1986
NewTek introduced its first product, DigiView, in 1986. DigiView, built to run on the Amiga platform, was the first video digitizer for a computer. Soon afterward, NewTek followed with DigiPaint, which provided video painting capabilities within the computer system. The success of these two products provided NewTek and Jenison with the funding to pursue a deeper goal, development of the ultimate low-cost video production system.

1990
This goal reached fruition in October 1990, when NewTek shipped the Amiga Video Toaster�. The Video Toaster� evolved from a simple premise: provide all the tools necessary to create broadcast-quality television in a single, accessible device. Not surprisingly, the established broadcast video industry greeted the Video Toaster� with skepticism, at best. Despite these marketing challenges, the Video Toaster� caught on with an enormous range of people who shared a desire to "make TV". It literally replaced hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of equipment for $5,000, and put sophisticated skills and tools into the hands of "average" people - from high school students to professional event videographers.

1993
NewTek was awarded an Emmy for the ground-breaking Video Toaster�. LightWave 3D was taking Hollywood by storm, with the first Emmy going to a LightWave visual effects team for their work on the pilot of Babylon 5. LightWave was also used for pre-visualisation work for Jurassic Park.

1994
NewTek introduced its next tradition-breaking product, the Amiga Video Toaster� Flyer, in April 1994. The Flyer was configured as an add-on board for the Video Toaster� in an Amiga computer. It provided quality nonlinear editing capabilities, affordably. NewTek weathered the failing fortunes of the Amiga computer and its manufacturer, Commodore Business Machines, which went out of business. The company had chosen the Amiga platform because, unlike any other personal computer, the Amiga's video display most closely matched that of a television.

1995
In 1995, NewTek unveiled the standalone version of LightWave 3D�, a photorealistic 3D animation system. It was originally included with the Amiga Video Toaster�, and then later sold as a separate product. Now one of the company's flagship products, LightWave 3D� has undergone eight major revisions and is now available for Windows and Mac platforms.

1997
In 1997, NewTek introduced Calibar and Aura. Calibar is the world's smallest test signal generator - one of Tim Jenison's weekend inventions. Aimed at broadcast engineers, TV production studios, video post houses and other video enthusiasts, Calibar is many times smaller and much cheaper than its closest competitor. In fact, a recent National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) convention named Calibar as its Pick of the Show for Science and Technology. Aura is a fast, sophisticated painting and animation program aimed at professional video and animation artists working in production broadcast or multimedia environments. Digital Domain used LightWave 3D in over 160 of the more than 400 effects shots for the blockbuster James Cameron movie, Titanic. The film took an Oscar for Best Special Visual Effects.

1998
LightWave is used as one of the effects tools in Oscar Nominee Armageddon, as well as twelve other major films.

1999
Along with the ever increasing capabilities of modern PC computers came an opportunity for NewTek to once again take digital video production to a new level. This happened in 1999 with the introduction of the new Video Toaster� - a complete uncompressed digital video production studio. The new Video Toaster� is designed to take advantage of the incredible improvements in the processing speed of today's PCs. Because of this unique approach, NewTek is able to exploit all of the available computer power to deliver amazing video production results at an unprecedented price. Development continues on this radically innovative product.

2000
In May, NewTek shipped LightWave� [6] for the PowerMac. This release marked the most significant upgrade to LightWave� in the history of the product. For this release, the LightWave� architecture was completely redesigned with the animation process and the artist in mind. In addition, LightWave� was the only 3D software system to run on Macintosh, Windows NT, Alpha and Silicon Graphics systems.

LightWave was one of the effects tools used in the Oscar winner for Best Visual Effects, Gladiator, as well as 17 other films, including X-Men, Mission to Mars, Red Planet, Supernova and Charlie's Angels.

2001
After garnering the Post Award for Best Animation Software, NewTek released LightWave� [6.5], not only enhancing the speed and stability of the software, but also including over 500 new features. In August, NewTek shipped yet another upgrade, LightWave� [7], the first professional 3D application for Mac OS X. LightWave� [7] runs under Windows 98, Me, 2000, NT 4, Mac OS 9 and Mac OS X.

Also in the late fourth quarter, NewTek shipped Video Toaster� [2], the next-generation Video Toaster�, running under Windows 2000. Video Toaster� [2] includes all the equipment needed to create and distribute television in a live, real-time environment that's just fun to use. So many professional video tools are integrated into this powerhouse -- and the industry was once again stunned by the price - way under $5,000!

LightWave was used as one of the effects and visualisation tools in Oscar Best Visual Effects Nominee A.I.: Artificial Intelligence, as well as 24 other major films. Both VFX Emmys go to LightWave artists.

2002
By early April, NewTek had already enhanced Video Toaster� [2] software, with a major update that enabled users world-wide to take advantage of the power of Video Toaster� by providing them with the ability to work in the PAL video format, the primary standard throughout Europe, China, Malaysia, and many other parts of the world.

