AV News DECEMBER 2025

Highlights of the AV year, 2025

Yorktel and Kinly complete merger

Yorktel, a New Jersey–based global systems integrator and managed services provider, and Kinly, an AV and UCC integration firm headquartered in Amsterdam, have announced the completion of their merger. The move brings together two trusted leaders in workplace technology to create a new global powerhouse in systems integration and managed services. Operating as Yorktel-Kinly, the company brings together complementary expertise and a shared legacy of innovation. The merger enables customers to benefit from greater scale, consistency, and reach, delivering world-class, connected workplace experiences on an international stage.

By combining Kinly’s capabilities in AV and UCC integration with Yorktel’s strength in managed services and systems engineering, customers gain access to a broader solutions portfolio, expanded support capacity, and enhanced delivery consistency across every country and location. Together, Yorktel-Kinly will serve more than 2,500 clients across 27 offices worldwide, with a combined team of over 1,600 employees holding more than 900 specialist accreditations, supporting organizations across multiple industries including government and the private sector. With an extended footprint across North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific, the merger positions Yorktel-Kinly among the world’s top five global managed services providers in the collaboration space. The combined business brings together local expertise and a global reach to respond to clients’ needs with greater agility, precision, and speed.

Yorktel-Kinly begins integration with aligned executive leadership and a shared commitment to delivering enhanced end-user experiences. Customers and partners will continue to engage with their trusted account teams while benefiting from the combined strengths, expanded capabilities, and unified vision of the new organisation. Built on a foundation of secure operations and trusted governance across both organizations, Yorktel-Kinly is committed to security and will continue to invest in innovation, people, and the customer experience. Yorktel-Kinly will be led by Ken Scaturro as Chief Executive Officer (CEO), and Tom Martin as Chief Strategy Officer (CSO). A new leadership team has also been

Yorktel, a New Jersey–based global systems integrator and managed services provider, and Kinly, an AV and UCC integration firm headquartered in Amsterdam, have announced the completion of their merger. Tom Martin, CSO of Yorktel-Kinly, added: “This merger gives us the opportunity to take what both companies have built over the past 40-years and make it even stronger.”

announced and will be effective from January 2026, bringing together industry leaders from both companies with a laser-focus on providing world-class user experiences, exceptional customer delivery, and accelerating growth through excellence.

Ken Scaturro, CEO of Yorktel-Kinly, said: “The collaboration and IT services market is evolving rapidly. Clients are looking for integrated, scalable, and managed solutions across AV, IT and networking. This merger enables us to deliver exactly that. Customers deserve worldclass delivery and an optimal user experience on a global scale, and together we can provide the reach, expertise, and consistency to make it happen. Yorktel-Kinly is a unified platform for delivery, growth, and opportunity. One company, stronger together.” Tom Martin, CSO of Yorktel-Kinly, added: “This merger gives us the opportunity to take what both companies have built over the past 40-years and make it even stronger. Our people remain our greatest strength. Their expertise and trusted advisory relationships are what set us apart, and together, we’ll continue to deliver innovation, value, and

VITEC has formally announced the acquisition of Datapath Ltd. This strategic move strengthens VITEC’s video wall and video distribution portfolio, offering customers access to expanded engineering capability, customer support, distribution, and geographical reach.

VITEC acquires Datapath Ltd

VITEC has formally announced the acquisition of Datapath Ltd. This strategic move strengthens VITEC’s video wall and video distribution portfolio, offering customers access to expanded engineering capability, customer support, distribution, and geographical reach. “Datapath is a highly respected Pro AV industry leader, renowned for its engineering excellence, intuitive video wall and control room solutions, and decades of heritage in video hardware and software development,” says Nicolas Quesne, Deputy CEO of VITEC. “Its portfolio complements our IPTV distribution technologies and opens new opportunities in the control room sector. This move marks an exciting new phase for VITEC as we continue our growth as a company.”

