MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.—TVU Networks was part of the team for the recent production of the 2021 NFL Draft, supplying its TVU Anywhere remote production app and TVU Grid cloud-based video distribution network for special footage during the three-day event.

The NFL Draft took place in Cleveland, but footage was shown throughout networks' coverage of the 32 NFL teams’ draft rooms and for incoming rookies that were watching the draft at home. TVU Networks supplied its technology in both these situations.

TVU Anywhere was part of the all-in-one camera kits that was sent to prospects, pre-loaded on a Mac mini; a webcam and lighting gear were also included. The camera feeds were set to a bank of 25 TVU servers in Cleveland, which provided up to 50 SDI outputs for use during live broadcasts. The servers were also networked through TVU Grid, which allowed for monitoring of all live video feeds online and on mobile devices with TVU’s GridLink.

Another bank of 17 TVU servers providing 34 SDI outputs were assigned to manage video feeds from all 32 teams’ draft rooms. Each team was shipped an iPhone preloaded with TVU Anywhere. All club feeds were also Grid-enabled and an SRT streaming output was provided for off-site monitoring and review.

TVU GridLink enabled remote monitoring of all draft rooms for sponsor alignment via built-in access restrictions and secure sharing protocols. They also created an archive of all content using TVU Search, an automated, AI-based solution that enables searchable archive.

TVU also offered a free live shot of the front of the draft location from a high vantage point for bumps and live intros for TVU Grid customers. The footage came from Cleveland’s ABC affiliate, WEWS.

“TVU’s solutions worked very well for us during the NFL Draft,” said Nate McCoart, director of technical operations, Van Wagner Sports and Entertainment. “They made it easy to manage live video from dozens of locations across the country for the broadcast, and they were able to manage secure draft room feeds for both our production and NFL officials.”

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.—Like many in 2020, Joe Calhoun, NBC affiliate WGAL’s chief meteorologist, has to present the community of Lancaster, Pa., with their weather remotely from his home. A key tool for him to do so has been TVU Networks' TVU Grid platform.

TVU Grid is an IP-based point-to-multipoint live video distribution system that uses commodity internet to provide a remote weather broadcast with what TVU touts as studio functionality and capability.

WGAL was able to help Calhoun create a studio-like setup at his home with TVU Grid’s bi-directional feature. The station set up a green screen with graphics and pushed it from master control to Calhoun’s home for presentation while providing video content from his home back to the studio. This was done with HD video and low-latency.

“The pandemic forced us to start thinking outside the box when it came to remote work,” said Kevin Kalia, director of engineering at WGAL. “The secret was sending a broadcast-quality feed of Joe’s weather graphics to him, keying his shot with a switcher at his location and then sending a program feed back to the station—all with TVU. The whole process was seamless.”

For more information, visit www.tvunetworks.com.  

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.—The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) has opted to purchase a complete TVU Networks live video package for the task of sharing live coverage of the governor’s weekly COVID-19 press briefings to local and national broadcasters, as well as cable news networks.

Since April, Cal OES has been participating in TVU’s Project Pool Feed, which allowed government entities to provide essential video pool feeds for news stations. Now Cal OES has its own TVU equipment to serve as a longer-term solution for distributing content to local and national media outlets.

The TVU package includes a TVU One transmitter, TVU Transceiver and TVU Grid. The TVU One allows for coverage of remote briefings from any location. TVU Grid provides scalable live video distribution to TV, radio, news publications, news portal, social media platforms, CDNs and the state’s website. 

The TVU Transceiver, meanwhile, serves as the backbone of the TVU ecosystem, able to host multiple TVU applications and enabling users to view, manage and monitor all video content from one device. It also is the gateway to TVU Grid, allowing IP content to be routed and distributed within a network or partner networks, TVU says.

“The services provided by TVU have been critical for us to provide information to the public, while doing that through a safe means for staff and principals,” said Brian Ferguson, deputy director of Crisis Communications with Cal OES. “We were able to get the equipment set up without difficulty and begin providing crucial information to Californians.”

For more information, visit www.tvunetworks.com.  

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.—TVU Networks has announced that it will be part of a consortium of technology partners bringing live video of the historic NASA and SpaceX launch to global broadcasters on May 27.

The launch is part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program and will see a SpaceX rocket carry NASA astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley to the International Space Station. This is the first time that NASA has launched astronauts from American soil since 2011.

As part of the broadcast team, which also includes LiveU and Dejero, TVU will provide technical support and its IP-based TVU Grid platform to assist with the distribution of multiple live video pool feeds covering the launch.

Because of the current coronavirus pandemic and the need to practice social distancing, broadcasters around the world will be able to supplement their use of NASA Television’s feed with the additional isolated live video camera feeds provided by TVU and others without the need for on-site personnel.

“We’re thrilled to partner with NASA and local Florida broadcasters in bringing this significant undertaking to the world,” said Paul Shen, CEO of TVU Networks. “During this unprecedented time in the world, we are pleased to help with providing the technology needed to safely and effectively cover groundbreaking events such as the first ever commercial manned space launch.”

TVU Grid customers will be able to access the NASA feeds by logging into the TVU Command Center, choosing TVU Grid tab and selecting either of the NASA_Pool sources.

For more information, visit www.tvunetworks.com.  

WASHINGTON—FedNet is providing live broadcast coverage of the impeachment inquiry hearings using TVU Networks TVU Grid, the company announced this week.

If the House of Representatives approves articles of impeachment of President Donald Trump, the multimedia content provider to the U.S. Congress will also rely on the TVU Grid for its coverage of the subsequent Senate impeachment trial, it said.

FedNet provides a secure video network throughout the Capitol complex. It broadcasts thousands of hearings, press conferences and live Senate and House floor debates. The content provider’s choice of TVU Grid for impeachment hearing coverage is FedNet’s first live streaming initiative, said TVU Networks.

“We needed an infinitely scalable set up,” said FedNet President Keith Carney. “With TVU Grid, we can scale to any number of locations to our network without increasing bandwidth requirements at each site. And we can route live video streams using TVU Grid anywhere in the world with sub-second latency.”

Besides the live gavel-to-gavel multicamera switched coverage of the hearings, FedNet is providing live interviews with legislators. Multiple feeds are being made available on TVU Grid.

FedNet is looking at reaching educational institutions with feeds to assist in the study of political science and journalism as well as targeting commercial media outlets, the company said.

The TVU Grid offers point-to-multipoint bidirectional live video distribution via IP. Those on the grid can view available video sources from around the world and request to make the stream available to their audiences. The TVU Command Center manages TVU Grid, enabling uses to examine the status of transmissions and TVU Servers, the company said.

More information about FedNet is available on the company’s website.

More information about TVU Grid is available on the TVU Networks website.