Entertainment portal WhatCulture has enhanced its production capabilities by setting up five new studios with equipment from Blackmagic Design. The company, known for its seven million subscribers across various YouTube channels, opted for the Studio Camera 4K Pro, ATEM Mini Extreme ISO, and Pocket Cinema Camera 6K Pros to streamline their workflow.
WhatCulture's Expansion
Founded in 2006 as a news destination focused on Hollywood, WhatCulture has evolved into a full-fledged media production business. The company now employs 30 staff members and operates 12 YouTube channels covering TV, gaming, music, history, science, technology, comics, sports, literature, and wrestling.
Having recently moved to larger premises, WhatCulture constructed five bespoke studios designed for different types of content production. Each studio features a tailored setup to accommodate live streaming and podcast recording.
Blackmagic Design's Role
The new production hub includes three studios equipped with three-camera setups using the Studio Camera 4K Pro, an ATEM Mini Extreme ISO, and an Infinity green screen. Two additional studios are set up for use with the Pocket Cinema Camera 6K Pro.
Phil Chambers, WhatCulture’s representative, highlighted the flexibility of Blackmagic Design's solutions: “This setup allows someone to walk in, sit down, and press record on the mixer. Every feed is recorded automatically, which simplifies content management.”
Improved Production Values
The integration of these tools has enabled WhatCulture to reduce edit times and enhance the scope for engaging content creation. Chambers added: “We can now react swiftly to breaking news by producing live streamed videos or podcasts instantly, marking a significant improvement from our previous DSLR setups.”
WhatCulture's decision to adopt Blackmagic Design’s products was driven by their desire to improve efficiency and production quality. As Chambers concluded: “This setup allows us to make the best use of our spaces and produce higher-quality content more quickly, which our audience has already noticed and appreciated.”