Datapath’s advanced video wall processing, multi-display graphics, and AV-over-IP engineering expertise will be integrated into VITEC’s solutions, allowing it to offer a broader range of capabilities to support IPTV distribution applications. Once the integration is complete, nearly 50% of VITEC’s workforce will be engineers, underscoring the company’s commitment to technical innovation and customer-centric development. Commenting on the acquisition, Phil Webster, VP of R&D for VITEC, said: “Bringing VITEC and Datapath together will allow us to accelerate product development and offer an even broader range of solutions, features and services. We’ve worked hard internally to align systems and strengthen both businesses, and we’re excited to integrate our combined expertise.” Webster was leading the R&D team at Datapath and now will be responsible for

the engineering teams across the entire VITEC portfolio of video streaming solutions.

The integration will see Datapath’s product names and categories – including its video wall controllers & processors, AV-over-IP solutions, capture cards, and control room solutions – preserved within the VITEC portfolio. VITEC intends to maintain familiarity, while enhancing support and development capabilities for Datapath. Datapath serves customers in over 100 countries across industries including professional AV, defence, education, security, and healthcare.

Precision built. Performance driven. Trusted always.

CHRISTIE JAZZ SERIES

Discover what sets us apart at ISE 2026 in Barcelona, booth #3K500.

Explore our complete TAA-compliant range

PPDS to debut of AI-ready Philips Signage at ISE 2026

PPDS has announced its participation at ISE 2026, with sustainability, partnerships, and the power of artificial intelligence taking centre stage on the Philips booth 3N500. ISE 2026 is building to be one of PPDS’ most eventful and interactive shows to date, with the company set to showcase its most advanced suite of Philips Professional Displays and software solutions to date. Digital signage, ePaper, interactive, dvLED (indoor, outdoor and AIO), and professional TVs are all planned to transform the stand into a theatre of visual activity. Joining over 1,600 exhibitors inside the colossal Fira Barcelona Gran Via, the Philips booth will be divided into dedicated zones, ensuring visitors can find exactly who and what they need. Retail, education, corporate, food and beverage, transportation, public venues, and hospitality, will all have their space on the booth, with the addition of tailored solutions for control rooms and DOOH in the ISE 2026 plans.

For ISE 2026, the Philips booth will debut a new ‘Picture this’ theme, encouraging visitors to the booth to explore the reaches of their imaginations, using displays and software to expand on the benefits of artificial intelligence (AI). Visitors to booth 3N500 will also have the opportunity to put themselves – literally – in the picture and become part of the exhibition. Ron Cottaar, Director of Global Marketing at PPDS, commented: “At ISE 2025, we wowed visitors with AI-infused paintings by masters like Rembrandt, transforming our stand into a spectacular art gallery where paintings come to life right before the eyes. This year, we are taking things further, and we want to create a more interactive and immersive experience for our visitors, letting them become part of our story.”

With full details set to follow in the coming weeks and during the show, PPDS can reveal that visitors to the Philips booth will become the first to experience a host of portfolio debuts, including brand new and future ready digital signage displays, and more next generation, game changing professional TVs. Stretching the limits of innovation and imagination, the not to be missed portfolio will include an exciting range of eye-catching new form factors, ultra slim designs, and breakthrough features. PPDS will be unveiling a brand new and improved Signage line up, including its first AI ready Philips Signage models, supporting businesses today and into the future with the processing power required for their AI needs.

Andrea Barbuti, Global Product Management Lead EMEA at PPDS, added: “We pride ourselves on being at the forefront of innovation, leading the market forward. AI is no longer just a buzzword. Adoption is growing, and businesses around the world are increasingly exploring opportunities and ways AI can benefit their dayto-day operations and ambitions. He continued: “Signage can play a crucial role in achieving those goals, whatever the setting, be it a retail store, a corporate office, or somewhere else. But not all displays are created

equally, and many lack the processing power required to achieve the desired experience and outcomes. Our new signage portfolio will bring customers clearly defined display choices to suit their business needs.”

And that’s not all. With the indoor and outdoor portfolio of Philips LED continuing to grow and evolve, PPDS will also be unveiling a new, highly intuitive online solution, designed to support businesses, architects, and integrators, making it even easier to it easier to sort, select and specify Philips LED. PPDS’ lineup of Philips LED solutions, including All In One (AIO) displays will feature prominently on the Philips booth – including the Philips Unite 6000 Series All In One, and Philips Unite LED 5000 Series and Philips Unite LED 7000 Series panels, among others.

