About StormChasingVideo.com
StormChasingVideo.com, LLC provides professional severe weather, storm, disaster, and breaking news video licensing for media clients, documentary producers, and production companies.
Our footage is gathered by experienced storm chasers, freelance photojournalists, and contributors who document severe weather, natural disasters, breaking news, and aftermath events.
Media clients can review available previews through the client portal. Prospective content providers seeking representation may contact the StormChasingVideo.com News Desk.
News Desk
For urgent breaking weather, disaster, or news video, call 732-867-8676 or use our Contact page.
Our History
StormChasingVideo.com, LLC traces its roots to Breaking News Video Network, Inc., commonly known as BNVN. The company was formed during the winter of 2000 and incorporated in the spring of 2001 by Doug Kiesling of Lightningboy.com and Rory Groves of SwiftWX.com.
As freelance severe-storm photojournalists, we were frustrated by the way breaking-news footage was delivered to television networks at the time. Our goal was to create a centralized network of independent storm chasers and photojournalists who could help one another deliver timely footage from the field to national and international broadcasters—without relying on a traditional satellite uplink.
This was years before YouTube, social media, and modern online video-delivery platforms.
Moving Beyond Satellite Delivery
Before 2000, freelance video was generally delivered to television networks through satellite or fiber connections. After documenting a major news event, a freelance videographer often had to contact the networks, explain why the footage was newsworthy, drive to a television station, and arrange satellite time to transmit it to network facilities in cities such as New York or Atlanta.
Traditional satellite feeds also offered limited control over who could receive or record the transmission. This made it difficult for freelance videographers to track where their footage went and whether it was being used with proper authorization.
During the summer of 2001, BNVN worked with The Weather Channel to refine a digital-delivery process that eliminated the need for conventional satellite or fiber uplinks. We compressed our footage into broadcast-quality video files and uploaded them directly to a server at The Weather Channel’s Atlanta headquarters.
The files could then be decoded and made available for broadcast during severe-weather outbreaks or scheduled productions for the network’s morning programming. We had achieved our original goal: delivering satellite-uplink-quality B-roll without using a satellite.
Growth of the BNVN Network
It did not take long for other television news organizations to take notice. BNVN soon began supplying severe-weather B-roll to many of the major television networks.
Over the years, the network added dozens of freelance videographers—often known in the news industry as “stringers”—from across the United States. BNVN became a trusted, behind-the-scenes electronic news gathering partner for major cable, broadcast, and international news organizations.
Stock Footage and Long-Form Productions
In 2003, BNVN launched its Stock Video Service, or SVS, in response to growing demand from long-form television producers and corporate production companies.
For years, we worked behind the scenes with leading production companies, providing footage for documentaries, television programs, corporate productions, and other projects. Although BNVN was already well known within the network news industry, it was not until late 2007 that we launched our first public website, serving both professional clients and the general public.
StormChasingVideo.com
In early 2012, StormChasingVideo.com, LLC assumed the day-to-day operations of BNVN.
Since then, we have continued working behind the scenes with broadcast news organizations, documentary and long-form producers, over-the-top platforms, and digital video-distribution networks.
Our crews and footage have appeared in Hollywood films and television productions, including Discovery Channel’s Storm Chasers, The Weather Channel’s Tornado Road and Storm Riders, and numerous National Geographic Television projects.
Today, StormChasingVideo.com continues the mission that began with BNVN: helping professional field contributors deliver important weather, disaster, and breaking-news footage to media organizations around the world.