TVU Networks Corporation
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| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Technology |
| Founded | 2005 |
| Headquarters | Mountain View, California, United States |
Key people | Paul Shen, Chief Executive Officer |
| Products | TVU Alert, TVU Anywhere, TVU AP ENPS Integration, TVU Aerial Newsgathering Pack, TVU Booking Service, TVU Command Center, TVU Era, TVU Grid, TVU Me, TVU MediaMind, TVU MLink, TVU One, TVU One TM1000G, TVU Producer, TVU Router, TVU Remote Production System, TVU Timelock, TVU Transcriber |
| Website | www |
TVU Networks Corporation is a privately held technology company based in Mountain View, California.
History (Early Years)
[edit]TVUPlayer was the company's first product. It was a live streaming TV viewer client that provided free live television programming worldwide. It was viewable from a PC or laptop with a broadband connection[1] until its services stopped on February 25, 2013.[2]
The company introduced its first IP-based hardware device on 11 September 2010. The TVUPack TM8000 was a mobile news gathering backpack transmitter that allowed broadcasters to deliver a live broadcast-quality HD signal with latency of two seconds over IP, even with limited bandwidth.[3] The aggregated cellular transmission technology used in TVUPack and other similar devices at the time provided an alternative to traditional satellite trucks, helping to change on-location live reporting for television stations.[4]
The technology behind these backpack-style cellular transmitters is commonly known within the broadcast industry as 'bonded cellular' or 'aggregated cellular'. This term refers to the synchronization of multiple circuits or connections, which work together to provide a more reliable signal than a typical consumer "wireless connection".[5] The advantage of backpack transmitters was the ability for news crews in the field to air first or exclusively.
Rapid releases of upgraded and more technologically advanced versions of the TVUPack transmitter were introduced following the TM8000, including the TM8100 and the TM8200 models within two years.[6] With each new version of the early generation backpack transmitters, the form factor and weight were reduced and more product features were added to the software.
The company also began expanding its IP based product line, including the rollout of TVU Anywhere, a news gathering live video mobile app for iOS and Android devices, and TVU Grid for cloud based point-to-multipoint live video distribution. Gray Television was the first national station group to deploy TVU Grid at launch.[7]
History (Present Day)
[edit]In 2015, the company achieved a breakthrough in size and functionality with the rollout of its TVU One portable transmitter as the eventual successor to the original TVUPacks. The new transmitter was 90% smaller than the first generation cellular packs, but without any reduction in performance or features.[8] TVU also entered into a partnership with leading drone manufacturer DJI in the same year in which the two companies collaborated on integrating their products for drone applications.[9]
TVU has shifted its focus in recent years to the development of cloud native applications that address each phase of the broadcast workflow – acquisition, transmission, production, distribution and management. The broadcast industry had been transitioning to IP from transitional SDI with the COVID-19 pandemic accelerating the migration.[10] The need for cloud native and IP products and services in the broadcast industry are a direct result of studios moving away from traditional fixed studio hardware infrastructure to flexible anywhere remote production.[11]
References
[edit]- ^ "Download TVUPlayer to Watch Cable TV Online on Your Computer for Free". Tech Journey. 2007-09-26. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
- ^ "With TVU Player gone, what are some working PC TV alternatives? - gHacks Tech News". gHacks Technology News. 2013-03-11. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
- ^ TVTechnology (2010-10-13). "TVU Networks releases TVUPack TM8000". TVTechnology. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
- ^ Dodson, Andrew (2013-03-21). "NAB To Reveal Bonded Cellular Advances". TV News Check. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
- ^ "News Crews Using Bonded Cellular for Broadcast Quality HD Video". ETCentric. 2011-06-03. Archived from the original on 2022-02-02. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
- ^ TVTechnology (2012-08-29). "TVU introduces TVUPack TM8200". TVTechnology. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
- ^ Staff (2013-04-01). "Exclusive: Gray Television First to Launch TVU Grid". Playout. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
- ^ "TVU Networks Introduces TVU One, the Compact Mobile All-in-One IP Video Transmission Solution". sports.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
- ^ Networks, T. V. U. "TVU Networks Partners With DJI to Deliver World's First Aerial Newsgathering Pack for Live Drone Video Transmission". www.prnewswire.com. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
- ^ "IP and Remote Production Top Broadcast Agendas". NAB Amplify. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
- ^ "saas, cloud and IP adoption accelerates in 2021". TVU Networks. 2024-08-28. Retrieved 2024-10-11.