With a raft of fresh new features bringing revenue generating benefits for system integrators and customers, Philips Wave and its ProStore will also be unveiling new evolutions and partnerships during the show. Introduced at ISE 2023 and updated to meet the unique requirements of individual customers, the cloud-based Philips Wave ecosystem takes a fresh approach to the

way businesses manage, monitor, and control their display fleets, while unlocking the full potential of their Philips Professional Displays.

As with previous shows, sustainability will also play a prominent role for PPDS during ISE 2026, both on and off the stand. Continuing its commitment to a more sustainable AV industry, PPDS will be sponsoring and supporting the ISE Sustainability Hackathon for the second year running. Over two days, teams of students will once again collaborate intensively at Fira de Barcelona to tackle real world challenges in the fields of sustainability, innovation, and cybersecurity. Working alongside professionals from education and across industries, participants will develop fresh ideas and solutions, bringing innovation to life on the ISE show floor. In the run up to the show, the students will undergo a preselection assessment to identify their unique perspectives and skill sets. Sixty elite students will be chosen to take part in the ISE Hackathon. The Hackathon will begin at 08:00 on Thursday 5 February, with the sustainability track students receiving a briefing from the PPDS team, and support for the students will con-

tinue throughout their work. This will culminate with a series of project presentations starting at midday on Friday 6 February on the Pitching Stage in Congress Square, followed by an Awards Ceremony at 15:00, during which the winning teams will be announced. On the stand, PPDS’ commitment and global strategy to developing better energy efficiency and more environmentally conscious features into its displays will continue to be a prominent fixture, showcasing the latest evolutions in its new and existing solutions, such as the EPEAT Climate+ Gold rated Philips Signage 3000 Series EcoDesign and award winning ‘zero power’ Philips Tableaux ePaper range, as well as the Philips Unite LED 6000 Series All In One. Visitors will also get a first look at PPDS’ upgraded ‘next generation’ Philips MediaSuite TV range, including the latest 6000 Series with Ambilight, the 7000 Series UltraSlim, and exciting new additions.

With the latest launches announced in October, the market leading and Google (GMS) certified professional TV series continues to deliver unbeatable home from home experiences, with Google Cast built in and Apple Airplay compatibility, along with Google Play, and cloud gaming and Netflix ready. Visitors are also invited to relax into the unique Ambilight lounge, creating stunning illuminated and immersive experiences. PPDS will also be providing updates surrounding its partnership with FC Barcelona and Oracle Red Bull Racing, with several incentives and prizes to be won for those visiting the booth.

PPDS will continue to operate an open approach, with the Philips booth visible and accessible to all, with no exclusive guest lists or barriers. In addition, with ISE 2025 attracting a record number of visitors from 168 countries, PPDS’ global management team, together with local and international sales executives from around the world – including EMEA, APAC and North America – will be present and accessible throughout the show, providing live demonstrations and answering any questions. Finally, PPDS’ infamous coffee bar will also return, serving throughout ISE 2026, making the Philips stand the perfect destination to meet and unwind. Jae O Choi Park, EMEA Commercial Head at PPDS, concluded: “ISE is one of our biggest shows in the calendar, and we cannot wait to return to Barcelona to showcase and share just some of the incredible innovations we have been working on. I look forward to welcoming our partners, customers, and members of the media to Philips Booth 3N500 for what is guaranteed to be another incredible event.”

ZetaDisplay acquires Ubiq AB

ZetaDisplay has announced the acquisition of Swedish-based digital signage integrator Ubiq, a move that further strengthens its position in the domestic market and expands its creative and technical capabilities across key customer verticals. The acquisition, made with Ubiq parent company WOBI AB, represents a bolton to ZetaDisplay’s Swedish operations and is designed to strengthen local market presence, particularly within high street retail, QSR, and workspaces customer verticals. Ubiq brings a complementary customer base that includes Axel Arigato, CDLP, Tom Wood, A days march, Vagabond, Wayne’s Coffee, Vapiano, Brödernas, Hästens Sängar, Nordiska Galleriet, CHIMI, and Eatery, alongside a growing footprint in international coworking office environments.

