The vast majority of the Emmys for Technical / Engineering Achievement went to companies that in one way or another were involved in broadband video, with an unprecedented emphasis on over the top (OTT) enablement.
Apple, Roku, Microsoft, Sony and Tivo were all honored for “Television Enhancement Devices” – consoles in various configurations that provide the same basic video delivery functions as set-top boxes.
There were multiple categories dedicated to various aspects of the user experience. HBO and Netflix both received Emmys for “Pioneering Development of 2nd Screen Navigable Mosaic for Direct Programming.”
Jinni, ThinkAnalytics, DigitalSmiths and Comcast shared recognition for “Personalized Recommendation Engines for Video Discovery (PREVD) for MVPDs.”
There was no explanation why that category had to define recommendation specifically for MVPDs, nor why anyone would use the acronym PREVD.
Awards were bestowed for “Innovation in Improving Engagement Around Television in Social Media.” One went to Twitter, another to Spreadfast (aka Mass Relevance).
A handful of companies who were instrumental in the development of the JPEG2000 standard were given Emmy’s for their efforts. They were: Video Services Forum, Media Links, Nevion, DVBlink, Harris Broadcast (Imagine Communications), Ericsson, Artel Video Systems, Barco–‐Silex, and IntoPix.
The awards were originally announced in August, but delivered in a ceremony last night.
The full list of Technical Emmy Award winners is here.