UK-based RT Software has become a founding member of the Grass Valley Technology Alliance (GVTA), a new programme for technology and solutions providers ‘that delivers improved purchasing confidence and selection for customers’. The certification programme gives broadcasters and media organisations access to solutions that are interoperable with a range of Grass Valley workflow components and platforms.

RT Software joins Frankly Media Inc as GVTA founding members with more new members expected to be announced in the run up to IBC 2019.

Broadcast graphics solutions company RT Software has been integrating its graphics technology into Grass Valley products for several years, with large-scale deployments at many leading broadcasters around the globe. RT Software’s embedded OEM engine enables the integration of sophisticated live graphics into Grass Valley’s integrated playout solutions and is also used in Rio editors and via Kula and Kahuna switcher control panels.

‘Our customers want to offer more captivating experiences and services to consumers, and to do this they need reliable, stable vendors, and by extending our portfolio through the GVTA we make it easier for them to get trusted solutions,’ says Grass Valley President, Tim Shoulders. ‘The GVTA brings assured buying confidence and a wider selection of options for solutions that may not be in our portfolio, but are tried, tested and integrated with one or more Grass Valley solutions. The ability to offer a tested and configured solution with RT Software, especially in a crucial area such as broadcast graphics, brings clear benefits to our customers.’

‘RT Software is proud to be partnering with Grass Valley in this customer-focused Technology Alliance,’ says RT Software Commercial Director, Mike Fredriksen. ‘The benefit of guaranteed interoperability with Grass Valley’s workflow will pay dividends for customers. For example, our easy to use Swift graphics editing environment, which is common across all use cases, provides the ability to share the resulting graphic assets across editing, playout and live production.

‘We’ve also tightly integrated our Tactic sports analysis graphics product family with the Grass Valley LiveTouch replay server to great effect. Being a founding member of the GVTA gives RT Software increased exposure to Grass Valley’s global customer base and we are excited to benefit from its global scale and reach.’

Members of the GVTA work closely with Grass Valley before being awarded certification to ensure compatibility, interoperability and strategic fit. Member companies will be listed on Grass Valley’s website and will collaborate on advertising and other marketing activities.

‘We launched GVTA in April this year, and are pleased to see some truly impactful companies sign up to the certification programme,’ Shoulders continues. ‘As the broadcast industry continues to boom with more content than ever before, we hope our program offers customers clear and easy choices when selecting solutions.’