Known for its dynamic, design-led approach to digital signage, Ubiq adds additional creative and technical expertise to ZetaDisplay in Sweden. This includes a portfolio of creative LED installations and a robust track record in consumer experience-enhancing solutions. Ubiq also boasts a global client reach with ongoing projects in London and New York, further enhancing ZetaDisplay’s international portfolio. As part of the transaction, ZetaDisplay will work collaboratively in the coming years with Onemotion IMC and Production Republic, both daughter companies to WOBI AB, whose continued focus will be on its other core business areas, leveraging complementary skills across the three organisations specifically towards the Swedish Retail market segment.

Daniel Nergård, group CEO of ZetaDisplay, comments: “This bolt-on acquisition is an excellent operational and cultural fit. Ubiq is an ambitious, creative business with a proven track record in premium retail and hospitality environments. They add to our market share in Sweden and bring a valuable layer of creative, LED and display expertise to our group capabilities. Together we will also continue building a forward-thinking consumer experience offering towards the Swedish market.”

Mats Mileblad, CEO of WOBI and Onemotion IMC adds: “We are proud of what we built with Ubiq over the

last decade and pleased to have found the right longterm home for the business with ZetaDisplay. There is strong alignment between our teams and a shared ambition to elevate the digital signage experience. We look forward to continuing to collaborate with ZetaDisplay and supporting our customers with complementary services and solutions.”

The acquisition is effective immediately. As part of the transition, Ubiq customers will gradually fold into ZetaDisplay’s enterprise-grade, global full-service offering ensuring seamless customer continuity. This will also enable the unlocking of improved innovation capabilities, evolved scalability and streamlined support through ZetaDisplay’s unified customer care platform.

Solid State Logic appoints Commercial Audio as distributor

State Logic has announced the appointment of Commercial Audio as its distributor in the Czech Republic and Slovakia regions. The company will provide end-toend distribution services for SSL and Harrison Audio in both countries, including warehousing, logistics and support. The appointment builds on SSL’s existing relationship with Commercial Audio in Poland for nearly 20 years and will cover ACP (audio creation products) and large format consoles for live, broadcast, and studio. Headquartered in Warsaw, Poland, Commercial Audio is known for its excellence in distribution, systems integration, and project management. The company has recently expanded its reach into Czech Republic and Slovakia with a dedicated team, while enhancing its knowledge base and capabilities. “I’m very excited to announce an expanded partnership with Commercial Audio into Czech Republic and Slovakia”, said Genevieve Little, Sales Executive, SSL Audio Creation Products. “Having an already established relationship with the team in Poland and now sharing an aligned vision for restructure and growth in the region, I believe that their expertise and passion will be key in delivering and supporting our Audio Creation Product range to the wider Czech and Slovak retail markets.”

Rob Davidson, Vice President of Console Sales for SSL, added: “I’m delighted that Commercial Audio have been appointed as SSL and Harrison Audio’s distribution partner for large format consoles in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The company brings excellent product knowledge, strong experience in business development, and a proven track record of running impressive demo events that really connect with customers. I’m looking forward to working closely with the team to bring SSL’s large format consoles closer to our Czech and Slovak customers than ever before.”

In light of the new distribution set up, customers in both regions will be able to expect end-to-end sales, service and logistics support from the Commercial Audio, who will be committed to building relationships and offering best in-class services for SSL’s ACP and large

format consoles. “Nearly 20 years of collaboration with SSL have allowed us to build a leading position in studio, broadcast, and live solutions in the Polish market,” said Krzysztof Kowalewski CEO of Commercial Audio. “From smaller home studios to mastering studios, recording studios, radio and television stations, and concert halls, we strive to provide the best solutions that SSL undoubtedly boasts, while also providing our clients with comprehensive support, from pre-purchase consulting, implementation, integration, and service support.”

Midwich secures UK and Ireland distribution deal with X2O Media

Midwich has signed a UK and Ireland distribution deal with X2O Media, a worldwide provider of hybrid collaboration solutions. The partnership was announced earlier this month at a product launch held at Midwich’s headquarters in Diss, Norfolk, and will see Midwich expand the footprint of X2O OneRoom, delivering innovative solutions for higher education and corporate training that create more engaging and inclusive hybrid experiences. At the centre of the offering is X2O OneRoom, a unique unified communications platform designed to provide true equity of experience for all participants in hybrid learning or training sessions. With OneRoom, remote attendees are represented life-size, with audio and visuals aligned to their virtual ‘seat’ in the room.

