First Look: NewTek TalkShow VS-100

NewTek today announced it is shipping the TalkShow VS-100, effective immediately. The product represents something of a sea change for the company, as its first foray in to the remote news gathering market.

TalkShow VS-100 is based on Skype TX, a technology that Microsoft acquired?and then extensively refined, over more than a year?from a U.K.-based company called Cat & Mouse, Ltd. The technology, marketed under the CatCall name, is an add-on to the Skype video instant-messaging-cum-videoconferencing tool that Microsoft also acquired within the last year.

Skype TX, which Microsoft showcased at NAB in April 2014, signed three hardware vendors around the time it was released to manufacturing in late 2014. None of the hardware vendors have been able to ship products, until today. The inability to ship product meant NewTek missed its self-imposed deadline in Q4 2014.

TalkShow is a departure from the two main product lines that NewTek generates revenue from: 3Play and TriCaster. Instead of gathering content from within the studio environment, either via Ethernet (IP) or traditional (SDI) cabling, TalkShow connects to any remote talent with access to the desktop or mobile Skype application.

From a hardware standpoint, TalkShow VS-100 fits into any studio environment, offering both SDI and dual Ethernet connections.

?The 1RU integrated hardware and software solution is broadcast ready,? the company notes in today?s press release, ?offering two channels of HD-SDI I/O (1 in, 1 out), dual channel Ethernet connectivity, SDI-embedded audio, and professional XLR audio support.? read more...