News Malayalam Unveils India's First XR-Equipped News Studio With Zero Density

News Malayalam, the second channel from the News Tamil 24×7 network, has entered Kerala's fiercely contested TV market by shifting decisively to virtual production.

Seeking to surpass the already high visual standards of local rivals while keeping capital costs in check, the broadcaster adopted Zero Density's Reality5 platform to replace traditional hard sets with photorealistic virtual environments.

Kerala audiences were already accustomed to sophisticated virtual sets and augmented reality, so incremental upgrades were unlikely to cut through. News Malayalam set out to position itself as a premium, next‑generation news brand, prioritising realism and responsiveness across its studio output.

During technology trials, Zero Density stood out for its native Unreal Engine rendering, production‑grade reliability and operator‑friendly workflow suited to rolling news. Those factors led the team to make the platform the core of its daily operation.

Originally conceived as a hybrid build, the project pivoted after tests of Reality5’s visual fidelity. Investment planned for LED walls, additional cameras and conventional set construction was set aside in favour of a fully virtual approach. The move established what the broadcaster describes as India’s first XR‑equipped news studio and avoided millions in upfront capital expenditure.

Rapid training accelerated the transition for designers and engineers, and the system now underpins 16 hours of live output every day. Its stability under pressure provided compelling proof-of-performance.

On the back of those results, network leadership endorsed a wider roll‑out: the parent channel in Chennai, News Tamil 24×7, is dismantling a four‑year‑old hard‑set studio and replacing it with the same Zero Density stack.

To lift storytelling and on‑screen credibility, News Malayalam leans on Reality5’s advanced toolset. Traxis Talent Tracking supplies precise alignment plus naturalistic shadows and reflections on virtual objects, reducing the visual disconnect common in legacy virtual sets. It also lets presenters trigger and manipulate 3D graphics live, turning static explainers into interactive segments.

A Virtual Flycam adds cinematic movement, enabling camera paths that would be impractical or too costly with physical rigs and tracks. The result is added scale and energy across news formats.

The channel has also pioneered an XR stage with a portal window, allowing the physical camera to peer into expansive, real‑time rendered environments beyond the studio walls. The technique broadens perceived space and delivers memorable, immersive sequences.

In aggregate, the strategy has delivered immediate gains: a launch anchored by an XR‑equipped studio, significant ROI from avoided capex, proven reliability across long live shifts and a clear premium market position. Zero Density’s platform has become the technical foundation for News Malayalam’s longer‑term plan to push visual innovation in Indian broadcast news.

zerodensity.io