Scaling Heights: How QTV Became Scotland’s Premier Sports Broadcaster

In the past five years, QTV has gone from a modest streaming outfit to Scotland’s largest outside sports broadcast provider, delivering over 500 high-profile events annually. This remarkable transformation is a story of ambition, innovation, and resilience—a journey driven by a love for sport, a commitment to sustainability, and an openness to new technology. 

In a recent panel discussion at the Broadcast Sport Summit, QTV’s Chief Technology Officer, Gareth Gordon, and Jonathan Lyth, Former Group Chief Technology Officer with ES Broadcast Group, discuss the benefits of modular broadcast technology that can scale alongside the demands of modern productions.

Building a scalable model for sports broadcasting 

At its core, QTV’s success has been about amplifying Scottish sports. As Gareth Gordon, Chief Technology Officer at QTV, put it, “We have a deep passion for Scottish sports and a drive to increase visibility for these events.” This vision inspired a shift from single-camera streaming to a fully-fledged outside broadcast production company capable of servicing Tier 2 and Tier 3 sports alike. 

QTV’s strategy centred on a remote production model, connecting their events through a centralised hub at Clydesdale House. This “hive mind” approach improved operational efficiency and enabled their most experienced engineers to troubleshoot remotely. 

“We were able to deliver three seasons of SPFL and two seasons of VAR with zero connectivity failures,” Gareth shared a testament to the reliability of their infrastructure. By focusing on centralisation and modular technology, QTV built a scalable operation that ensured cost-effective growth without compromising quality. 

Partnerships played a pivotal role. Collaborations with Ross Video, ES Broadcast and BT Media & Broadcast helped QTV establish modular systems that grew with their needs while keeping initial capital investment manageable. Gareth emphasised, “Ross is also a big part of the journey we’ve gone through. From a router in the back of an industrial unit to a fully-fledged production facility, we scaled step by step with their modular approach.” 

These partnerships were more than technical; they were strategic. Ross Video’s Ultrix platform offered the ability to incrementally upgrade, allowing QTV to expand capabilities quickly using their existing hardware, providing excellent ROI while keeping up with technological demands. 

Maintaining quality amid rapid growth 

Scaling quickly often risks sacrificing quality, but QTV managed to maintain exceptional broadcast standards by building a robust network infrastructure that connected their remote sites to a central hub. This centralised system meant their most experienced engineers could troubleshoot issues remotely, ensuring consistent quality across all broadcasts. Their commitment to reliability is evident from their track record. Over multiple seasons, they had zero connectivity failures, even as they expanded their coverage to include major broadcasters and introduced new technologies like VAR.   

Reflecting on the early days, Gareth recalled walking into what he described as a “tin shed” operation during COVID. “Someone was managing four camera inputs into a vMix PC, operating replays, graphics, sound, and directing—all on their own. Coming from my background at the BBC and supervising events like the Champions League, I was floored by what they were able to achieve. The passion and ingenuity I saw convinced me this was something to build upon.” 

Managing finances was a big part of QTV’s growth story. They had to expand their capabilities without letting costs spiral out of control. By investing in modular technology and working closely with partners who understood their financial constraints, QTV could scale step by step.     

Sustainability as a core principle 

Sustainability wasn’t an afterthought for QTV—it was a guiding principle. From reducing emissions in operations to rethinking their fleet, QTV prioritised environmental impact. They even designed their vehicles and equipment setups to minimise environmental impact. “Our vehicles for SPFL are designed to minimise weight and copper use,” Gareth explained. “We even installed power at the stadiums we serve, so we wouldn’t need generators.”  

Their centralised hub model also meant fewer people travelling to site, and less equipment to transport around, also helping to reduce emissions. Looking ahead, QTV is exploring fully electric vehicles for future operations, supported by partners like ES Broadcast and Ross Video.    

Lessons in collaboration and innovation 

For QTV, success has been a team effort. Their growth is a story of trusted partnerships—with Ross Video, ES Broadcast, and their network of technology vendors. These partnerships provided the technology, flexibility, and support QTV needed to deliver high-quality productions while scaling sustainably. 

QTV’s journey offers key lessons for broadcasters navigating rapid growth: 

1. Embrace partnerships that enable scalable, sustainable growth without accumulating technical debt. 

2. Invest in centralised infrastructure to ensure consistent quality and efficient troubleshooting across multiple production locations. 

3. Make sustainability a core strategy, not an afterthought. 

4. Trust your people and technology, fostering collaboration with technology vendors and partners to drive innovation. 

As Gareth put it, the future is about building on these lessons: “We aim to continue growing and learning, taking what we’ve achieved and going further.” 

From a small outside broadcaster to Scotland’s leading sport producer, QTV’s story is a testament to strategic planning, innovation, and a relentless commitment to sharing the best of Scottish sport with the world.