The camera control unit (CCU) is installed in the production control room (PCR), and allows various aspects of the video camera on the studio floor to be controlled remotely. The most commonly made adjustments are for white balance and aperture, although almost all technical adjustments are made from controls on the CCU rather than on the camera. This frees the camera operator to concentrate on composition and focus, and also allows the technical director of the studio to ensure uniformity between all the cameras.

As well as acting as a remote control, the CCU usually provides the external interfaces for the camera to other studio equipment, such as the vision mixer and intercom system, and contains the camera's power supply.