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 (VCC) has unveiled AirFirst, a cloud-controlled management system for IP-based remote contribution.

AirFirst offers producers high quality, lag-free, on-demand workflows for high speed, high volume live remote contributors anywhere in the world. 

Originally developed for VCC’s Caller Cloud service, the AirFirst system is available for media organizations that manage their own remotes. AirFirst delivers a professional level choice of IP-based remote contribution, offering real-time two-way video and mix-minus IFB return audio for control room communications with contributors.

AirFirst’s unique collaborative workflow supports both small and large teams. A single person can operate the entire AirFirst workflow from anywhere. AirFirst’s secure, shared scheduling and connectivity system also can be made available to others involved in a production, including dispersed bookers, pre-screeners, producers, transmission personnel and control room staff.

“Show producers are fed up with trying to force consumer video conferencing software to behave like a production tool. AirFirst from VCC is the answer they are looking for,” said VCC CEO Larry Thaler.

“With AirFirst, VCC’s smartphone-based remote capabilities are now available in a do-it-yourself platform," he continued. "No more jittery, degraded video and creative inflexibility. With just a few clicks, a production team can invite anyone anywhere in the world to join a show as a guest, cast member, or even audience participant. Whether the guest is a ‘remote from home’ or a ‘live feed from a school bus,’ they’ll look great. Thanks to VCC’s patented, lag-free technology, the remote person will interact as naturally as if they were in the studio.”

At the core of AirFirst is VCC’s StageDoor calling logic that makes joining a program easy and Tenaciti diagnostic software to evaluate a connection and give producers to make rapid decisions about optimizing the remote before connecting.

Other available modules to expand core functionality include:

• CrowdView, a virtual audience, multi-participant system enabling up to 25 simultaneous participants per screen that gives the operator control over seat assignment.
• Caller Queue, VCC’s green room in the cloud, which makes it easy for producers to access, filer and screen a large number of audience member guests.
• Scheduler, a cloud-based data platform to enable communication among departments.
• Expandable capacity.

 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.  

As the quality of smartphone cameras has improved over the years, many people are now using them to broadcast from their homes or facilities, especially during a time when our mobility is limited. The Video Call Center, a provider of video remotes and production automation for media companies, is among the most experienced in advancing remote production technologies using smartphones. 

The company’s patented technology allows seamless connectivity for broadcasting over cellular connections with zero latency. No apps are involved; all that’s needed is a smartphone camera and cellular connection. 

Larry Thaler, CEO for The Video Call Center and contributor to TV Technology, said the company was seeing steady growth well before the pandemic.

“We have watched our new, location-agnostic, smartphone- and IP-based production processes steadily gain traction over the past couple of years with sales up nearly 100%,” he said. “Even before the pandemic, our clients found that we offered creative flexibility, while making more effective use of their available budgets. Although we are concerned about the pandemic and our hearts go out to those affected, the VCC's customer base has grown by an additional 30% and production hours are four times higher than this time last year.” 

TV Technology recently spoke with VCC Producer Jonni-Lynn Galietti about her work in helping prepare clients for their live appearances on TV.   

TVT: What’s the first thing you do to help prepare for broadcasts?

Jonni-Lynn Galietti: The first thing we do when we connect with the smartphone is we analyze the connection. Sometimes Wi-Fi is great, but sometimes it's not, so we would have to switch to data—so there’s really only two options. 

It’s really easy to analyze the connection—within the first 10-20 seconds of our conversation, we can see if it’s good or bad. After that, it’s all about propping up the device. We ask them to hold it full screen horizontal and then we really analyze the room. If the first thing I see is light behind the caller, I know that there's some beautiful natural light coming into the room. But the last thing I want to do is to put it behind the caller. 

So we utilize anything we can to have that caller move to use that light, so that the light is in front of them. Window sills are great, as they can prop the device so it’s at 90 degrees. But the real challenge is getting it eye level, so we’ll ask them to use ordinary household items to prop these devices to get them at eye level with the caller. We don’t want any tilts or look up somebody's nose and we don't want any ceiling in the shot, so there's a lot of filters that we really have to go through to get that perfect ideal shot. 

If I have my overhead light on in the room I’m using, it’s not really going to provide a balanced light on my face. What matters most is that the person you are speaking with, that their face is lit up. It’s not the overhead, the shoulders or behind them, you want to see their face clearly. 

TVT: How far away should the smartphone be placed?

JG: That's really at the client's request. I've had clients connect with callers at campsites where they want the full body shot, tent and fire in the picture, but the majority of our clients want to match up the caller to the host that is interviewing them. 

It's usually the eyes, and the top part of their chest, maybe a little more headroom, but it’s really based on the client's request. 

TVT: Do clients ever want to use the camera vertically?

JG: We've had requests to do it vertically before but we really like to provide horizontal connections because we want the caller to see as much return as possible. I think it's just as important for the full screen to be taken up in the control room so they can crop it accordingly. 

