Software issues at ITV News have caused some close calls during live broadcasts due to technology failures. Following an upgrade to Avid picture editing software last year, problems have arisen that have led to failures during live broadcasts, though these were not noticeable on air.
ITN, a long-term user of Avid, purchased the software for ITV News and Channel 4 News. When ITV News moved into a refurbished newsroom in May 2023, there was an overhaul of the news editing system, which has led to ongoing technical issues.
According to sources close to the project, there have been instances of edit suites and laptops crashing shortly before going on air, causing some tense moments for the team. Despite these challenges, ITV News spokesperson stated that they are working closely with vendors to resolve the issues and continue delivering quality journalism.
The production process at ITV News involves using Avid for various tasks such as ingesting content, clipping images, and producing bulletin pieces. However, the switch to a new system in May 2023 has brought about challenges with syncing audio and video, system access issues, and content not appearing in the image search and cutting system.
The ongoing issues have been labeled as “priority one” for Avid, but there is currently no predicted timescale for a fix. Despite efforts to address the problems, including daily meetings with Avid and providing additional laptops for producers, the technical difficulties persist.
In March 2024, an Avid update intended to fix the ongoing issues actually caused further problems, leading to regular system crashes and difficulty in searching for clips for editing. While Avid continues to work on resolving the issues, it seems that no solution has been reached yet.
Overall, the technical challenges at ITV News have caused significant difficulties for staff trying to do their jobs. Despite ongoing support and workarounds, the issues persist, making it a challenging time for the news team. Avid declined to provide further comment on the situation.