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Ross Video
Company typePrivate
IndustryICT - Broadcast and Media segment
Founded1974; 50 years ago (1974)
FounderJohn Ross
HeadquartersIroquois, Ontario, Canada
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
David Ross (CEO)
George Angus (CFO)
Jeff Moore (Senior VP & CMO)
Troy English (CTO)
Number of employees
1500[1]
Websitewww.rossvideo.com

Ross Video Ltd is a privately held Canadian company that designs and manufactures equipment for live event and video production. Ross Video's headquarters and manufacturing operations are located in Iroquois, Ontario, Canada, while their R&D labs are in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. [2]

Ross Video Vision 4 at Current TV

History

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John Ross, a former engineer with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC),[3] founded Ross Video in Iroquois, Ont., in 1974[4] to make production switchers. Jim Leitch, founder of Leitch Video (acquired by Harris), initially suggested that Ross should start the company. The primary seed funding for the company came from the sale of a Taylorcraft L-2 that John Ross had restored.

The company's first generation of switchers was the RVS family. The RVS 16–4, the first switcher made,[5] was followed closely by the RVS 10-4 (a 16–4 with 10 video inputs). The first downstream keyer (DSK) could be added to the 10-4 to allow the addition of more video layers.

Ross launched its second generation of switchers with the “500 Series” in 1978[5] which included Multi-Level Effects (MLE's), letting operators preview content before putting on the air. MLE is the Ross branded term for ME.

In 1983, the company launched the Encore Memory System option[5] which converted every switch and knob position to digital to be stored for future recall. Then, in 1985, Ross introduced its third generation of switchers[5] which were smaller and talked to the control panel over a serial link, using microprocessors in the chassis to control the electronics.

The company was hit hard by the early 1990s recession, but has since recovered, reporting 25+ consecutive years of growth.[6]

John Ross' son David joined the company full-time in 1991[7] and was later promoted to Director, Product Development, responsible for all product development in the company, then to Executive Vice President, President, and then to CEO in April 2006.[8] In November 2005, David Ross assumed the position of Chairman of the Board and is now the majority shareholder of Ross Video with over 80% ownership.[9]

Today, the firm makes hardware and software for live and pre-programmed TV production, including cameras, production switchers, graphics, robotic camera systems, routing and infrastructure systems, signal processing solutions, production automation systems, newsroom computer systems and social media management tools. Its broadcast customers include Shaw, NBC and Univision, and its mobile productions unit produces sports events for ESPN, NBC and Fox. Ross equipment and systems have even been used to make graphics for the Super Bowl, the Academy Awards (Oscars) and Grammys. The company also provides stadium graphics for professional sports teams including the Ottawa Senators, New York Mets and Buffalo Bills.[3]

Acquisitions

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From 2009 to 2021 Ross has acquired 18 companies in this order:

  • Media Refinery (Graphics)[10]
  • Norpak (Data Insertion)[10]
  • Codan Broadcast (Routers)[10]
  • Fx-Motion (Robotics)[10]
  • Cambotics (Robotics)[10]
  • Montalto (Router R&D)[10]
  • Mobile Content Providers (Mobile Production Packagers)[11]
  • Automated Data Systems (Newsroom Systems & Prompting)[12]
  • Unreel (Virtual Sets and Augmented Reality Solutions)[13]
  • Rocket Surgery (Motion Graphics Creative Services)[14]
  • Abekas (Video Servers and Replay)[15]
  • Coveloz (Live Networking Experts & Consulting)[15]
  • Portalis (KVM Systems)[16]
  • PIERO (Sports Graphics)[17]
  • Coiron (Graphics)[18]
  • Image Video (TSI Tally Control Platform)[19]
  • Primestream (Media Asset Workflow Solutions)[20]
  • D3 LED (LED displays)[21]
  • Spidercam (Cable Camera System)[22]
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References

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  1. ^ [1]. Ottawa Business Journal. Retrieved on 2021-09-15.
  2. ^ "Ross Video Limited". Business Week. Retrieved on 2009-06-14.
  3. ^ a b "Ross Video shines from behind the scenes in television production". The Globe and Mail. 2015-09-20. Retrieved 2017-08-28.
  4. ^ "Ross Video | Ontario East". ontarioeast.ca. Retrieved 2017-08-28.
  5. ^ a b c d "A Brief History Of Our Production Switchers". Ross Video. Retrieved 2017-08-28.
  6. ^ "Ross Video showcases smart production solutions at IBC 2017 - mebucom international". mebucom.com. Retrieved 2017-08-29.
  7. ^ "David Ross named Ottawa's CEO of the Year | Ottawa Business Journal". www.obj.ca. Retrieved 2017-08-29.
  8. ^ "Waterloo alumnus named top executive in Ottawa | Engineering". Engineering. 2016-10-31. Retrieved 2017-08-29.
  9. ^ "Board of Directors - Invest Ottawa". Invest Ottawa. Retrieved 2017-08-29.
  10. ^ a b c d e f "Broadcast Vendor M&A: Ross Video Bolsters Routing Line with Sixth Acquisition in Past Four Years". Devoncroft. 2013-08-12. Retrieved 2017-08-29.
  11. ^ "Ross Video Purchases MCP | Media Business". www.content-technology.com. Retrieved 2017-08-29.
  12. ^ "EZNews Buy Gives Ross NRCS Market Share | TVNewsCheck.com". www.tvnewscheck.com. 7 April 2014. Retrieved 2017-08-29.
  13. ^ TvTechnology. "Virtual Sets Embrace Reality Via 4K, 3D". TV Technology. Retrieved 2017-08-29.
  14. ^ TvTechnology. "NAB 2015: Ross Video Streamlines Production; Prepares for IP". TV Technology. Retrieved 2017-08-29.
  15. ^ a b "Ross Video buys two firms, including Ottawa-based Coveloz | Ottawa Business Journal". www.obj.ca. 8 September 2016. Retrieved 2017-08-29.
  16. ^ "Ross Video Acquires Portalis". Ross Video. 2019-04-07. Retrieved 2020-02-03.
  17. ^ "Ross Video Acquires Piero Sports Graphics Business from Red Bee Media". Ross Video. 2019-03-28. Retrieved 2020-02-03.
  18. ^ Balderston, Michael (2020-04-22). "Ross Video Acquires Coiron Inc". TVTechnology. Retrieved 2021-10-18.
  19. ^ Kurz, Phil (2020-12-01). "Ross Video Acquires Image Video". TVTechnology. Retrieved 2021-10-18.
  20. ^ Editor, Jason Dachman, Chief (3 June 2021). "Ross Video Acquires Primestream, Looks To Create 'Fully Converged Graphics and Production Asset Management Platform'". Sports Video Group. Retrieved 2021-10-18. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  21. ^ "Ross Acquires D3 LED". Ross Video. 2021-09-14. Retrieved 2021-10-18.
  22. ^ "Ross Video Confirms Deal to Acquire Spidercam". Ross Video. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
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