Video Call Center Expands Digital Access For Its Unique Video Call-in Programming - Producers, Content Creators Can Use Any IP Video Providers
Makes it Easier for Callers to Connect Using Smart Phones, Tablets, or Computers
NEW YORK, Oct. 15, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The Video Call Center (VCC), a video technology and content company jointly owned by Wolzien LLC and TEGNA Media (NYSE: TGNA), today announced the expanded capabilities of its revolutionary new programming format that takes advantage of ubiquitous webcam/digital video technology to create live video call-in shows. Producers of programs with video callers now have a choice of IP Video providers from Skype™ to FaceTime® and many in between. And callers gain greater flexibility to contribute via smart phones, tablets, and computers.
The VCC's new Video App Choice feature frees producers to decide which IP video providers' operating capabilities, terms and conditions work best for a specific program. Different callers can even use different IP video applications side by side within the same program. In its first full-system demonstration of the new approach, the VCC filled its eight caller system with callers using eight different IP video applications (photo available).
"Our customers told us they didn't want to be locked into Skype or FaceTime or any other single IP video provider for good business reasons," said Tom Wolzien, VCC Chairman. "Therefore the VCC team designed and rewrote our 4TH generation Caller Acquisition Technology (CAT) to run on either PCs or MACs to handle any video application that doesn't require proprietary hardware."
VCC's Senior Management Advisor Larry Thaler said, "We want to give the producer the greatest chance possible to find the right caller and get them on the air without worrying about whether the caller has loaded a specific app into his or her smart phone. If someone wants to call on Skype, VCC can handle it. If they have FaceTime, VCC can handle that, too."
Production Manager and Producer Tom Porpiglia has been running the tests using various IP video applications. Text overlays (lower thirds), and caller database and caller clearance information flow seamlessly between applications and call computers whether they are PCs or Macs. "In a show with dozens of callers, the Call Screeners can't be worrying about whether a caller has the right video application, and with these advances we can now match the call computer's software to the caller to get them on the air quickly and with the best possible quality," said Porpiglia.
IP Video applications that were part of the simultaneous demonstration included include Facebook, AOL® video service, FaceTime® video calling, ooVoo, Skype™, Viber, Google Hangouts™ and Gruveo. Additional successful tests have been done with conferencing services FUZE, WebEx, GoToMeeting, and Global Meeting, among others.
"Nobody in television likes being beholden to any one provider, particularly when IP video providers have many other and larger constituencies to serve," said Wolzien. "Single web video providers can change their software functionality and terms without notice. Some have been trying to force producers to use specific equipment. We concluded along with our customers, that multiple IP video options are essential for the industry to maintain independence. That's why The Video Call Center created this new Video App Choice approach."
About The Video Call Center, LLC.: VCC delivers a totally new approach to live IP video acquisition, caller based content, and host television program control through assistive automation (no control room). VCC LLC is owned by Wolzien LLC and TEGNA Inc, which made a significant investment in June 2015. VCC provides extremely efficient video caller program production services on a work for hire and co-production basis. The specialized Video Call Center caller acquisition and host automation technology is covered by US Patent 8,767,031 issued in July 2014, with other patents pending. After more than 100 hours of live web broadcasts and dozens of programs transmitted live over KUSA (TEGNA) in Denver, the on air call drop rate for IP video is one percent. See www.thevideocallcenter.com for details.
-© 2015 Google Inc. All rights reserved. Hangouts™ is a trademark of Google Inc.
-Skype™ is a trademark of Skype and Microsoft.
-Facetime is a registered trademark of Apple Inc.
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151014/277110
SOURCE Video Call Center
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