Weather from WeatherOps

WDT Partners with TornadosVideos.Net and Justin.TV for Live Video Streaming on Google Maps

Written by Daphne Thompson | Apr 20, 2009 8:29:12 AM

NORMAN, Okla.- (April 20, 2009) -- Weather Decision Technologies, Inc. (WDT), the world's leading weather services company, is joining forces with Justin.tv, leaders in live video streaming, and TornadoVideos.net (TVN) , leaders in storm chase video, to bring tornado and other extreme weather event videos to media companies, broadcasters and video production companies. The video is served on WDT's industry-leading iMapĀ® Google Maps-based, interactive platform, and is being made available on all three screens: computers, televisions and mobile devices.

"WDT is excited to provide global media companies the ability to locate, view, and display on their website extreme weather videos," said Mike Eilts, president and CEO of WDT. "We look forward to working with TVN and Justin.tv to create the most powerful resource in the United States for the distribution of real-time, extreme weather video streams and high quality footage."

WDT is providing direct access to the United States' top storm chaser video, including --first on the scene--footage after an event, often delivered before station reporters have reached the severe weather area. WDT is also giving access to unique hurricane damage threat assessment overlays, in time for this year's hurricane season. This content, as well as the company's Worldwide Lightning Network (WWLLN) solution, are exclusively provided by WDT on the iMap platform.

Justin.tv's leading live video platform will provide the foundation for real-time delivery of storm weather events for use on websites and on-air breaking news broadcasts. Together with TornadoVideos.net, which deploys a close network of storm observers who drive to severe storms, hurricanes, winter or ice storms, and other visually intense weather conditions, WDT will be able to provide breaking news and live weather events to media partners across the country.

WDT is showcasing iMap at the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) trade show taking place this week in Las Vegas, Nevada. iMap is deployed in more than 93 million TV households and 100 percent of the top 15 Designated Market Areas (DMAs). As a result, WDT is the world's largest Google Maps tile server using the Flash Applications Program Interface (API).

iMap offers superior radar data and visualizations. Radar remains the most significant attraction for all weather audiences, and WDT continues to be the only company that produces a Level II radar mosaic, utilizing all 128 color levels in iMap, while others use as few as 6 colors.

Beyond severe weather products, WDT is showcasing a full portfolio of iMap weather products, includingadvanced weather services for television, interactive and mobile solutions. These solutions are based on true, geo-located weather data allowing users to zoom in and out on weather data, right down to the street level. WDT designed the world's first GeoPlex weather tiling and mapping solution, which is overlaid on Google map tiles and is recognized as the best in the weather industry.

About Justin.tv
Founded in October 2006, Justin.tv is the largest online community for people to broadcast, watch and interact around live video. With more than 41 million unique viewers per month and 460,000 channels broadcasting live video, Justin.tv is the leading live video site on the Web, enabling users to create real-time connections with others around the world. Headquartered in San Francisco, Justin.tv is funded by Y Combinator, Alsop Louie Partners and Draper Associates.

About TornadosVideos.net
TornadoVideos.net provides breaking news video, stock footage, and phone and television interviews to media networks worldwide. When natural disasters strike, TVN storm chasers are guaranteed to be at ground zero documenting all aspects of the storm. The tornado, hurricane, hail, and blizzard footage shot by the daring TVN storm chasers is unsurpassed in terms of intensity, quality, and drama. TVN has provided such services to the following news networks over the last several years: CNN, ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox News, Good Morning America, the BBC, The Weather Channel, and Univision.

About Weather Decision Technologies (WDT)
Founded in 1999, Weather Decision Technologies has become a global leader in providing state-of-the-science weather detection, nowcasting, and forecasting systems and services to our partners and customers. WDT provides its numerical weather prediction capabilities and services for weather sensitive industries globally. WDT maintains operational and international offices in metropolitan Washington, DC; Norman, Oklahoma; Munich, Germany; and Tokyo, Japan. For more information: www.wdtinc.com