TORONTO—Nextologies LIMITED, a provider of broadcast video delivery network solutions, has acquired The Video Call Center LLC (VCC), a Palisades, NY-based company that specializes in remote media production and delivery technology, for an undisclosed sum. The transaction, which Nextologies says will help it transform its services into a “glass to glass remote workflow solution,” was finalized on Dec. 23, 2022, and the new division will retain the VCC brand and continue serving its entire client portfolio. 

In August 2022, VCC owner Wolzien LLC announced that patents and other intellectual property developed by VCC had been split off into a new company, Video River Group LLC. As part of the transaction, Nextologies is licensing the global patent portfolio amassed by VCC and held by its affiliate Video River Group LLC.

VCC, which counts Discovery, NBC, Fox Sports, CBS and the NFL among its clients, has been a pioneer in adapting the use of smartphone technology in expanding and improving cloud-based live television remotes. And while advances in smartphone technologies and connectivity were prompting professional media companies to look closer at using such consumer-grade devices in their live remotes in recent years, the onset of the Covid pandemic in 2020 accelerated the move when the pandemic forced networks and local stations to almost exclusively rely on home-based live remotes.  

However, Nextologies CEO Sasha Zivanovic noted that VCC’s work in the live remote production space was impacting the industry long before the pandemic.

“When the pandemic forced many media companies into remote production, our partners called on us to create a solution as quickly as possible. Because at our core, Nextologies is a problem-solving company, that’s exactly what we did. We built a solution, called NexToMeet, and it was being used in major productions within 30 days,” says Sasha Zivanovic, CEO, Nextologies. “But what’s exciting about VCC is that they’ve been enabling remote video feeds and production way before Covid. We’re getting the chance to bring on this deep bench of experience in all aspects of remote production enablement and workflows and then inject it with a steroid shot of Nextologies engineering innovation.” 

In 2020, faced with their partners’ urgent remote production needs, Nextologies developed NexToMeet, their browser- and mobile app-based remote production solution, an instant web/mobile to SDI video network that allowed them to execute numerous events, including UFC, XFL, WWE, NBA SpaceX, Top Rank Boxing and American Idol. 

“Our NexToMeet solution was our first step into the remote workflow and production arena, but now that we’ve all seen the huge potential, we knew it was possible to do so much more. With the VCC acquisition, we are able to bring on a team that’s deeply experienced in the entire remote interview process. And we’re adding the VCC remote management plane, which has been vetted and refined over years of serving many happy high profile productions.”

Former VCC CEO Larry Thaler, who will consult with Nextologies after the close, says, “I am incredibly proud of the VCC team, creating new categories in production services and SaaS, while servicing 70 major media companies and over 30,000 remotes. In order to grow, VCC needs to be part of a company with additional products and services, a larger, more global sales team, and greater engineering resources. Nextologies is exactly that kind of company.”   

“VCC and its extraordinary team have made great strides in creativity, customer service, and innovative products while amassing a global intellectual property portfolio,” says Tom Wolzien, founder and chairman of VCC and parent Wolzien LLC, “but the businesses of smaller companies need the global operational and financial resources to grow, and it is exactly those resources that a dynamic company like Nextologies will bring.” 

In fact, as Nextologies takes the helm of VCC, the transaction is precisely the kind of growth the company’s leadership was seeking. “We’re growing quickly as a company, fueled by the engine of ingenuity at our core. VCC is just one opportunity where we can bring a developing company into our family and empower its growth with our innovative engineering and resources. We look forward to doing the same for other companies who are seeking a way to achieve their next level of development.”

STAMFORD, Conn., and PALLISADES, N.Y.—NBCUniversal Syndication Studios has selected the Video Call Center (VCC) for the third consecutive year to supply smartphone-based, remote contribution services to bring live remote guests to its Stamford Studios for season 16 of “The Steve Wilkos Show” and its new talk show “Karamo,” set to air in the fall.

“VCC provides our Stamford Studios live productions with a very reliable remote contribution solution that enables our showrunners for ‘The Steve Wilkos Show’ and ‘Karamo’ to book compelling guests anywhere in the world,” said Stamford Studios’ vice president and general manager Vinnie Fusco.

“The remote production workflow has proven to be a convenient and easy solution for our busy guests and a platform that gives our producers tremendous flexibility to pursue the best storylines,” he said.

