NBC News Acquires Stringwire Live Video Service
By: Caryn Robbins Aug. 12, 2013
NBC News announced today it has acquired the user-generated live video service Stringwire (http://www.stringwire.com), and hired its founder Phil Groman. Stringwire's technology will provide the NBCUniversal News Group's television and digital properties with new means for newsgathering and eyewitness user-generated video content. Groman joins NBC News as Product Lead and will be based out of the NBC News Digital Group's San Francisco office.
Stringwire (http://www.stringwire.com) was developed by Groman as a service for news organizations to request video from a network of verified contributors with connected mobile devices capable of streaming video across the globe. For breaking news and stories that have a real-time visual component, Stringwire's services provide the ability to recruit and direct contributors based on geographical location through Twitter, and to instantly access live footage. Aside from Groman's use of Stringwire during Hurricane Sandy and the Kenyan elections, NBC News will be the first media organization to use the technology for live event coverage. "Stringwire is at the leading edge of user-generated video products, with immediate value to our on-air and digital businesses. Long-term, we think there is great commercial potential" said Vivian Schiller, SVP & Chief Digital Officer at NBC News. "Phil is an incredibly talented developer and inventor who will bring a wealth of innovative and entrepreneurial experience to the NBC News Digital Group."Videos