TVT: How long does setup take?

JG: This window varies. A lot of our clients put very strict time constrictions on us—we've had less than seven minutes to connect with the caller to put them on live TV. We’ve had callers in Israel with absolutely no connection and we needed to provide a clear HD signal and we spent hours  connecting them to see what the best results were.

As a rule of thumb, we typically ask for 15 minutes just to get it perfect. We know everyone's time is valuable but we feel confident that we can get a really good signal within 15 minutes.

PLUS: So, You're Anchoring the News from Home...

TVT: Beyond the tech support, how would you describe your role?

JG: I am their cheerleader! There's a lot of people who get nervous about how they look, but I'm only here to make sure your connection is good and your shot looks good. I'm also here to amp you up. 

There's different challenges every time. Everyone is unique. 

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.

NEW YORK—Looking to serve its New York-area fan base, MSG Networks recently added The Video Call Center services to the production of its weeknight sports talk show “MSG 150,” VCC announced in a press release. VCC’s technology offers high-quality live video connections to handle interviews each night on the show.

The VCC technology is designed to be a flexible and efficient option for handling interviews with subjects regardless of where they might be. Guests can call in using a smartphone with standard mobile data or Wi-Fi connection to appear on camera without downloading specialty software. The VCC uses standard native video calling apps like Apple FaceTime and WebRTC-based Gruveo.

The calls can be viewed on MSG’s on-set monitors, while the VCC’s instant return video also lets the guest view the host on their own phone.

“MSG 150” has utilizied the VCC technology to conduct interviews with Walt “Clyde” Frazier, Mike Breen, Ken Daneyko, Jim Furyk, Mariano Rivera and Pat Shumer.

PALISADES, N.Y.—The People’s Republic of China has granted Patent #ZL 201380050976 to the Video Call Center for its technologies designed for TV production, particularly the management of multiple connections with video callers who use their own smartphones, laptops and PCs. This Chinese patent follows multiple patents already awarded to VCC in the U.S.

In addition, the Chinese patent covers managing caller information within the production team, switching the production through automated hosting techniques and systems for connecting, prioritizing and screening calls.

“In this time of heightened interest in U.S.-China trade, we are very pleased to have the value and originality of the Video Call Center’s intellectual property recognized by the Chinese Patent Office,” said Tom Wolzien, executive chairman of the VCC. “The Chinese people have nearly 800 million smartphones and each is a potential contributor to live television programs. That makes China an exciting market for content creators to develop innovative productions using VCC technology and services.”

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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PALISADES, N.Y.—With a cast that was spread out across the globe, TLC needed a way to bring everyone together for the Tell All episode of its series “90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days.” The answer that TLC went with was Video Call Center’s live video caller production platform.

The VCC production platform was used to connect the cast of couples and their parents, who were located on four continents, for face-to-face live video conversations. Among the VCC services used for the production were the ability to work with a range of internet video call apps; call screening, quality control and screen optimization; low-latency live monitoring; isolation of return feeds; ISO recordings; and facilitation of communication between in-studio guests, production personnel and remote callers.

“The reliability of the VCC enables cast members to be fully engaged without the technical disruptions,” said Scott Lewers, senior vice president, multi-platform programming and digital content for TLC.

The two-hour “90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days” episode will air on Oct. 30.

PALISADES, N.Y.—The Video Call Center has answered the call for the new Tegna program “Daily Blast Live,” a daytime news and entertainment show. Using the VCC Caller Cloud video service, “DBL” has a caller acquisition and production system that enables live, interactive broadcast remote with interviewees and audience callers.

Tegan uses the Caller Cloud service to manage the process of screening and preparing callers for air in real time, including the use of the Caller Queue, which VCC describes as its green room in the cloud. The service also integrates video callers into the “DBL” production control room. Caller Cloud optimizes the visual quality and reliability of video calls originating from smartphones and other devices using native video over IP applications and public internet connections.

Callers can use their smartphones and video calling apps like Apple FaceTime, Google WebRTC and Microsoft Skype with the VCC technology.

“DBL” appears in 36 Tegna markets and live on Facebook and YouTube.

PALISADES, N.Y.—The video call-in is a key part of many types of TV shows these days, and Video Call Center has a new tool to help productions address its needs. Call Queue, which VCC has dubbed “Green Room in the Cloud,” allows producers to manage a large number of video callers and the ability to determine when they can be added to the live program.

With Caller Queue, viewers or guests can get access to the virtual Green Room courtesy of apps on their smartphones. The tool then allows for screening and preparation, including correct lighting, audio level and camera angle, while still being able to watch the live show until it is their turn, reportedly eliminating a busy signal. Producers can either automatically or manually prioritize information from callers. The VCC product can work with existing control rooms, or it can be operated without the overhead of a production control room, according to VCC’s press release.

VCC reports that Caller Queue is compatible with all smartphones.

Caller Queue is now available as a stand-alone Cloud service or as part of a complete production package from VCC.