Ross Video’s CSO Eric Gardner talks about the company’s services divisions, growing and diversifying across remote, live and graphics production, attracting interest in the APAC region.
(L - R) Eric Gardner | Chief Services Officer, Laxton Yeo | Senior Director, Professional Services - APAC, Jim Doyle | Vice President, Creative Services
Digital Media World recently had the chance to meet Ross Video’s Services team when CSO Eric Gardner and his colleagues attended Broadcast Asia 2025 in Singapore at the end of May.
Eric joined Ross in early 2023 as Chief Services Officer (CSO), a new strategic role initiated at that time to support the company’s acquisitions and growth across its diverse services area – Ross Production Services, Rocket Surgery and Spidercam.
Earlier on, Eric had spent almost 20 years in the broadcast industry at companies like Grass Valley, NBC Sports, ESPN and Golf Channel, working on major sports events, studio operations and studio set-ups. Those years of experience in live production have given him a special understanding of what broadcast customers are looking for.
After working for the past two years with members of the Services teams, Eric sees several advantages they can bring to customers, especially in terms of expertise grounded in real-world production. “Our team understands the demands of live environments and begins collaborating on projects early on, to design solutions that align with both technical and business goals,” he said.
“Beyond product knowledge, we help customers develop the relevant workflows and creative packages. It's about full-project support – from vision to execution – with people who’ve been there before.”
Production Services – Live, Remote, Efficient
Ross Production Services (RPS) operates three control rooms that support remote productions, based on Ross equipment and workflows. Nine mobile production trucks are also available in strategic locations across the US, plus a fleet of compact flypacks, comprising gear from Ross and other providers. All of these services are interoperable and, as demand for sports and live event broadcasting grows, the trucks and flypacks are flexible, scalable options that can be tailored for specific projects.
On top of the equipment rental, full service crews and control Rooms, RPS now has Production Cloud for remote productions, featuring remotely controlled devices and a managed network. The goal here is scalable, broadcast-quality signal transport, low latency and the general resource-efficiency of cloud-based video production workflows – but without trade-offs in delay, resolution or stutter.
Ross’ network follows a hybrid error recovery approach that adjusts dynamically according to network conditions. Meanwhile, core production staff can work from home, view multiviewers via the cloud, and use ClearCom panels with minimal delay for natural conversations.
For live, Ross brings the necessary expertise and infrastructure to wherever productions take place anywhere in the US, and also to locations in Canada, Mexico and the Bahamas.
“The demands of Live Events – especially real-time playout – have driven our team to develop new approaches to real-time graphics, fan engagement and monetization. Innovations like Voice Control powered by contextual AI and Rocket Surgery Cloud Services are making high-end visuals more accessible and easier to operate. Our teams support everything from dynamic LED content and data-driven stats to sponsored activations and in-venue interactivity. These experiences don’t just look good—they deliver measurable value for clients through engagement and revenue generation.
Rocket Surgery – Real-time Graphics
“Rocket Surgery is a team of real-time graphics professionals, broadcast experts and software developers that combine graphic design, workflow engineering, data integration and control systems. They also help users of Ross’ products, in particular XPression and Voyager, to visualise and present information in new, interesting formats ranging from broadcast graphics and animation, to virtual sets, augmented reality and arena displays.”
The XPression render engine for real-time 3D is powerful and results in effective display graphics, but can be challenging for users with limited experience. Also, inside the newer stadiums, displays are getting larger and the demands of show producers have become more complex. Working with Rocket Surgery helps to optimise the performance of the hardware and translate it to the desired look, which includes event triggering, controlling devices and playback. Since these element are critical to keeping viewers engaged, Rocket Surgery creates scalable DashBoard control systems specific to the project.
Regarding virtual set design or augmented reality (AR), Rocket Surgery gets projects underway using either XPression or Unreal Engine on Voyager. “Then, when it comes to live environments, RSVP – Rocket Surgery’s Virtual Productions division – focusses on designing and delivering AR and virtual reality experiences for live events,” Erisc said. “For a decade or more, RSVP has supported virtual production for broadcast, esports and other events around the world, helping to engage live audiences in innovative ways. Again, we don’t just supply the systems – we also staff and run the productions.”
Aerial Experience
The Spidercam cable camera system is purpose-built for stadiums, concert venues, studios and live video productions, where users want to capture free moving, 360-degree shots for viewing experiences with a smooth, immersive style. This kind of video is hard to achieve with standard cameras, jibs and tracks.
By capturing a wide variety of shot types, Spidercam can make production workflows simpler and reduce the need for further equipment such as Steadicams. It uses passively and actively stabilized dollies combined with gimbals to achieve precise images with minimal shake, recording data accurate enough for many scenarios including AR productions. For reliability and instant transmission and control, the camera, RCP, lens, microphone, speaker and tally signals, up to 4K UHD, are transmitted over fibre-optic connections.