NBCUniversal’s Syndication Studios takes advantage of the VCC smartphone-based, remote contribution service’s virtually limitless remote capacity and high-quality low-latency audio/video to ensure conversations between hosts and guests are natural, VCC said.

“The Steve Wilkos Show” has been redesigned to take maximum advantage of VCC-powered guest remotes. In the new configuration, an on-set monitor has been positioned to enhance the face-to-face interaction between host Steve Wilkos and his remote guests.

Besides the remotes, VCC provides shows with pre-production call-producing services, technology and live support during production hours.

“We are very proud of our years working alongside the production teams at NBCU Syndication Studios. It is thrilling to be invited to continue our support of ‘The Steve Wilkos Show’ and their exciting new talk show ‘Karamo,’” said Larry Thaler, CEO of VCC.

“Our goal is for VCC technology and our call production staff to serve as a seamless extension of NBCU Syndication Studios production team and for the guests to feel as comfortable as they would be in the studio. This new agreement represents a tremendous validation of VCC’s approach focused on creating ease for the contributor and the producers,” he said.

More information is available on the company’s website.

PALISADES, N.Y.—The Video Call Center, a provider of IP video remote technology, has released data from a new study of the use of its technologies at a major TV news organization that showed significant improvements in the organization’s efficiency and its ability to create content using remotes from smartphones and laptops. 

Technologies for doing IP remotes are increasingly important to television news organizations that need near-instant access to journalists and experts worldwide. With no technician at the remote end of the connection, news organizations are often challenged to connect quickly and effortlessly with their non-technical guests, achieve high-quality connections, and shorten time-to-air to improve productivity.

The new VCC study called “New management technology for video remotes drives change across TV News production” uses testing data from nearly a year of on-air production to compare the organization’s legacy IP remote workflow to a modernized process using VCC’s AirFirst platform.

Findings from the report include: 

• Execution time has been reduced by more than 76%, creating thousands of hours of improved efficiency.  
• A 42% reduction in the need for time-consuming test calls.
• An increase of 267% in the number of air calls made reflects an increase in the quantity of content being produced.

“To compete effectively in today’s media landscape, TV newsrooms need to leverage their access to experts around the world and do so as quickly as possible,” according to Larry Thaler, CEO of VCC. “Every minute counts, so media organizations need smart tools and efficient workflows that reduce complexity for their contributors, empower their staff and accelerate time to air. Our goal with this report is to provide a glimpse of the real world data to show how news organizations can best use IP remotes to give them a competitive advantage.”

VCC has helped clients produce hundreds of broadcast and web programs, supporting NBCU, Major League Baseball, Fox TV Stations, ViacomCBS, CNN, Discovery, Fox Sports Networks, TLC, NBATV, WWE, Vice, Bally Sports, and many others. 

Examples of programs and complete information about the VCC are available at http://www.thevcc.tv.

Wolzien LLC has announced that patents and other intellectual property developed by The Video Call Center, LLC (VCC), has been split off into a new company, Video River Group LLC. Both are wholly owned by Wolzien LLC.

VCC provides daily high end management of smartphone remotes for major news, sports, and entertainment companies through software as a service and traditional production services.

The portfolio assigned to Video River Group includes two dozen granted patents in 16 countries and the European Union, trademarks, and software that has driven nearly 30,000 smartphone remotes to air through VCC services, the company said. The patents focus on management of large numbers of video callers for any broadcast, cable, or internet use in television and other industries and related automation tools.

“Over the past decade the VCC team has created an extraordinary portfolio of intellectual property that goes far beyond daily national television production,” says Wolzien LLC chairman Tom Wolzien. “Video River Group will explore other options while VCC continues to operate under a non-exclusive license for news, sports, entertainment, and corporate production.”

STAMFORD, Conn., and PALISADES, N.Y.—NBCUniversal Syndication Studios has chosen The Video Call Center (VCC) for the second consecutive year to bring live remote guests to “Maury” and “The Steve Wilkos Show” for the 2021-22 broadcast season, VCC said today. 

VCC offers smartphone remote contribution services, providing clients with a reliable way to book top-tier guests virtually for shows. It offers high-quality, low-latency audio/video while reducing travel costs and environmental impact, it said.

“Resigning our agreement with VCC makes perfect sense for the production of our nationally syndicated shows like ‘Maury’ and ‘The Steve Wilkos Show,’ said Vinnie Fusco, Stamford Media Center vice president and general manager. 

