drawn to Blackmagic Design because every step of the workflow from pre to post is covered, integrating seamlessly.“

He added: “As soon as the Studio Camera 4K Pro was released, the decision was a no brainer.”

The new production hub houses three studios, each outfitted with a three camera Blackmagic Studio Camera 4K Pro setup, an ATEM Mini Extreme ISO and an Infinity green screen. Two additional studio spaces also with green screen are rigged for use with the Pocket Cinema Camera 6K Pro.

“It’s all about flexibility,” Chambers says. “This setup allows someone to walk in, sit down, and press record on the mixer. Even if someone isn’t live mixing the video, every feed is recorded to one hard drive with automatically named files. In terms of content management, that is perfect.”

Chambers continues: “Using the ATEM Mini has allowed us to decrease edit time while a multicam setup gives us greater scope to make our content more engaging for an audience. We’re even able to react to breaking news by producing a live streamed news video or podcast instantly.

“Where we were using a DSLR on a little tripod, we’ve now created a workflow designed for live content production with recording capability in mind,” explains Chambers. “It’s a huge step up in terms of production values and output, which our audience has already picked up on and responded to.”

“A huge part of the decision to use Blackmagic Design throughout was that we wanted to tighten up our process,” concludes Chambers. “This has allowed us to make the best use of the spaces we now have, and simply pump out better content, faster.”

WhatCulture continues to expand by seeking niche communities to serve with its mix of presenter led top ten lists, debate, quizzes and breaking news. BCS Bureau