OneRoom works seamlessly with integrated hardware, room design, and space planning to deliver an immersive experience. Through this partnership, Midwich is bringing this solution to the UK and Ireland – a key market for higher education and corporate training - providing customers with a trusted channel for hardware selection and integration, and easier access to a complete, end-to-end solution. With extensive experience supporting education and training organisations, Midwich brings a strong understanding of how to design and deliver technology that works in real learning environments. Key to the new deal are:

•Experience in AV integration – Midwich’s technical teams have a long history of helping customers choose, install, and support the right AV and unified communications systems for their spaces.

•Trust by education and training providers – Working with universities, colleges, and corporate training teams across the UK and Ireland, Midwich understands the everyday challenges of engaging both in-room and remote participants.

•Local support across the region – Through its established partner network, Midwich provides local advice, reliable supply, and ongoing technical support to make OneRoom deployments straightforward and dependable.

•Focus on results – By combining X2O Media’s OneRoom solution with Midwich’s practical experience, customers can create hybrid spaces that encourage participation, improve learning, and make training more effective.

“X2O OneRoom sets a new standard for hybrid learning and training by putting every participant on equal footing – whether in the room or joining remotely. Partnering with X2O Media allows us to deliver a complete solution that combines cutting-edge software with the right hardware and space design, giving our customers the tools to create engaging, inclusive environments.” Rob Brinklow, director of sales, EMEA & APAC at X2O Media, added: “Midwich is the ideal partner to extend the reach of X2O Media solutions across the UK and Ireland. Their expertise in distribution and AV integration ensures that customers can access the full potential of OneRoom, delivering exceptional experiences in education and corporate training.”

Midwich has signed a UK and Ireland distribution deal with X2O Media, a worldwide provider of hybrid collaboration solutions

HDR by Barco expands global footprint to Germany

Barco has announced the expansion of its premium ‘HDR by Barco’ format in Germany, launching now with installations at select Cineplex Germany locations, and in Cinedom Cologne. This expansion marks a major footprint in European moviegoing, as Cineplex is a leading German exhibitor, and Cinedom Cologne is one of the country’s largest cinemas. As part of the international expansion, HDR by Barco is launching at three Cineplex Germany venues - Cineplex Münster, Cineplex Paderborn Pollux, and Cineplex Goslar - available as “ULTIMATE. in HDR by Barco” at these locations. The initiative will bring premium large format cinema to Cineplex Goslar for the first time and build on the current premium offerings at Cineplex Paderborn and Cineplex Münster to take the moviegoer experience to the next level of technological innovation. Cineplex Münster, also celebrating 25 years of operation this month, will be the first theatre in the world with two HDR by Barco enabled auditoriums. At Cinedom Cologne, the new HDR theatre will launch the circuit’s new “CinedomX” experience, a freshly conceived premium cinema concept from the brand. Installations are now underway so moviegoers in Germany can enjoy major holiday tentpoles opening in HDR by Barco this holiday season. “We’re proud to bring HDR by Barco to German audiences through our partnerships with Cineplex and Cinedom—two of the country’s most respected cinema brands,” said Gerwin Damberg, EVP of Barco Cinema. “As someone who grew up in

Germany, this milestone is personally meaningful. It’s exciting to see our vision and technology come full circle, enhancing the cinematic experience in the very theatres that once inspired my love of film.”

Based on the company’s patented Lightsteering technology, Barco’s approach to HDR works by strategically redistributing light on screen to produce highlights that are over 6x brighter than traditional projection, while retaining rich details in the darks for greater depth, clarity, and range. HDR by Barco delivers expansive creative possibilities for filmmakers, producing a wide colour gamut with high-contrast images that captivate audiences. This announcement follows the launch of the fully redesigned website for moviegoers, www.HDRbyBarco.com, and the expansion of its 2025 HDR by Barco film slate. Both updates make it easier for audiences to experience the brand’s premium HDR Lightsteering technology ahead of the busy holiday season.

