Podstars by OMR Partners with Sony to Bring Cinematic Production Standards to Podcasts and Video Content

Sony Germany today announces a 12-month technology partnership with OMR, one of Germany’s most influential media and marketing brands. OMR’s in-house production company Podstars will exclusively use Sony’s broadcast-grade ecosystem to produce all of its video content, including the flagship OMR Podcast hosted by OMR CEO Philipp Westermeyer, as well as co-produced formats such as Lanz & Precht, and corporate client work across the DACH region.

The partnership marks a significant step in Podstars’ transition from audio-first to fully video-led production, reflecting one of the biggest shifts in the global podcast industry. With short-form clips on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube Shorts now the primary gateway to long-form content, every frame has to look the part – on every screen and in every format.

To meet that standard at scale, Sony has equipped Podstars with 12 Sony FX3 full-frame cameras with a full complement of G Master II zooms and primes, and Sony’s Monitor & Control app for production oversight on location.

The choice of FX3 was driven as much by practicality as by image quality. Podstars shoots across a wide mix of environments – from its own studios in Hamburg to compact corporate offices across region – and needed broadcast-grade cameras that its mid-sized team could confidently operate.

“Video has changed everything in the podcast market – it’s now obligatory, and audiences expect every show, no matter how small, to look like a major production,” says Hardy Haufe, Producer at Podstars by OMR. “The FX3 delivers the image quality, the autofocus performance and the workflow flexibility we need to keep creating standout content, week after week. We can pack four cameras and six lenses into a single flight case and take it anywhere – the rooms we shoot in aren’t always the perfect studio setup, and the combination of zooms and primes means we can adapt instantly.”

Connecting studio and freelance network

Switching to a fully Sony-based ecosystem has streamlined collaboration with the freelance camera operators Podstars works with across Germany, the majority of whom already shoot on Sony and record in S-Log3. Working with a consistent platform and colour science across every shoot has made productions faster to set up, easier to grade and more predictable to deliver.

Sony’s Monitor & Control app, part of its Creators’ Cloud suite of workflow and collaboration solutions, will become an everyday tool for the production team. It enables wired and wireless monitoring of up to four cameras from a single iPhone, iPad or Mac, alongside precise exposure tools, Focus Map and LUT preview. “Our freelancers were already using Monitor & Control, and now our in-house team will do too,” adds Haufe. “Being able to preview, frame and check focus across multiple cameras from a tablet, in any room, will be game-changing for us.”

Powering a top-ranked podcast brand

OMR Podcast is one of the DACH region’s most influential business and marketing shows, currently ranked as the #1 marketing podcast on Apple Podcasts across Germany, Austria and Switzerland, and the #2 business podcast on Spotify in Germany – often drawing comparisons to global formats such as The Diary of a CEO.

“OMR has built a reputation across the DACH region as one of the most influential voices in digital marketing and media – and with Podstars they are now at the forefront of the move to broadcast-standard video podcasting,” says Mike Williams, Head of Business Development Engineering, Sony Europe. "Our end-to-end production ecosystem applies Sony’s broadcast and cinematography DNA to podcasting, social and corporate video, helping creators of every size capture and deliver professional-quality content. We’re delighted to be supporting the Podstars team over the next 12 months as they extend broadcast-grade production values across every format – capturing audiences wherever they choose to watch, listen and engage.”