“We began working with VCC initially at our Stamford Media Center Studios to address pandemic-related production challenges but discovered that VCC's remote production technology is a cost-effective way to work. As we continue to produce our shows in a safe COVID-compliant manner, VCC gives our producers the tools to book dynamic remote stories that make our shows compelling."

Last year, VCC provided NBCU Syndication Studios with 800 remotes for the two shows. At its highest, VCC enabled remotes for 22 guests in a single production day. VCC provided the Stamford Media Center with pre-production and call-producing services as well as technology and live support during production hours, VCC said.

"High-energy shows like ‘Maury’ and ‘The Steve Wilkos Show’ depend heavily on great banter between show hosts and guests who may be anywhere in the world,” said VCC CEO Larry Thaler. “VCC enables NBCU Syndication Studios to extend its reach to access the most relevant guests and have them on air in real-time at the highest quality.”

VCC's StageDoor feature enables remote guests to join the production by clicking a texted or emailed hyperlink. There is no need to create user names or download software. The link connects guests with a VCC call producer who uses VCC's new Tenaciti feature to optimize the connection for the device and bandwidth of each guest for the best possible audio and video during long-duration shoots, it said.

VCC call producers take cues from the Stamford Media Center creative team to ensure guests are fully prepared for their appearance, know what to expect and look their best. During production, VCC's patented technologies deliver hyper-low-latency video return and IFB mix-minus for effortless interaction between host and guest, it said.

More information is available on the company’s website.

PALISADES, N.Y.—The Video Call Center (VCC) has expanded its CrowdView live virtual audience system with the addition of a new technology, dubbed “BOP,” that makes it possible to single out an audience member, the company said this week.

CrowdView delivers the reaction shots and cheers that fuel live TV and events, regardless of where audience members are located. The new BOP technology lets producers single out individual panelists to be displayed full-screen and allows virtual participants to interact directly with the cast and other audience members.

“CrowdView with BOP from VCC is the first solution that completely blurs the line between in-house, remote and hybrid audiences,” said VCC CEO Larry Thaler,. “Our patented technologies for IP remotes extend the reach of producers, enabling them to engage fully with people anywhere in the world. CrowdView with BOP empowers producers to take the live interactive experience to unprecedented heights, delivering the energy and interplay that is only possible when a live cast interacts with a live audience.”

VCC’s BOP feature for CrowdView lets a show cast or event participants interact directly with the individual audience members within their live virtual audience. BOP zeros in on a single audience member or panel member at the press of a button. 

When producers “BOP” a remote contributor, the system automatically brings the selected participant forward as a full-screen video and isolates audio. BOP can be configured to mute the rest of the audience and also supports custom muting. Specific audio tracks can remain open in the background so that producers can allow selective interaction or even fully isolated audio without full screening.

CrowdView with BOP recreates the whole in-studio audience experience for fans, the show host, guest, and production teams. Like all VCC video remote-by-IP solutions, CrowdView with BOP is purpose-built to address television’s creative and technical requirements and other professional-caliber live productions and corporate events. 

Unlike off-the-shelf video conferencing applications, VCC patented technologies offer a unique combination of capabilities that include: reliable long-duration connections, flexible screen layouts, the highest possible audio/video quality, broadcast-quality audio routing, precise and flexible editorial control and lag-free natural two-way interactivity. 

CrowdView with BOP is available for use in conjunction with the VCC Caller Queue  show-branded participant aggregation and management system and the VCC StageDoor automated remote system for VIP guests. 

More information is available on the company’s website.

PALISADES, N.Y.—The Video Call Center will continue to provide its services to “The Herd With Colin Cowherd” as the company announced a one-year contract extension with FS1.

“The Herd With Colin Cowherd” is a daily sports talk show on FS1 that uses VCC’s Caller Cloud system to help bring athletes, coaches and other guests live on air from remote locations, often with quick turnarounds.

Caller Cloud connects with guests via their mobile phone or any device with an internet connection and does not require any downloads. Guests click on a text or email link and are then connected to a VCC call producer to ensure the feed looks good and they have a solid connection. VCC touts its patented technology for delivering hyper-low-latency video return and IFB mix-minus.

"The VCC delivers quality and reliability that meet the standards of our show,” said Mike Wilken, senior vice president Systems and Technology, Fox Sports. “VCC is frictionless for our producers, and more importantly, for our guests. Connections are rock-solid, look fantastic and let Colin and Joy have fast-paced, face-to-face banter without awkward lag. The experience for guests is great, which is key because it means they are happy to come back. As a partner, the VCC gives us great peace of mind."