Wildstone expands partnership with Alpha Media

Wildstone has significantly increased the number of panels managed by Alpha Media Group as part of the second stage of its partnership with one of Spain’s most well-known (OOH) media operators. The strategic collaboration between the firms, which began earlier this year with the launch of five new DOOH screens across Madrid, Alicante and Córdoba, was aimed at accelerating the digitisation of Spain’s OOH market. Wildstone will now hand over media sales of 30 further panels across 17 sites in an arrangement aimed at helping Alpha achieve its goal of increasing its market share in the country’s large-format digital space. The new deal covers a number of prime locations, including sites at the main entrances and exits of Madrid and Barcelona and highly trafficked locations in Seville, and will expand Alpha’s overall geographical footprint and its visibility in exclusive areas.

Of the 30 new panels, 18 will be digital, with five backlit

and seven classic. Under the terms of the agreement, Alpha will manage media sales on those sites for 10 years. There are also plans to expand the partnership further, with both Wildstone and Alpha looking to increase their revenues and market shares in Spain. Wildstone currently owns and leases out to media operators more than 1,650 outdoor advertising panels across Spain, having entered the market in 2022 via the acquisition of Redext Group.

Carlos Pestaña, Managing Director at Wildstone Spain, said: “We’ve been really pleased with the results of our initial partnership with Alpha and are delighted to build on this collaboration. At Wildstone, our platform enables media operators to expand their portfolios, helping them accelerate growth through access to high-quality large-format roadside media assets.” Sergi López, CEO at Alpha Media Group, said: “This alliance combines Wildstone’s international experience in the development and management of digital outdoor advertising assets with our strategic vision for the Spanish market, enhancing our ability to offer brands unique spaces in key locations that truly enhance their presence and positioning in the most relevant environments. These new sites represent a very important step in the evolution of Alpha Media Group, putting it firmly on the path to achieving its goal of setting a benchmark for quality within the digital out-of-home medium in Spain. We look forward to building further on our relationship with Wildstone in future.”

Carlos Pestaña and Sergi López at a digital monopost site owned by Wildstone and leased out to Alpha Media Group. This site is located at El Carralero Industrial Park, Majadahonda.

Utelogy and Continuant expand partnership to the UK

Utelogy Corporation has announced the expansion of its long-standing partnership with Continuant, a leading global Audio Visual and Unified Communications (AV/ UC) Integrator and Managed Service Provider. Together, the two companies are deepening their collaboration in the United Kingdom to deliver a unified solution for intelligent AV/UC management and support.

Utelogy and Continuant have partnered for several years in North America, delivering innovative, service-driven AV and UC solutions to enterprise customers across multiple sectors. With this expansion into the UK, Continuant will continue to leverage the Utelogy Platform to provide clients with real-time monitoring, analytics, and automation for their AV and UC environments, ensuring consistent performance and optimised operations across global deployments. “Continuant has been a trusted and forward-thinking partner in the U.S., and we’re thrilled to see our collaboration extend to their UK operations,” said Kevin Morrison, CEO of Utelogy. “Their customer-first approach and commitment to excellence aligns with Utelogy’s mission to deliver scalable, data-driven tools for managing modern AV environments. Together, we’re helping organisations achieve higher uptime, greater efficiency, and a better end-user experience.”

By integrating Utelogy’s software-driven platform into its managed service offering, Continuant [UK] will empower customers with comprehensive visibility across their technology ecosystems enabling proactive support, faster issue resolution, and actionable insights that drive continuous improvement. “Expanding our partnership with Utelogy reinforces our shared commitment to innovation and global service excellence,” added Rob Gibbons, Director of International Operations. “Utelogy’s platform has been a cornerstone of our AV/ UC monitoring and management capabilities in the U.S., helping us serve customers around the world. We can’t wait to bring that same proven expertise and value to customers here in the UK.” The expanded partnership marks another step in Utelogy’s mission to provide global enterprises with the tools to simplify and optimise their AV/UC management through open, flexible, and data-centric solutions.

