SmartCam.TV delivers the technical backbone for “KARSTI. Krēta”
24/7 live streaming, multi-camera production, and the intense Greek summer heat — our partner SmartCam.TV helps bring one of Latvia’s largest reality TV productions to air.
Reality television is built around raw emotion, human relationships, and unexpected turns. Behind the scenes, a technical system must continuously capture action across multiple locations, control cameras remotely, and deliver the pictures to viewers.
This summer, that challenge is being met in Crete, home to the third season of the TV3 and Go3 reality show “KARSTI. Krēta”. Viewers can follow life in the villa around the clock on Go3 from June 29 to July 19, while TV3 broadcasts the highlight episodes until July 30.
The project’s technical production involves our partner SmartCam.TV — a Latvian company specialising in reality television, multi-camera production, and live broadcast engineering.
When filming cannot stop
From a technical perspective, reality television is very different from a traditional studio production. Moments cannot be repeated, contestants move between rooms, and a crucial scene can begin at any time. Success therefore depends not only on image quality, but also on dependable remote camera control, stable networking, multi-channel recording, and fast access to media.
SmartCam.TV’s approach combines multi-camera systems, control-room design and setup, live-stream integration, recording workflows, and on-site technical support. Its publicly presented production toolkit includes BirdDog PTZ cameras and NDI-based workflows.
PTZ cameras allow one operator to control multiple cameras remotely, reframe shots, recall presets, and follow the action without crowding the contestants. NDI carries video and control signals over the local network, reducing separate cable runs and infrastructure complexity.
The Greek climate as a technical test
Working in Crete also means dealing with conditions rarely encountered in Latvian studios: high ambient temperatures, intense sunlight, outdoor locations, and the need for systems to operate for long periods without interruption.
Before the season began, SmartCam.TV representative Raivo Romāns Karro publicly discussed the challenge of running PTZ cameras in the Greek heat, drawing on the team’s previous experience in Crete. Reliable production does not begin when recording starts; it begins with careful system design, testing, and preparation for the environment.
Latvian technical expertise on an international production
We are pleased to see our partners’ knowledge and professional video solutions supporting a production of this scale outside Latvia.
“KARSTI. Krēta” shows how modern PTZ cameras, IP video technology, and a well-designed control system can create a flexible multi-camera workflow in a demanding location. While viewers follow the drama in the villa, the technical team makes sure no important moment is left out of frame.
