In this article by Tom Butts, Grass Valley’s remarkable transformation journey is detailed, showcasing how the broadcast technology leader overcame ownership transitions and market challenges to emerge stronger in 2025. The piece highlights newly appointed CEO Jon Wilson’s strategic vision as he guides the company following its tumultuous decade of ownership changes between Francisco Partners, Belden, and Dragon Capital.
The article explores how Grass Valley solidified its position in live broadcast production through key acquisitions like Miranda (2012) and SAM (2018), while navigating significant restructuring under Louis Hernandez Jr.’s leadership since 2020. Wilson candidly discusses the difficult portfolio rationalization decisions made during the pandemic’s supply chain crisis, which created unprecedented challenges for product delivery.
Despite these obstacles, Grass Valley reports impressive 2024 financial metrics, including a 25% increase in bookings and 70% growth in camera sales. Their $220 million Morgan Stanley financing deal has enabled inventory investment and supply chain stabilization, reducing product lead times to just 2-4 weeks.
Central to the company’s technology strategy is their AMPP (Agile Media Processing Platform) ecosystem, which Wilson describes as “the operating system for media” and “central to the future of Grass Valley.” The article provides details about their upcoming NAB Show 2025 exhibition, featuring innovations like the LDX 180 camera with Super35 Xenios imager, alongside new RF and 5G camera solutions.
The piece concludes with insights on how Grass Valley is approaching both AI implementation and potential tariff impacts, with Wilson confirming they’re avoiding standard price increases but may need adjustments if new tariffs affect their Canadian manufacturing operations.
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