When Chris Phillips founded CJP Broadcast in 2011, the business looked very different to the company it is today. What started as a single-person consultancy has grown into a specialist broadcast and production technology business, with work spanning studio integration, virtual production, digitisation and live production. 

In this Q&A, Chris reflects on the decisions, projects and market shifts that shaped the company, from its early move into archive digitisation to its growing role in education, virtual production and emerging production workflows. 

When you founded CJP in 2011, what did you think the business would become? 

When I started CJP, it was very much a consultancy-led business. I had many years of experience in service sales, service creation and development, so the initial plan was to use that experience independently. 

I knew the approach I wanted the company to take, but I could not have predicted the scale and breadth it would reach 15 years later. As the industry changed, we made considered decisions about where to develop next, moving into digitisation, systems integration, virtual production and, more recently, motion capture.  

Looking back, was there a moment when you felt CJP had moved from being a consultancy into something bigger? 

The move into digitisation was an important step. A tape archive project gave me the opportunity to manage a much larger piece of work, bringing together the project management, operational planning and delivery needed to handle a complex archive. 

From there, the business began to develop further. Digitisation became part of the company’s foundations, and in 2018 CJP started expanding into systems integration. One of the early systems projects was a switchover system for the playout operation at Gibraltar Broadcasting Corporation, which helped set the direction for the next phase of the business. 

That period was when CJP began to move from consultancy into a broader integration company, taking on more projects and building the team around that work. 

Digitisation Projects

CJP has worked across broadcast, education, corporate, live production, digitisation and virtual production. Has that variety been intentional, or has it evolved naturally with the market? 

We knew early on that the traditional broadcast systems integration market was already well served, so we looked for areas where we felt CJP could add more value. 

Education was one of those areas. Colleges and universities needed more than equipment supply. They needed guidance, support and systems designed around teaching, training and student access. That was a natural fit for CJP because our approach has always been about understanding the customer and building the right solution around them. 

Virtual production became a major part of that work. There was already growing demand for these skills across film, television and other creative industries, and education providers needed facilities that could prepare students for those environments. 

As our studio integration experience grew, we began developing into additional verticals, including corporates and wider production environments. We were able to take the knowledge gained through those early projects and apply it across different spaces. 

The live production side developed differently. During Covid-19, an opportunity arose to work with the FA Media team, producing live content during a major competition in the football calendar. That led to further work across football, cricket and rugby. 

Looking back, each move into a new area has been a considered one. We have focused on markets where we knew our experience could make a difference, then built the skills, partnerships and team needed to do the work properly. That approach has been a major part of CJP’s success over the last 15 years.  

University of Sunderland Studio designed and installed by CJP Broadcast

What has been the biggest change in what customers expect from a systems integrator? 

Customers expect a systems integrator to do more than source and install the technology. They want a partner who understands what they are trying to achieve, can advise them on the right approach and will support them well beyond handover. 

That is particularly important with virtual production because there are so many different ways to build a system. Our role is to understand how the customer wants to work and make sure the technology supports that. 

Training and ongoing support are also highly valued, especially in markets such as education and corporate, where the end user may not be a broadcast technician. Organisations want their teams to feel confident using the system from day one, which is why our in-house studio at CJP HQ has been so valuable. It allows us to train clients before their facility is completed, test workflows and continue supporting them once the system is in operation. 

What has been one of the most significant milestones in CJP’s own development? 

Investing in our in-house virtual production studio was a major milestone for CJP. If we were going to lead in this area, we needed to demonstrate the technology properly and give our own team regular, hands-on access to the systems we were designing for customers. 

The studio allows customers to understand the technology and receive training before their own facility is delivered, so they are ready to start using it with confidence. 

It is also central to our research, development and support work. We use it to test new software and workflows, recreate issues on systems similar to those installed for customers, and continue developing the expertise of our team. 

The CJP Studio

Looking ahead, where are the greatest opportunities for CJP over the next 15 years? 

The last 15 years have brought developments I could never have predicted when I started CJP, so it is difficult to say exactly what the next 15 will hold. Technology and customer requirements will continue to evolve, bringing opportunities we cannot yet anticipate. 

Looking at what is already taking shape, motion capture is becoming a bigger part of the business. Our relationship with Xsens began through education and has now expanded into film, games design and television. We have also introduced a rental offering, with systems already being used on major productions. 

We are now delivering projects around the world, and I expect that international growth to bring further opportunities over the coming years. There is also plenty of scope to build on our existing partnerships, both overseas and in the UK. 

We will continue to make a positive contribution beyond our commercial work. That includes providing work experience and placements for blind and visually impaired students from the Royal National College for the Blind, supporting veterans through the Armed Forces Covenant, and strengthening our sustainability practices and quality standards. 

The most important part of that future is the team. A company is always about its staff, and I believe we have some of the best people in the industry. That gives me real confidence in what comes next for CJP.