The BEONDTV Story – Part 1

The Beginning: A New Opportunity

It all started in mid-2018 with a call from Mark Sonnenberg, asking me to meet with Amie Martin about a new project. At the time, Mark and I had worked together at XE5 Media, where we had previously met with Amie and Carlos Amezcua to discuss launching a red-carpet cable channel. The idea was solid, we built a plan and budgeted for it, but like many ambitious projects, it never secured funding.

Now, Amie had a different vision—one that would leverage Carlos’ long-standing presence as an on-air personality in Los Angeles. The goal was twofold: to create a local talk show and VOD channel capitalizing on his established audience and to develop a distribution model that allowed experienced content creators—who lacked traditional outlets—to own their content and generate revenue through ad-supported streaming.

The first step in bringing this to life was developing a talk show featuring Carlos and his former San Diego co-anchor, Lisa Remillard. Their previous collaboration had been successful in morning television, largely because of their generational differing viewpoints—Carlos as senior statesman and Lisa with her pulse on current trends. Their on-screen chemistry provided built-in engagement, making it the perfect foundation for attracting a wider audience and additional content creators.

When Amie laid out the vision, my role became clear. I would oversee production, operations, engineering, and technology—essentially handling everything from budgeting and studio selection to technical infrastructure and distribution strategy. My task was not just to make the show happen but to ensure it was built on a solid, scalable foundation.

Pre-Pre-Production: Defining the Show

For me to get started, the first step was to create a show treatment that outlined the format, tone, and technical requirements for me to work with. After discussing the vision with the executive producers, I developed the following framework:

Show Details:

• Genre: Studio Talk Show
• Format: Daily Strip (5 shows per week)
• Episode Length: 46 minutes
• Talent: Carlos Amezcua & Lisa Remillard
• Guests: 1 to 3 per episode
• Target Audience: Viewers of morning talk shows

Logline:

A fresh take on the morning talk format, pairing two seasoned news anchors with contrasting political perspectives. Each episode features insightful conversations with guest experts, covering politics, culture, entertainment, and social issues.

Tone & Style:

The show is designed to be relaxed and inviting, set in a modern, casual living room environment that encourages open discussion. While bright and energetic, the set should feel on par with major syndicated talk shows—polished but accessible.

Set & Technical Needs:

• A combination of chairs and couches for a natural, conversational flow
• Enough space between the seating and the background for separation
• On set practical lighting for depth
• Multiple Cameras (3 minimum)
• 1 or more On-set monitors for graphics and playback.
• Lighting that is bright but warm creating an inviting atmosphere.
• IFB communication for hosts, ensuring real-time coordination with producers.
• Single teleprompter for smooth segment transitions.
• Wireless lav microphones for ease of movement.
• Audio Mixing for record and playback
• Live switching and line cut recording
• 1 talent video monitor for playbacks and remote interviews
• System for video and graphic integration and playback to set
• Camera ISO recordings with mixed audio.

Crewing & Distribution:

• A lean, cost-effective crew to keep production sustainable
• Live streaming capability for real-time audience interaction.
• IP-based delivery to expand reach beyond traditional broadcast.
• A dedicated digital platform, Netflix-style navigation for on-demand content.

Pre-Production: Finding the Right Studio

With the concept fully developed, Amie and Carlos secured a carriage deal with KDOC-TV, a Southern California-based station, which seemed like a promising opportunity.

I spoke with Amie recently about how that deal with KODC came about.

”We sat down with the General Manager of KDOC to pitch the idea of a daily talk show starring Carlos, that would be less news and more topical and interview-style. He was open to the idea, but hesitant at first that we weren’t a large production company. I remember convincing him that what we would deliver would be world-class, and he agreed. We discussed a few options on how to make it work, including possibly shooting at the Orange County studio… But the idea was really to launch something creator-owned, before creator-owned really existed the way it does now.”

Per her discussion KDOC offered to give us access to the KDOC studio at reduced rates. However, after an on-site review, the studio’s limitations became evident. The technology was outdated, and adding what we needed would be costly. More concerning was the ongoing operational expense, which would far exceed what it would cost to build a new shooting space from scratch. Additionally, the station was located in Orange County, far from Los Angeles, making it difficult to attract high-profile guests.

After careful assessment, I recommended that we find an independent production space rather than rely on KDOC’s facilities. Amie quickly began searching for an affordable location, eventually securing a lease on an 800-square-foot storefront space. The studio was located on the second floor of a rustic shopping center, surrounded by dining spots and boutique shops, making it both visually appealing and easily accessible.

The shooting space had unique features that made it ideal for a production studio. A large exterior window overlooked a courtyard, allowing for great natural lighting, while an interior window facing a hallway added depth to the set. The high ceilings provided flexibility for lighting and camera placement, ensuring we could design a visually dynamic set within the constraints of a small footprint.

With the location secured, the next steps involved finalizing the technical specifications, workflow, and production plan. We were on the verge of transforming this modest space into a fully operational talk show studio, and BEONDTV was beginning to take shape.

Looking Ahead: The Next Phase

With a clear concept, a strong production team, and a dedicated shooting space, BEONDTV was ready to move from planning into execution. In Part Two, I’ll dive into the technical build-out, before moving on to the evolution of the platform’s distribution model.

For those interested in streaming channels and OTT launches, as described in my book “Stream to Screen: An Insider’s Guide to Building OTT Channels and Streaming Networks”, I’ll be taking you through the real-world process we followed to launch BEONDTV. This isn’t just theory—it’s the step-by-step journey of how we built a content strategy, navigated the challenges of distribution, and ultimately evolved into a global platform. That journey continues today as BEONDTV grows, expands its reach, and brings new content partners into the fold.