For more information, visit www.thevcc.tv.  

PALISADES, N.Y.—The Video Call Center has been granted a patent for its caller queue process, which TV shows can use to help manage people calling into TV and video programs via smartphones.

U.S. Patent No. 10,904,386 covers VCC’s technology that manages participants using IP-based video calling from smartphones or other devices in the production of TV shows. This is designed to help TV shows, and other video productions, navigate pre-screened smartphone participants.

The technology is integrated in the VCC product Caller Queue. With it, producers can virtually invite unlimited numbers of viewers from anywhere to participate in live TV production; create a branded, virtual green room to retain guests prior to air, from which they watch the show or sign legal releases; sort, filter and prioritize available video callers; and communicate with callers to screen and prepare them prior to going on-air.

“Anyone can put one video caller on air, but only the VCC makes it possible to manage dozens, even hundreds of participants under all the pressures of live television production,” said VCC CEO Larry Thaler. “The VCC set out to make audience participation as easy and flexible for TV as radio call-in shows have had it for decades. We are delighted that the U.S. patent office recognizes what our broadcast and web customers already know—that the VCC is unique in its understanding of the systems and methods needed to turn billions of smartphones into highly capable production tools that expand creative, financial, and audience engagement options.”

VCC says that TV shows from Discovery Channel, TLC, Food Network and NBCUniversal are already using the technology.

This is the third patent that VCC has been granted.

For more information, visit www.thevcc.tv.  

PALISADES, N.Y.—The Video Call Center will continue to provide its remote production technology to Discovery Inc., as the two sides have announced a two-year extension to their master agreement. As per the deal, VCC will serve as Discovery’s global, remote video production partner.

Starting in 2017, Discovery began using VCC’s Caller Cloud Service for its “90 Day Fiance Tell All” series to help with remote connections and capture high-quality programming. Since this initial use, Discovery’s use of VCC has expanded to other programs, including those for TLC, HGTV, Food Network and the new discovery+ streaming service.

VCC provides Discovery, as well as its production teams at Sharp Entertainment, Eastern, Lando Entertainment, Big Fish Entertainment, Wilma TV/Discovery Studios, with a suite of services and proprietary systems that help enable remote work with a global cast and have participation from audience members. 

In addition to the Caller Cloud Service, VCC provides Discovery with its HAT customizable, on-demand, automated control room service; and CC-SOLO, an on-demand host platform to establish and record IP video calls.

For more information, visit www.thevcc.tv.  

STAMFORD, Conn. & PALISADES, N.Y.—To adapt to the new realities of remote production, NBCUniversal worked with Video Call Center to bring virtual guests onto its “Maury” and “The Steve Wilkos Show” programs. The key tool in this setup was VCC’s Caller Cloud platform.

Caller Cloud enables the shows’ hosts—Maury Povich and Steve Wilkos—to conduct extended interviews with their guests with each in remote locations over smartphones or standard video apps with hyper low latency video return and IFB mix-minus. VCC also provided its StageDoor feature, which enables remote guests to join the production by clicking a texted or email hyperlink.

VCC can deliver broadcast-quality ISO feeds of all interviewed participants that can be used for a director’s line cut or in the post-production process, the company says.

The “Maury” production team is also using VCC’s CrowdView technology, which can display video and audio communication between live video audiences, Povich and his guests. The The technology allows for audience reactions to be delivered with “virtually no lag,” VCC says.

According to VCC CEO Larry Thaler, the use of VCC technology enables “Maury” and “The Steve Wilkos Show” to engaged with about 20 remote guests during any production.

The VCC technology is expected to be used throughout both shows’ 2020-2021 season.

PALISADES, N.Y.—The Video Call Center (VCC) is assisting content producers in meeting the challenge of integrating video shot with smartphones, tablets and laptop computers into broadcast-quality productions during the COVID-19 pandemic by combining tools like the AJA Video HELO H.264 streamer/recorder and ROI scan converter with its own video call production platform, VCC announced. 

“HELO is one of my favorite tools,” said Jackie Lennon, manager, Marketing & Administration, at the VCC. “It allows us to run our business the way we want, while also allowing our clients to reap the full benefits of our solutions.”

During live shows, the call center optimizes each remote based on the smart device in use, apps used to make calls and internet connections. It adjusts lights and camera angles to ensure clean video feeds—often making these adjustments in seconds, the VCC said.

