Por EndemolShine Boomdog
In the following interview with ttvnews, José R. Briceño Reolon, Director of Technology and Post-Production Services, reviews the path of growth and innovation that led Wide Angle to consolidate itself as one of the fastest growing post-production houses in the region.
In just four years since its launch, Wide Angle has managed to position itself as one of the most advanced post-production facilities in Latin America, combining technological innovation, state-of-the-art infrastructure, and an operational capacity designed to respond to the demands of the contemporary audiovisual industry.
The company, part of EndemolShine Boomdog, has experienced sustained growth that has allowed it to significantly expand its services, become certified under international standards, and become a strategic partner for streaming platforms, television networks, and content producers in the region.
Currently, Wide Angle operates some of the most complex post-production workflows in the market, including the simultaneous management of large-scale live entertainment formats 24 hours a day, such as MasterChef Mexico, La Casa de los Famosos and La Casa de los Famosos Mexico , projects that demand speed, scalability and maximum technical reliability.
The recent expansion of its facilities, along with investments in new editing, mixing, screening and mastering suites, reflects a strategy focused on offering comprehensive solutions capable of supporting all stages of the post-production process under one roof.
As part of the company’s fourth anniversary celebrations, ttvnews spoke with José R. Briceño Reolon, Director of Technology and Post-Production Services at Wide Angle, about the main milestones achieved during this period, the challenges behind 24/7 operations, the technological trends that are transforming the sector, and the growth plans for the coming years.
Wide Angle is celebrating its fourth anniversary this month. Looking back on these first four years, what have been the most significant achievements in the facility’s growth and evolution?
We are very excited to celebrate our fourth anniversary at Wide Angle. Since our beginnings, we have experienced several milestones and grown in many ways.
During this time, we have kept pace with technological updates and adapted workflows to the specific needs of each project. We have come to understand our clients’ needs and innovate to offer faster and more efficient processes.
We became a certified facility for Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, also meeting the security standards validated by Amazon Content Security.
At Wide Angle, we have a team of highly trained professionals who work closely with our clients to achieve the best possible results. We also serve as a training ground for specialists, such as editors, contributing to the evolution and professionalization of the industry.
Currently, Wide Angle is simultaneously handling the post-production of three programs, operating 24/7, which is a truly impressive achievement. What have been the biggest operational and technical challenges in overseeing productions of this scale and level of demand?
Our sister company, EndemolShine Boomdog, now has three live, unscripted series airing 24/7, including MasterChef Mexico, which premiered its first season in this new format on TV Azteca and the Disney+ streaming platform. This culinary reality show joins the hit series La Casa de los Famosos (Telemundo/Peacock) and La Casa de los Famosos México (Televisa Univision), which continue to captivate millions of viewers in the United States and Mexico.
Regarding the post-production challenges for these three major productions, the key is the ability to receive live signals simultaneously from the control room, regardless of distance. Currently, we have the capacity to manage and ingest multiple shows at our facilities, even when production or post-production is not physically located in our studios.
Storage is another major challenge; therefore, we’ve expanded our capacity to over 2 PB for these types of programs. Fortunately, we have a dedicated 24/7 workflow support team, which has allowed us to manage operations and resolve any issues that arise.
With MasterChef joining La Casa de los Famosos and La Casa de los Famosos México, Wide Angle has reached an unprecedented scale in Latin America. What systems, workflows, and team structures have made this possible?
At Wide Angle, we’ve designed a specialized workflow for these types of programs. We have the capability to receive live feeds from the studio to post-production across more than 20 kilometers between locations. The footage is available for editing just four seconds after being received in post-production.
Our workflow ensures the immediacy needed to receive signals and begin editing. We integrate tools like Avid Media Central/Interplay to manage media quickly and systematically, guaranteeing delivery.
The facilities have recently expanded their infrastructure with new production suites, an audio room, a hybrid editing suite, a 5.1 mixing room, and a screening room. How do these investments improve and enhance the services they offer their clients?
We have made a significant investment to expand our facilities and infrastructure. This investment has allowed us to integrate the entire process in a single environment: from reviewing the final edit and color correction to packaging and delivering the content to the client. Having these capabilities under one roof allows us to optimize workflows, ensure greater quality control, and offer a more efficient and comprehensive service, which has become one of the key differentiators of Wide Angle’s facilities and technology.
The screening room and mastering room are designed for the client’s final product, where they can view, approve, and send it to mastering.
We have also adapted our spaces and services based on each client’s requirements. We have top-notch editing suites, acoustically treated and equipped with specialized 5.1 mixing systems. This allows us to accommodate both finishing and mixing processes, expanding our service offerings and enabling us to tailor them to the specific needs of each project.
Wide Angle works with streaming platforms and television networks—including Netflix, Prime Video, HBO Max, Peacock, Telemundo, and Televisa Univision—on both scripted and unscripted productions. How do post-production requirements differ depending on the client and the content genre?
We work with a wide variety of clients and streaming platform partners. These clients have diverse requirements, ranging from deadlines and review rounds to post-production processes and delivery methods. To address each type of requirement, we have designed specific workflows and have the necessary equipment to meet them all.
For example, we have Amazon-approved content security facilities to manage your specific projects. We also have tools like Transkoder to generate the final materials required by platforms such as Netflix and Warner Bros. Furthermore, for 24/7 operational workflows, we have developed differentiated solutions for Telemundo, Televisa Univision, and TV Azteca, each tailored to their respective deadlines and technical specifications.
Technology continues to evolve rapidly in the post-production industry. What are some of the latest tools or innovations that Wide Angle has adopted, and how are they improving efficiency and creative quality?
We currently have highly interconnected facilities that have expanded our operational and project management capabilities, allowing us to perform post-production regardless of where filming takes place. This is especially relevant for series with 24/7 live workflows. This innovation was developed to optimize processes, improve operational efficiency, and meet the quality standards demanded by our clients.
Beyond serving EndemolShine Boomdog productions, Wide Angle has increasingly become a partner for external clients. How important has this diversification been to the company’s growth strategy?
Opening ourselves up to projects beyond those of EndemolShine Boomdog is very important to us. This has allowed us to receive both scripted and unscripted productions, which represent up to 15% of the projects we develop annually, and we continue to expand our service offerings to attract new clients.
Having surpassed 1000 hours of post-production and increased capacity by 67%, what are your priorities for the next stage of Wide Angle’s development and where do you see the greatest opportunities for growth in the coming years?
Wide Angle is a dynamic and constantly growing company. We are focused on expanding our service offerings and entering new markets with partners in the region. We also intend to continue innovating to make 24/7 live reality shows increasingly efficient, scalable, and profitable, regardless of where they are filmed.
