EVS Broadcast Equipment


EVS Broadcast Equipment SA is a Belgian company that manufactures live outside broadcast digital video production systems. Their XT-VIA production video servers enable the creation, editing, exchange and playout of audio and video feeds.

Tapeless television production

The programming of the television networks consists primarily of broadcasting prerecorded images which, until very recently, were stored on tapes. But linear editing is being replaced by digital media or non-linear editing. Today, digital technology on hard disk is the common alternative. There has been clear confirmation of a migration towards this technology for some years, even though it will still take another 5 to 6 years or so for the hard disk penetration rate to increase from 30% to 70%. Television stations began migrating to tapeless interoperable computer platforms beginning in the late 1990s. Video recorders are rarely used nowadays for live productions. EVS type digital media servers are the norm in live broadcasting.

Company history

EVS was co-founded in 1994 by :fr: Pierre L'Hoest|Pierre Lhoest and Laurent Minguet. Three years later, the company invested 30% of its capital in private funds, roundabout EUR 4 million.
In 1998, EVS was listed for the first time on the stock exchange with an initial EUR 14.8 quotation per share and was valued at EUR 204 million. In that same year, EVS acquired VSE, a hardware subcontractor managed by Michel Counson. In that transaction, VSE received EVS shares for an approximate EUR 4.5 million value.
Since then, EVS has become a major broadcast actor focusing on digital recording technologies for live sport TV production. EVS core products are primarily used in outbroadcasting vans and allow high-quality respectively slow-motion image replay. EVS has revolutionised the professional digital recording by being the first to introduce a hard disk drive in that field, instead of the traditional magnetic tape recording, a business led at that time by Sony and Panasonic.
After establishing itself in outbroadcasting sport production, EVS started using their high value servers to address TV studio production with a full range of products from 2002. That strategic move contributed to a +40% uplift in 2012. Additionally, EVS founded XDC in 2004, a pioneer in high definition cinema broadcasting, which was restructured within the Dcinex Group. EVS sold its stake in Dcinex in 2014.
In 2001, Laurent Minguet stepped down from his position as a director. Three years later, he gave up his position.
From his side, :fr:Pierre L'Hoest|Pierre L'hoest decided to leave his role as a CEO and director following the board of directors meeting held on September 15 of 2011. In a transitional period, EVS was managed by its board of directors.
In 2012, EVS appoints Joop JANSSEN as CEO.
On 10 October 2014, the Board of Directors and Joop Janssen mutually agreed to end the term of the office and duties of Joop Janssen. Muriel De Lathouwer, a member of the Board of Directors of EVS, chairing the Strategy Committee, is appointed as the President of the Executive Committee on an interim basis.
On 5 January 2015, EVS announced that it has acquired the Scalable Video System GmbH developing IT-based vision mixers and Dyvi Live SA.
On 19 February 2015, EVS Broadcast Equipment appoints Muriel De Lathouwer as Managing Director & CEO
On July 17, 2018, The Board of Directors and Muriel De Lathouwer mutually agreed to end the term of the office and duties of Muriel De Lathouwer
On September 9, 2019, EVS announced the appointment of Serge Van Herck as the new CEO of the company.

Products

EVS headquarters are located in Liège in Belgium.
4 additional development centers are found in:
EVS has also sales and support offices in: London, Los Angeles, New York, Dubai, Mexico, Paris, Munich, Madrid, Brescia, Beijing, Hong Kong, Sydney and Mumbai.