Strictly Business

How COVID Changed TV Production Forever

Oct 31, 2025
Join Chris Dinan, executive producer of ABC News' World News Tonight, and Lindsay Davis, anchor for ABC News Live Prime, as they discuss adapting to remote production during COVID. Vin DeBona shares the challenges of creating 'At Home with AFV' using Zoom, while Jason Kurtz recalls launching 'The Drew Barrymore Show' amid uncertainty. They reflect on technical innovations, emotional tolls, and the lasting impacts of remote work on the industry. Discover how empathy shaped leadership in unprecedented times!
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ANECDOTE

Virtual Audience Stacks For AFV

  • AFV created virtual audience 'stacks' of 96 Zoom squares, run by multiple technicians.
  • Producers moderated audience behavior live so Alfonso Ribeiro could interact naturally.
ANECDOTE

New York Turned Into A Ghost Town

  • New York felt like a post-apocalyptic movie with empty streets during early lockdown.
  • Producers described the city as a ghost town while still running broadcasts.
ADVICE

Use Rotations To Protect Staff

  • Rotate small in-studio teams to reduce infection risk and preserve institutional knowledge.
  • Use two-week on/off shifts so reserves exist if a team must quarantine.
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