“We can monitor, take care of quality and framing control from anywhere with an internet connection, without adding additional latency,” said Lennon, who added that the ability to record with HELO has been helpful.

PLUS: VCC Assists With Live Interviews for CBS Animated Series

The AJA Video HELO plays a crucial role in monitoring the quality of all the video calls, the VCC said. Before HELO was introduced into the VCC setup, endpoints and call producers needed to be in the same location. HELO makes it possible to monitor real-time feeds remotely from anywhere.

The AJA Video ROI mini-converter has enabled required video outputs and supports a diverse range of audio formats that clients request, the VCC added.

More than 30 AJA Video HELO units are located at the facilities of VCC clients, and a few more are on-site at the company’s headquarters to enable its Host Automation Tool (HAT) workflow, the company said. 

More information is available on the AJA Video and VCC websites.

PALISADES, N.Y.—The Video Call Center is bringing its trademark video remote by smartphone technology to a different kind of broadcast, as Late Night Cartoons Inc. will be utilizing the VCC platform for its CBS All Access animated series “Tooning Out the News.”

“Tooning Out the News” is a new animated variety news series that features cartoon news anchors that parody top news stories, but also interview real-word guests. To apply its technology to this show, VCC developed a custom process that allows for the animated hosts’ to have natural conversations with guests, says the official announcement.

The new VCC service is called Caller Cloud-Solo. It enables its video call system to integrate with video conference solutions like Zoom, which the show producers are using as their virtual control room.

In addition, VCC is providing other technology and services to support the production, including VCC Caller Queue, which enables remote guests to join the production by clicking a hyperlink provided over text or email; VCC’s expert call producers; coordination with show producers; low-latency return feed to the remote guest; and broadcast-quality ISO feeds to provide the audio and video feeds needed to edit the show.

“Tooning Out the News” is now streaming on CBS All Access; it features new segments Tuesday through Friday that culminate into a full episode.

For more information, visit www.thevcc.tv.  

PALISADES, N.Y.—The Video Call Center had a hand to play in the first bit of live sports action (albeit a draft) since March, as it aided NFL Media with arranging live remote interviews with prospects for the 2020 NFL Draft.

Two weeks prior to the 2020 NFL Draft, which went with virtual for the first time, NFL Media Production Executives enlisted VCC to create a production workflow for the broadcast based on VCC’s video call production system. This included providing the technology platform to the homes of 58 prospective players, as well as coordination with video call producers.

The technology kits were smartphone-based. VCC then worked with families to create two locations in their homes that would appear on air, as well as how to overcome bandwidth limitations, framing and lighting the shots, and removing branded material. VCC said that it worked with prospects to create the optimal setup until right before they went on-air.

VCC rehearsed productions with the broadcast teams at ESPN, ABC and the NFL Network.

“The NFL Draft was easily among the most complex, virtual live events ever produced,” said Larry Thaler, VCC CEO. “It relied heavily on a new class of IP-based broadcast television technologies and services, including those pioneered by VCC, that were designed to support the evolving needs of broadcasters and other producers of the highest quality content.”

The 2020 NFL Draft took place from April 23-25.

For more information, visit www.thevcc.tv.  

PALISADES, N.Y.—The Video Call Center and Discovery Inc. are continuing their partnership and are working together on a new socially-distant live, late-night series on TLC, “Find Love Live.”

VCC has announced that its contract with Discovery, which began in 2017, has been extended. This will enable Discovery to expand upon the VCC video caller-based production platform and production services that are currently being used to help create content for programs like “After the Catch” and “90 Day Fiancé” during the current coronavirus pandemic.

VCC will also be a key resource for the new show “Find Love Live.” The live show will utilize VCC’s location-agnostic video call production capabilities to keep with social distancing safety protocols. The show will feature an in-studio host, but the rest of the cast, special guests and audience members will join the show via a live remote connection from VCC’s platform and be supported by VCC’s call production staff, all working from their own homes and using specialized remote systems.

VCC says that its lag-free, two-way communication capabilities will enable show participants to see and hear each other in real time. Participants only need a smartphone or other internet-connected device to join, says VCC.

A new VCC technology that will be used for “Find Love Live” is the VCC Caller Queue system. Caller Queue recruits, screens and prepares members of the live viewing audience to appear on-air as prospective daters, with help from VCC call producers to get ready for air. Producers can sort and filter potential participants in Caller Queue. Participants are also able to complete release forms through the platform prior to participating.

