April 20, 2011
It is hard for me to believe that Horizon is almost 30 years old but it is. Where does the time go?
When Horizon began back in January of 1982 we were using a JVC camera (with tubes) and recording to inch videotape on a machine that was connected to the camera by a 26-pin cable. The camera was orange and smaller than the usual grey Ikegami cameras that other companies were using, so needless to say, we stood out when we covered events. We'd have to crawl up to UNC's "photographers crows nest" to shoot football games and, standing there elbow to elbow with all of the other videographers, inevitably we'd hear a few snickers. We didn't care. We were working too.
We'd shoot the games and then run to the Chapel Hill bus station to put them on a bus to Atlanta. We wanted to become known as a company that provided the best customer service possible, so we worked hard to make sure our clients were happy.
In addition to covering sports events as a "stringer service" to ESPN and WTBS-Atlanta, we also would videotape depositions and produce "Day in the Life of" videos for lawyers and their clients. We were one of the first groups to provide video services to lawyers in NC and it kept us busy. Not to mention, we heard some pretty interesting cases.
Sometime in the middle of 1982 we started creating commercials for Tar River Cable in Rocky Mount, NC. That helped launch our own desire to become a turn-key Cable TV ad rep so we opened a second office and by mid-1983 we were the exclusive cable rep to market and sell local cable ads in Greensboro, High Point and Burlington, NC.
Our Greensboro sales team sold ads on ESPN, USA, MTV and CNN networks and our production team in our Chapel Hill office produced them. As one of only three cable reps in NC, we sold to ad agencies and businesses use to buying print, TV and radio ads. Those were fun times and we won over lots of great clients.
In the early 80's there was no Internet and our first portable computer was a Kaypro 64k unit that let you type text on a green screen. Needless to say, all of our billing was done on a typewriter and all checks were written by hand.
In 1991 Horizon sold off all interests in the Cable TV ad business, closed the Greensboro office and relocated to Research Triangle Park (RTP) where we focused our efforts on providing video services to corporations, universities and government agencies.
Today, we've evolved into a full-service, award-winning multimedia production company. Horizon's expanded capabilities include animation, HD, 3D, content management systems, interactive education, viral videos, and web and application development. We've even added a Creative Director to our staff to ensure that we keep pushing the limits of our technology and our creative minds. Our ability to adapt and keep up with what's new has been crucial - technology has really changed since 1982.
One thing has remained the same though. At Horizon we still believe in providing our clients with the best customer service possible. That starts when you call us and talk to a real person on the other end of the line and it never ends. Technology will continue to change, but at Horizon, that's one thing that won't. I guarantee it.