LightWave� [7.5] was released later that month, along with Aura Video Paint [2.5], NewTek's award-winning 2D editing and compositing software. LightWave users took home all five nominations and the win in the Emmy Special Visual Effects for a Series category, and Best Visual Effects Oscar nominees Spiderman and Star Wars: Attack of the Clones made use of LightWave as well.

2003
NewTek kicked off the year with the January release of the RS-8™ Hardware Switcher Controller, an 8-input hardware control surface that works in tandem with NewTek's SX-8™ Switcher Expansion Unit for VT[2]. RS-8 is a USB 1.1- and 2.0-compatible hardware option for Technical Directors who prefer to switch by touch, providing the ability to focus on the production rather than the computer interface. VT[3] was previewed at NAB and subsequently shipped in the third quarter, providing users with further advancements to real-time uncompressed editing as well as new support for DV, enhanced integration with other popular production packages, and much more.

NewTek announced LightWave 3D [8] in the second quarter and previewed the forthcoming new version at SIGGRAPH, along with the news that NewTek had just been awarded the 2003 Emmy Engineering Award for LightWave 3D's role in revolutionizing television special visual effects for the previous decade. The award winning news continued with LightWave users sweeping both of the Emmy visual effects categories, drawing the 8th and 9th Emmy awards for projects that relied on LightWave since 1993. Once again, all nominees in the series category relied on LightWave 3D. In film, all three Oscar nominees for visual effects used LightWave as part of the pre-visualisation and effects arsenal.

2004
NewTek's VT[3] was awarded Best of Show for streaming hardware by the Digital Video Professionals Association during NAB 2004. Throughout NAB, NewTek's live stage presentation was switched using 4 cameras, titles added and streamed to the Internet with a VT[3] Live™. Later in the year VT[3] was awarded "Best Product 2004" by the Alliance for Community Media during the recent ACM International Conference in Tampa, FL.

NewTek released LightWave [8] in the second quarter, bringing 3D users powerful new dynamics, character animation, and modeling tools along with an improved workflow. NewTek then released VT[4] in the third quarter, the most comprehensive upgrade that the company has ever released for its Windows based system, adding in groundbreaking features such as PowerPoint support allowing users to integrate PowerPoint presentations into live productions, one button streaming with VT-Stream™, compositor quality scaling and VT-Edit™, the fastest editor on the market.

LightWave users took home their 10th and 11th Emmy awards this year, one for Special Visual Effects for a series, and the other in the News and Documentary awards, in the category of Outstanding Individual Achievement in a Craft: Graphic and Artistic Design. More than 20 major films, including several likely contenders for the VFX Oscar, used LightWave in production this year, as well as many independent and short film projects.

2005
NewTek released TriCaster, a portable live-switching appliance that puts the power of a live production truck into a box just one cubic foot in size and under 10 pounds in weight.� TriCaster provides a comprehensive toolset designed to appeal to corporate presenters, educators and media ministry users.� The easy-to-use interface of TriCaster™ is designed without using video jargon, allowing users who aren’t video full-time video professionals to produce quality live presentations, web casts and video. With over 200 transition effects, PowerPoint support, template driven titles, real-time switching, and editing, TriCaster allows the user to bring dynamic live elements to their presentations within minutes of opening the box.�� In addition to allowing users to produce presentations that have the impact of live television, TriCaster allows simultaneous distribution to Video, Internet and Projectors.

TriCaster™ was the hit of the 2005 National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) conference in Las Vegas, picking up an Award for Innovation in Media by receiving the highest number of attendee votes in the Content Management category.� The judges looked for technological innovations that best addressed current and upcoming issues in the electronic media industry by boosting efficiency, increasing user flexibility and creativity, and lowering cost.� Additionally, NewTek™ was presented with a “Salute Award” for TriCaster™ from Government Video Magazine for recognition of outstanding achievement in the advancement of the art and science of video technology.� TriCaster™ also garnered a “Product Innovation” Award from The 4EVER Group, who dedicates their efforts to providing resource and educational materials and services to all facets of the event video industry. A grand slam was completed when TriCaster was selected by Anthony Coppedge, respected and prestigious consultant for media ministry and publisher of Church Media Hotlist Newsletter, for Church Media's "Best of Show" Award at NAB.
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VT[4] LIVE! received Media and Methods Magazine's Portfolio Award. This year’s results represent recently released cream-of-the-crop educational resource materials for K-12 schools.� Selection was based on VT[4]’s comprehensiveness, versatility for different learning abilities, ease of use and innovation.
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NewTek launched NewTekTV.com, a 24/7 online television channel. The streaming television network offers live and pre-produced programming, featuring interviews from the floor at NewTek's tradeshow booths, cutting edge computer animation, tutorials and more. Not only is NewTekTV.com a great resource for LightWave 3D�, VT[4]™ and TriCaster™ customers to learn the latest tips and tricks, but it is also a practical demonstration of how easy it can be to start your own Internet Television Network.�
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Spiderman 2 won the VFX Oscar; the film was fully pre-visualized and several effects shots were produced in LightWave 3D.