April 16, 2026
ITN
SKAARHOJ in Action: Streamlining ITN’s News Production with universal control
About ITN
ITN (Independent Television News) has been at the heart of British broadcasting since 1955, producing the news you see on ITV from four dedicated studios at their London headquarters.
Project: ITV Newsroom Studio 3
Studio 3 is ITN's newest control room at their London headquarters, designed to complement their existing setup while giving their production teams greater agility for live news broadcasting.
The Challenge
As the production powerhouse behind some of the most watched news in the country, ITN faces daily challenges that demand quick thinking and precision. Their control rooms have long relied on robust, reliable equipment, but it comes with its limitations.
Wiring complexity: Extensive cabling that made even small changes difficult.
Integration: Bringing various technologies together presented constant challenges.
Multi-device control: Managing multiple systems simultaneously, where every second counts.
What we love about Skaarhoj panels, aside from the incredible NKK buttons in the M/E rows is that we have a Tricaster now, but we may as well just go and buy a Kairos, Sony or other vision mixer, install it in our studio and after setting it up none of the operators would even realise that anything has changed.
-ITN
Why SKAARHOJ
Seeking greater simplicity and flexibility for Studio 3, ITN turned to SKAARHOJ. Two products made it happen.
The Mega Panel brought together sound, lighting and camera control into a single intuitive interface, purpose built for technical directors and production specialists working under the pressure of live news.
The PTZ View gave operators smooth and precise control of their Sony FR7 cameras, with Hall-effect joysticks designed for broadcast accuracy.
The Setup
When ITN turned to SKAARHOJ for Studio 3, they gained something their traditional setup couldn't offer.
The Mega Panel, built from 4x MK48 panels, 2x T-blocks and a Wave Board, gave technical directors and production specialists control of sound, lighting and camera operations from a single intuitive surface.
The PTZ View controllers, equipped with Hall-effect joysticks, gave operators smooth and precise control of their Sony FR7 cameras.
The setup is designed for a three person team during the day, but thanks to the Wave Board and PTZ View, a single operator can handle vision mixing, PTZ cameras, scripting and audio during late night broadcasts.
Flexibility without limits
SKAARHOJ's products brought a new level of flexibility into ITN's Studio 3 newsroom. Thanks to open API support, ITN can easily incorporate new devices and functionalities without extensive GPIO rewiring or complex programming. This allows them to stay nimble and responsive as live news production evolves.
One example is panel-based control of the Tinkerlist Cuez software, interfaced through the built-in Blue Pill Reactor via HTTP.
Beyond its role as a universal controller, the Mega Panel significantly enhances existing platforms like Tricaster, allowing ITN to implement complex multi-behaviour triggers that streamline repetitive tasks.
Operators can now automate processes that traditionally required multiple steps, making the Mega Panel an indispensable part of ITN's production workflow.
So Good You Forget It's There
For ITN, the Mega Panel has become indispensable. The improved efficiency, flexibility and control have allowed them to maintain their reputation for excellence, even as they navigate the pressures of modern broadcasting and the shift to online and streaming content. As they continue to innovate, SKAARHOJ puts ITN in control of whatever comes next.