Virginia Public Media (VPM) delivers PBS and NPR programming across Virginia, producing local news, original shows, documentaries and digital content. As the largest locally owned public media organization in Central Virginia, VPM plays a central role in informing and connecting the region.
When VPM decided to build its five-story, 53,000-square-foot headquarters in downtown Richmond, it saw a chance to do more than just update its building. The move would replace aging infrastructure, support new production formats and create new ways for VPM to engage with the community.
The new location, close to Richmond City Hall, the Virginia General Assembly, and the city’s arts and culture district, puts VPM right next to the stories, institutions and people it serves.
VPM’s old headquarters dated back to the 1960s, and some of its systems had been in use for more than 40 years.
Over time, new systems were added or upgraded, but the building’s core infrastructure was not designed for modern media workflows. Important tasks could only be performed in certain rooms, on specific consoles, and by certain operators, which limited team capacity and flexibility.
VPM needed a space where productions could run from multiple studios at once. The new system also had to support television, radio, streaming, social media, remote contributions and new formats that the old building couldn’t handle.
VPM also wanted technology that more people could operate and support. The goal was to reduce reliance on a small group of specialists while still delivering professional results.
VPM selected Broadcast Management Group (BMG) to design and integrate the new facility, drawing on BMG’s experience as both a systems integrator and a production company.
BMG’s engineering team began by working closely with VPM’s production and technology teams to understand the kinds of programs they wanted to make, the platforms they needed to serve, and how the new building would be used day to day.
Across the proposed designs, Ross Video technology emerged as the strongest fit. BMG selected the final system for its production capabilities, compact footprint, cost effectiveness and ease of use.
At the center of the facility is Ross Ultrix FR12 platform which combines routing, audio processing, multiviewing and production switching in a single system. This reduces the need for separate pieces of equipment, saving valuable rack space.
Carbonite handles live production switching, XPression provides real-time graphics, and DashBoard gives every team one simple interface to manage equipment. Ultritouch panels and openGear infrastructure make it easy to control and process signals throughout the facility.
VPM’s first detailed introduction to the Ross Video team came during the NAB Show early in the project, and that support continued during the setup.
When planning began in 2023, some Ultrix features including Dante integration and multiviewer tools were still in development. BMG stayed in close contact with Ross Video throughout the process and the features were ready by the time the facility opened.
When construction delays changed the training schedule, Ross Video adapted quickly and kept the project moving forward. Other broadcasters said that technical integration could delay a project like this by months. That didn’t happen in this case.
The new facility has removed many of the operational barriers that limited VPM in its former headquarters.
With Ultrix serving as the shared heart of the technical operation, it has brought previously siloed teams together. With everyone working on the same platform, it’s easier to share resources and all teams can assist with both production and troubleshooting, which just wasn’t possible before.
Now, it’s easy to mix audio and video from anywhere in the building, create virtual sources, and send content wherever it needs to go. Production teams can move between studios and control rooms without being tied to a single space.
This collaboration also lowers operational risk. Now, knowledge is shared among a much larger group instead of just a few specialists.
Everyday production tasks are faster now too. Before an event in VPM’s community space, the team connected a camera feed and audio from different parts of the building, then sent the finished source to internal displays. Using DashBoard, the whole setup now takes only 90 seconds.
The new infrastructure also lets VPM add new workflows and distribution platforms as audience habits change. Remote monitoring and control give the team more ways to prepare productions and help outside users.
VPM plans to open its studios and control rooms to community groups and production clients so that technical staff can assist visitors without needing a specialist in every room, allowing them to connect with their community in a new, previously impossible way.
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