How COVID Changed TV Production Forever

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This past week marks five years since the television industry stepped up to the task of maintaining news programs, daytime talk shows, late-night chats, and other relevant series during the tough initial months of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Back in March 2020, we hadn’t realized it yet, but that was a pivotal moment for the television industry. With stay-at-home directives, face masks, and rapid tests, it feels both far away and close at the same time. The narrative of how COVID-19 fueled the growth of streaming services — and the streaming wars — is now widely known.

Meanwhile, another significant television saga unfolded during the initial phase of lockdown that hasn’t received as much coverage. The first few weeks of the pandemic sparked an improvisational flurry in broadcasting operations and technology unlike any seen since the era of Sid Caesar and Milton Berle in the early 1950s. In the world of media and entertainment, the idea that the show must go on is not just a saying; it’s a reality. Broadcasters didn’t want to add to the hardship by airing empty channels during such challenging times. By the end of 2020, the number of COVID-19 fatalities in the U.S. had tragically surpassed 400,000.

Listen to the full podcast:

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Under pressure from social distancing rules, producers, crew members, and technicians had to improvise by setting up virtual control rooms at short notice. They needed to establish communication networks and video collaboration systems within a few days. They swiftly purchased a large quantity of digital video equipment from Amazon to set up home studios in boxes for anchors. In a rush, talk shows started arranging multiple monitors to create the illusion of a virtual studio audience.

For several years, I’ve longed to delve into the narrative of the intense struggle during the early months of COVID. Last June, I found myself in an exceptional position, like an unseen observer, at “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert”. This was when Colbert resumed taping shows with live audiences at the Ed Sullivan Theater. Through these interviews, it became clear that there had been a great deal of bold action and innovation happening backstage, as production teams were scattered across various locations.

As a movie critic diving into this cinematic episode, I initially sensed promising narratives, but it wasn’t until I engaged with the ten captivating sources that I truly appreciated their depth and quality. They painted a vivid picture of this turbulent era, filled with laughter-inducing scenes, dramatic tech and toddler meltdowns, and poignant moments of heartache. Ultimately, I pondered: which changes truly made an impact? Which inventions endured beyond the crisis? This episode delves into the lasting imprint of pandemic-era improvisations on our contemporary world.

My guests are:

  • Linsey Davis – anchor of ABC News Live “Prime” and “World News Tonight” Sunday
  • Vin Di Bona – executive producer of “America’s Funniest Home Videos”
  • Chris Dinan – executive producer of ABC News’ “World News Tonight”
  • Tony Dokoupil – anchor of “CBS Mornings”
  • Bill Hemmer – co-anchor of Fox News’ “America’s Newsroom”
  • Jason Kurtz – executive producer and showrunner of “The Drew Barrymore Show”
  • Simone Swink – executive producer of “Good Morning America”
  • Shawna Thomas – executive producer of “CBS Mornings”
  • Jon Tower – senior broadcast producer of “CBS Mornings”
  • Scott Wilder – executive VP of of production and operations for Fox News Media

Highlights from the episode:

Davis: “That one night stands out vividly to me, when the NBA postponed a game, making it feel incredibly surreal. For about 25 years I’ve been covering news, but in that moment, I found myself texting friends saying, ‘Is this even possible?’

Wilder: “We were operating like a zone defense, aiming to gather equipment and locate where people reside. I have a news photographer based in New Jersey and an anchor living there too. Similarly, I have a photographer and an anchor living on Long Island. This forms a team for us. We have teams in Westchester, Connecticut, and other places as well. This is how we began our operations.

Dokoupil: “I attempted to persuade myself that I resembled Gay Talese, whom I had interviewed previously and who would dress in a suit to walk from the upper level of his brownstone down to the basement to write. In essence, I was doing the same thing. I’d wake up, put on a suit, and walk from my living room down to the basement to work as a professional. However, my basement was far from complete and it was home to insects, which we can refer to as water bugs – not cockroaches – that would emerge from the drain every night.

Within a tight timeframe of just 15 hours, the task at hand was to establish a fully functional control room, ready for demonstration the following day. Under typical circumstances, such a project might require a team a week, or even two weeks, to complete. However, they were left with only the night to accomplish it.

Thomas: “New York City appeared as if it were an abandoned film set. I felt as though I were strolling down deserted streets in a movie where usually lively areas are eerily quiet, and indeed, that’s how it truly was.

I find it fascinating how swiftly people managed to adjust. They simply discovered means to bypass challenges and hurdles, making progress despite the obstacles. Reflecting on that period, I consider it a highly innovative era for an industry that had never functioned in such a manner before. Since no previous generation had encountered anything comparable, it was all uncharted territory.

Kurtz explained that there had been talks about delaying the premiere of ‘The Drew Barrymore Show’, but those discussions were swiftly dismissed. The executives at CBS, Drew Barrymore herself, and all our dedicated team members shared a strong sense of determination and focus. There was an unspoken belief that perhaps the world could use some positivity right now, and we aspired to provide it. This sentiment wasn’t explicitly stated or presented as a grand plan; instead, it was a shared understanding among us – we’re moving forward, and we’ll meet everyone in September.

We captured Katy Perry singing her fresh hit ‘Daisies’ in her own garden. While it was challenging to adapt due to the lack of conventional stage production, I believe it added a unique charm to the performance. It was intriguing to see a renowned pop star present a new song in an unexpected setting, which ultimately resulted in some exceptional television.

Di Bona expressed, “Despite the immense hardship, we managed to keep employees busy during those challenging times. Our aim, I believe, was to bring some laughter to America.

(Shown in the image: From top to bottom, Vin Di Bona, Tony Dokoupil, Simone Swink, Shawna Thomas, Scott Wilder; Then, Jon Tower, Jason Kurtz, Bill Hemmer, Chris Dinan, and Linsey Davis.)

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EbMaster’s weekly podcast, titled “Strictly Business,” delves into discussions with influential figures from the media and entertainment sectors on matters related to business. Each fresh episode is available every Wednesday for download across various platforms such as Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, Google Play, SoundCloud, among others. (Don’t forget to subscribe to our complimentary newsletter here!)

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2025-03-12 21:17