Public Media Venture Group and Convergence Services collaborate on NextGen TV

BOULDER, Colorado—The Public Media Venture Group (PMVG) announced its collaboration with Washington, DC-based Convergence Services Inc. (CSI) to identify and develop NextGen TV services and new revenue opportunities for the national collective of public media stations by PMVG.

John Lawson, chairman of CSI, will advise PMVG with a focus on what the group has dubbed “techno-political strategy,” which he defines as the intersection of business, technology and politics.

Together, the companies will develop new sources of income for members, including private and public funding, private investments and strategic partnerships. Their efforts will focus on expanding local program services, distance education and learning, emergency messaging, rural connectivity and data delivery, PMVG said.

“We are delighted to partner with PMVG,” said Lawson. “They have a national footprint with leading public television channels reaching nearly 70% of American homes. Equally impressive is the organizational structure they have built which enables non-commercial licensees to pursue innovation and sustainability.

Lawson is also the Executive Director of the Alliance Advanced Warning and Response Network (AWARN), a coalition of broadcasters, consumer electronics manufacturers and B2B technology companies that is developing a voluntary framework for advanced emergency alerts, news and information using NextGen TV. Currently, four public broadcasters are members of the AWARN Alliance and PMVG, “a good indication of how the missions [of both organizations] intersect, ”Lawson said.

“This collaboration with CSI will provide an important set of strategic links to PMVG and PMVG stations. Said Marc Hand, CEO of PMVG.

“We believe that by working together we can help accelerate the adoption of NextGen TV among PMVG stations and the wider public television community, a priority for both of our organizations. Viewers and communities across the country will benefit, ”he added.

More information is available on the PMVG website.