Structured, Collaborative Services – Join the Team
Customers will find that Ross’ approach to services is both structured and collaborative – that is, built around the specific demands and goals of the project. Eric said, “Using the Fusion Project Management method, we guide each project from the discovery stage to delivery by setting out clear milestones, KPIs and measurable outcomes.
“By engaging early, we identify the project’s requirements and also its hidden challenges. This makes sure that the solutions we adopt align with the customer’s strategy, as well as operations on the ground. In short, it’s not just about implementing technology – it’s about delivering lasting value with minimal risk.
“For example, because Ross applications like XPression and Voyager are complex, powerful platforms, our Professional and Creative Services teams help customers take better advantage of them. We supply tailored training, workflow consultation, turnkey graphics packages and custom interfaces that match each team's skill level and production goals.
“By simplifying implementation and setting up data-driven, sponsor-ready graphics, we can help customers launch faster. For sponsorship activations, the team’s work helps engage audiences and drive new revenue. In other words, it’s not just about adopting the tools—it’s about turning them into high-impact, revenue-generating assets.”
Navigating the Ross Portfolio
Beyond XPression and Voyager, the services teams regularly work with all Ross products, including Piero, Datalinq, Lucid, Ross Platform Manager, Dashboard, Media I/O, Inception, Streamline Pro, Overdrive, Carbonite, Ultrix, Robotic Cameras and Spidercam. Ultrix in particular continues to be in demand – as a hyperconverged platform that integrates routing, signal processing and switching, it means fewer pieces of hardware and increases flexibility and scalability.
Erid commented, “We’re also excited about starting to work with the Carbonite HyperMax production switcher, new at NAB, which raises power and performance for high-profile productions. What sets Ross apart is how we integrate these products and systems into cohesive workflows, tailored to each customer’s creative and operational needs.”
Vertical Markets
Since taking this role, one of Eric’s priorities has been leading the Services departments’ transition from a traditional services model to a vertical market/solution model. Eric said, “This transition has made our services more focussed, consultative and effective. As well making product-based service packages available, we now tailor solutions to fit the workflows, goals and user profiles of the various industries, which include corporate, government, education, sports & live events, houses of worship and traditional broadcast.
The shift has increased the need for specialized training, intuitive control interfaces and deeper customer engagement. Ultimately, we are aiming for solutions that work the way each customer needs – not just to suit the design of the equipment.”
Ross at Work in APAC
Eric attended Broacast Asia with the local APAC Services teams. “In the APAC region, our Professional Services team is led by Laxton Yeo, Sr. Director of Professional Services, based in Singapore,” he said. “With his guidance, we’re expanding our regional presence with dedicated teams in India, Australia and China to bring localised expertise and quicker resolution times for our customers.
“Laxton’s team focuses on customising services that support everything from system commissioning and workflow design to training and long-term operational support. By working alongside customers in their own region and in their own time zones, they have the advantage of aligning with local workflows to achieve better outcomes. Then, on the creative side, Jim Doyle, Vice President of Creative Services, leads Rocket Surgery.
Eric noted that demand across APAC is growing as organizations across verticals—sports, corporate, government, education and houses of worship—aim for higher production values, though they may lack traditional broadcast experience. “Sports, particularly soccer and baseball in Japan and Korea, have been key drivers, with a strong focus on viewer engagement and return on investment,” he said.
“Our Professional Services and Rocket Surgery teams are helping these users onboard quickly through tailored workflows, training and intuitive control systems. By localising our support and simplifying deployment, we can make more sophisticated types of production accessible and scalable, and also better aligned with regional needs.
Strength in Diversity
Eric also mentioned the extreme diversity of the APAC region. “Markets here range from established, fully modern broadcasters to new entrants aiming to leapfrog legacy workflows,” he remarked. “Across the board, customers want to efficiently boost production value without adding unnecessary complexity. There's strong demand for localized support, intuitive user experiences, and scalable creative solutions that align with varying skill levels. Our teams meet that need with multilingual training, region-specific UX design, and graphics packages that make world-class production more accessible.
“Our passionate Services team also led live product demonstrations, from sports analysis and real-time graphics to signal routing, master control and production switching. These demos gave visitors hands-on insight into how Ross solutions function together in real-world environments. More than just showing what’s possible, our team listened, collaborated and presented clear paths forward based on each customer’s unique needs.
Visitors saw first-hand that, beyond delivering technology, Ross is investing in long-term partnerships and growth throughout the region. Through a more localized and responsive support model, our intention is to help customers across APAC launch smarter, operate more efficiently, and achieve lasting success.” www.rossvideo.com