“Even before the pandemic, the complexity and number of remotes required for the show meant we likely could not do this show without our partners at the VCC,” said Jason Cooper, executive in charge of production at Discovery Studios.

PLUS: CBS' 'All Rise' to Virtually Produce New Episode

“These are challenging times and we are thankful for the opportunity to continue to help discovery innovate, both in terms of what viewers see on-air and the creative production that takes place behind the scenes,” said Larry Thaler, VCC CEO. “Together we can continue to push new boundaries, increasing the number of simultaneous remotes and holding them at high quality for as long as 16 hours, all to enable the producers to achieve the very best results.”

“Find Love Live” will debut on May 10 at 11 p.m. ET.

For more information, visit www.thevcc.tv.  

PALISADES, N.Y.—Colin Cowherd’s guests on his Fox Sports 1 show—“The Herd With Colin Cowherd”—are dialing in with help from the Video Call Center. VCC announced that it has provided its caller-based production platform to the sports network, which enables two-way phone/video interviews to be established using only the guest’s smartphone or capable device.

Remote participants can utilize the VCC platform with a smartphone that has standard mobile data or a Wi-Fi connection to conduct a video interview. FS1 producers can establish the video connection via a text with VCC’s StageDoor system. VCC uses standard native video calling capabilities—available in smartphones that feature Apple FaceTime, WebRTC-based Gruveo and Jitsi, as well as video call apps like Skype—without downloading software.

VCC also provides its production staff with patented technologies that help ensure durable, stable connections with no lag, according to VCC. The videos can be displayed on the set’s monitors, while VCC’s instant return video enables the guest to see the host on their phone in real time.

According to VCC, “The Herd” uses VCC for as many as three live remote guest segments per show.

PALISADES, N.Y.—Texans take their high school football seriously, so much so that regional sports network Fox Sports SW features two Friday night programs tracking the action across the entire state. But in a place the size of Texas, which usually will feature more than 1,000 different high school football games each week, providing in-depth coverage proved a difficult task.

Fox Sports SW’s solution? Working with the Video Call Center to conduct high-quality interviews with coaches after marquee games over their smartphones from the panhandle to Dallas live on air without deploying a remote production crew.

“Three years ago we would have one game of the week and we would send a camera crew and reporter out to one game,” said Jason Walsh, executive producer at Fox Sports SW. “Technology has changed and we now send seven or eight crews out per week to cover teams. Trying to cover seven or eight teams out of what is probably 1,200 on any given week is a very small sample size. This VCC technology allowed us to be anywhere.”

Specifically, VCC’s service is essentially the intermediary between Fox Sports SW’s “Football Friday” program and the coaches. It does so by monitoring a number of games going on across the state that “Football Friday” is interested in covering. When the outcome is determined, VCC reaches out to the winning coach via text to establish a connection through technology they call “Stage Door,” only requiring a cell or Wi-Fi signal. VCC’s “call producers” help the coach frame the shot, work with lighting and maximize the connection on their smartphone or computer system.

When it’s ready to go live, the VCC has a connection in the Fox Sports SW control room that serves as both an input and output for an HD-SDI signal with embedded audio that can be put on air like a traditional remote. VCC touts that it provides high-quality images with very little latency for a “close to real-time” connection. The technology also enables the interview subject to see real-time return video, allowing for coaches to comment on specific highlights.

“Effectively, we’re giving them access to content they wouldn’t have,” said Larry Thaler, CEO of VCC.

The VCC technology works with iPhone and Android devices as old as five or six years, according to Thaler, utilizing either FaceTime or WebRTC services. Other devices with access to Skype or other video chat services can also be used.

“It gives them the ability to do these shoots from anywhere,” said Thaler, which in the past has included the field, coaches’ office, or Thaler’s personal favorite, the bus with the players in the background celebrating their victory.

Fox Sports SW has found other ways to utilize VCC’s technology into other programming as well. The station has a weekly window where it can work with call producers to conduct interviews through VCC rather than sending out remote crews. With its pro team coverage, the station has initial plans to offer live looks at playoff watch parties.

But first will be the Texas High School Football state playoffs, which kick off this weekend, Nov. 15-17. “Football Friday” will tap seven or eight additional interviews using VCC to add to their playoff coverage.

“Our goal three years ago was how do we begin to cover the state,” said Walsh. “We saw VCC, we tested it, we’ve done it and we now feel that we’ve been successful in covering the state when it comes to high school football.”

PALISADES, N.Y.—The U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) has awarded the Video Call Center (VCC) a federal contract for access to VCC’s platform to create interactive video chat-driven TV programs and social video programs, the company announced today.

The government agency will use VCC’s HAT automation system and Caller Queue technology as well as consulting and production support services to create TV and video streaming programs in which audiences participate on camera.

“The VCC is proud to support the USAGM as it explores new techniques to engage with audiences around the world,” said Larry Thaler, CEO of the VCC. “This is a remarkable opportunity that showcases how the comprehensive video-call based production techniques pioneered at the VCC are valued by USAGM to expand the tools it has to interact with audiences.”

The government contract, the first awarded to VCC, will allow USAGM to develop a series of new TV and video productions. Audience members and guests will have the ability to participate in a show in a manner similar to call-in radio but with broadcast-quality video of all participants, the company said.

Under the contract, USAGM will have access to efficient workflows leveraging automation to reduce the number of technical crew members to a minimum. The VCC system includes Caller Queue, which provides the agency with cloud-based waiting rooms branded to each show where callers wait till it’s their turn to appear, it said.

With the system, show producers can see who is waiting, understand what a caller wishes to discuss, prioritize callers, talk to them and select callers to appear on air, the company said.

The contract also gives USAGM access to HVCC’s HAT system that automates tasks typically done by a technical director, audio mixer and graphics operator. Using HAT, a show host or single non-technical producer can produce a program without distraction while the show is on the air. Production teams can be located virtually anywhere around the world, the company said.

HAT uses contextual information about who is speaking to react automatically and switch professional on-air looks, including shot selection, crosstalk boxes, graphics, pacing, dissolves and cuts.

USAGM, formerly called the Broadcast Board of Governors, oversees Voice of America, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Office of Cuba Broadcasting Radio Free Asia and the Middle East Broadcasting Networks.

More information is available on the VCC website.

PALISADES, N.Y. — Discovery Inc. has entered into a multi-year contract with the Video Call Center (VCC) to provide two-way video call acquisition technologies, management and production services for its global networks, VCC announced this week.

Discovery will use the services of VCC for new programs enhanced with video calling for its U.S. and international networks.

“The VCC has repeatedly demonstrated to Discovery that its platform is uniquely capable of delivering reliable, high-quality video remotes that help us make distinctive, cost-effective TV experiences,” said Jhamal Robinson, SVP of production management for Discovery Communications.

[Read: MLB Hits Home Run With VCC Caller Queue Fan Chat System]

TLC, a Discovery network, has already used live video content in the production of its “90 Day Fiancé.” VCC provided seven live, two-way remotes into a show on July 8. The most difficult was of a cast member on the outskirts of Nazareth, Israel. Connectivity was limited, and traveling was not an option due to security concerns, VCC said.

The solution was for the cast member to originate the content for the live, national show with her smartphone under the coordination of VCC call producers. No local producer, crew or transmission coordinator was required.

Recently, TLC productions have paired VCC technology and its team with production and creative teams at Sharp Entertainment, which produced “90 Day Fiancé: Epilogue.”

“The VCC platform has become an essential component in the production of immersive television experiences for TLC audiences,” says Mike Granowsky, VP of production for Sharp Entertainment. “It’s reliable IP video call technology means hosts and cast members can stay in the moment for an extended period regardless of location, which allows them to really open up without technology distractions getting in the way.”

The VCC service has made shows possible that otherwise would have been cost prohibitive or undoable because of logistics, he added.

“Discovery continues to break new ground in both the types of programs it creates and in its embrace of new production techniques to make them possible,” said Larry Thaler, VCC CEO.

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Major League Baseball fans can tweet all they want in the hope of catching the attention of their favorite baseball personalities. But only the Chatting Cage, a collaboration between the league and sponsor Edward Jones, gives baseball fans the opportunity to pose questions and speak directly via reliable, live video chat with the game’s biggest names.

“Video call-in is what makes the Chatting Cage a special opportunity for fans and players alike,” said Chris Lundberg, senior coordinating producer for MLB.com. “We get calls from all kinds of fans, from kids asking All-Star hitters for tips to break out of a slump to adults with thoughtful questions based on their lifelong passion for the game. The Chatting Cage brings MLB and its fans closer together.”

Stability of video chats had been a thorn in the side of producers. Last fall, the MLB.com team sat down with The Video Call Center to discuss a different approach — a complete live video call production solution built around VCC’s patented video caller management system, Caller Queue.

[Read: MLB Partners With The Video Call Center To Manage Live Video Caller Production]

The Video Call Center solution offered MLB numerous video call options. Callers use popular calling apps they already have on their devices such as FaceTime (native on iPhones), Web-RTC-based Gruveo (built into Android) which only requires a browser, or Skype. The VCC has patented reliability-enhancing technology to further stabilize and improve call quality, and according to the company it has achieved success with 99.3% of all calls the system has fielded for commercial customers.

NEW HOME, NEW TECH

As the 2018 season approached, the Chatting Cage team prepared to move from its original home within Manhattan’s Chelsea Market to the MLB Network studios in Secaucus, N.J. With the move came the opportunity to revisit the technology and workflows used to create the show’s unique fan interaction. 

“Changing technology and workflow for the show presents a variety of challenges at any time,” said Lundberg. “Having to make the shift while moving facilities probably could have been insurmountable. Along with the technical team at MLB Network, the VCC were great partners and, despite the tight timetable, we were able to successfully launch to air on time.”

With project management assistance from the VCC, system preparation began Feb 14 and by March 6, the Chatting Cage team was in rehearsal using the system. VCC’s interface system provides flexible connectivity for broadcast facilities, which helped smooth the transition. For example, VCC was readily configurable for embedded audio used in Secaucus instead of unbalanced AES3 needed in the Chelsea facility.

One of the challenges faced when bringing live video callers to air is the fact that there’s no crew at the caller’s end. While the video feed of players comes from MLB Network’s award-winning Ballpark Cam, a network of in-venue cameras, fans are using phones, tablets and laptops from wherever they happen to be.

The show’s call screener, Segment Producer Marissa Morris, serves as gatekeeper and the first person with whom every caller interacts. Morris trained with video call production experts from the VCC who went over different techniques to ensure calls are the best possible in terms of video and audio presentation. “They taught us that small changes can have a big impact,” said Morris. “Asking a person to move closer to a window or to use headphones in a public place makes a huge difference.”

CUSTOM-BRANDED

To join a show, callers first enter the online Caller Queue, the VCC’s cloud-based caller management platform which has been custom-branded for MLB. Callers provide basic identifying information, the question they wish to ask, as well as specify their preferences regarding video calling apps. The Caller Queue permits the call producers to see all the candidates for air, what devices they are on, what topic they would like to discuss, and select them for air.

After reviewing the information, Morris uses the VCC text chat feature to introduce herself and set expectations about when she will call the fan. Text chat is a new feature, integrated into the VCC platform at the request of MLB.

A few minutes before the fan joins the live show, Morris will call them via their preferred app. If the chosen app is problematic, Morris can quickly reconnect via another option. Crop marks on the laptop help her work directly with the fan for ideal framing.

“In the past, we had only one option for video chat,” Lundberg said. “If an issue popped up in making the caller’s camera work with the system, or the connectivity wasn’t great, our only choice was to move on to the next caller.”

VCC call computers are in racks alongside other MLB production equipment. Outputs are fed to a monitor in the control room so operators can QC visuals at air time. But, when it comes to running the show, all that is needed is a laptop.

ON THE FLY

Having four VCC call computers online makes it far less stressful for Morris to juggle large volumes of callers. “We have the option to have four different fans fully vetted and ready to go,” he said. “Having choices means we can bring in a caller who is relevant to what is happening at any moment in the show, rather than relying solely on chronological order. And while we have yet to experience an unresolvable technical issue with a caller, we always have a fallback option.”

When the show’s drivers bring a caller to air, the show visually shifts to a three-up screen that includes the host, guest, and the fan. VCC’s Call Manager Pro system automatically clears all the interface buttons and return video windows normally displayed by calling apps, so all viewers see is distraction-free video. After the question is posed, the show switches to a two-box for the response, with the option to revert to three-box if follow up is required. Morris explains to the fan what they will see on screen, so they aren’t surprised when their video feed vanishes.

“The Chatting Cage has been on MLB.com in various forms for several years, even prior to when I joined the show,” said Lundberg. “The VCC platform along with the helpfulness and experience of their call production team has made this the best iteration yet. The result is a completely unique opportunity to grow the connection between MLB, its teams, players and fans.”

Evan Sirof is president of Marcomm-on-Call.

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