RePro Stream, creators of real-time collaboration platform RePro, OmniScope, expanding its ecosystem of set and remote production

RePro Stream strengthens ecosystem

RePro Stream, creators of real-time collaboration platform RePro, has announced new integrations with Pomfort Livegrade and Nobe OmniScope, expanding its ecosystem of set and remote production tools. The updates give film and television productions a seamless way to align vision and technical precision across increasingly distributed teams. On set, Pomfort Livegrade is a solution for real-time adjustments to live signals and look management, ensuring the creative intent is carried throughout the entire production process. With the new integration, introduced in Livegrade 7 via the optional ‘Outputs and Streaming’ extension module, look previews can be streamed directly through RePro so remote directors, producers, and colourists see the same graded live images or playback in real time.

Explaining the significance, Lukas Wanderer, Product Manager for Livegrade at Pomfort, said: “With the new version of Livegrade, we wanted to enhance DITs’ and DPs’ flexibility and options for previewing looks also be-

noted: “Adding SRT support to OmniScope is about giving productions lower latency and more control. Through partnerships with RePro (for SRT integration) and Pomfort (for our upcoming Live Pack feature integrating directly with Livegrade), we’re enabling remote signal quality control and monitoring across workflows ranging from colour suites to live multi-camera productions.” For productions coordinating splinter units, studio executives seeking progress visibility, or colourists contributing remotely, the combined workflow reduces miscommunication, accelerates feedback, and helps avoid costly reshoots.

Phil Oatley, CEO of RePro Stream, added: “Productions need both creative confidence and technical assurance, whether teams are on set or halfway around the world. By integrating with tools like Livegrade and OmniScope, RePro makes sure what you see remotely matches the intent and integrity established on set.” These integrations reinforce RePro’s role as the central link between on-set decision-making and remote creative review, making it easier for productions to maintain momentum without compromising quality.

yond the set. The integration with RePro ensures the creative intent can be shared with remote collaborators in real time.” Tailored views created in Livegrade – such as clean feeds, multi-view camera layouts, slate/metadata overlays – mean every stakeholder sees precisely what’s relevant to their role.

Nobe OmniScope now connects with RePro. Speciality scopes such as False Color, Twin Peaks, and HDR quality control tools can be mirrored remotely, giving distributed teams access to the same technical insights as those in a colour grading suite. For colourists and finishing teams, this creates a direct on-ramp into the creative conversation, allowing them to validate looks, flag issues, and preserve visual consistency from the very first capture. With OmniScope’s new SRT support, productions benefit from lower latency, improved stream control, and frame-accurate playback up to 60fps – optimised for live collaboration. Highlighting the value of the integration, Tom Huczek, founder of Time in Pixels,

Arkona partners with Network Electronics Japan

Arkona technologies GmbH, a developer of ultra-low-latency, high density IP processing solutions for live broadcast production, has announced a new strategic partnership with Network Electronics Japan (NEJ). Under this agreement, NEJ will act as Arkona’s local reseller and support provider, representing the full Arkona product line, which has been developed to deliver the core routing, mixing, and conversion power behind next-generation IP studios and OB workflows.

In the Japanese market, NEJ brings deep experience in broadcast and telecom systems, with a client base that includes major broadcasters, networks, and government bodies. A particular focus on their booth will be arkona’s BLADE//runner, the company’s flagship software-defined broadcast infrastructure platform. Built

has announced new integrations with Pomfort Livegrade and Nobe tools.

around the AT300 FPGA acceleration cards, it delivers ultra-low latency routing, processing, and audio/video management over SDI and IP domains, resulting in better density, simpler hardware deployments, and smooth transition toward IP workflows.

NEJ will also introduce the Japanese market to Arkona’s EASY-IP: a complete, ready-to-deploy IP broadcast infrastructure jointly developed by Arkona technologies and technology partner manifold, combining the power of Arkona’s BLADE//runner platform with the flexibility of manifold CLOUD. Designed as a certified, turnkey package, EASY-IP unites routing, processing, and multiviewing within a single, software-defined system - eliminating the complexity of building IP from scratch. It delivers clean and quiet switching, automatic audio/ video alignment, and advanced audio routing with integrated DSP, all controlled through familiar industry protocols. In essence, it provides broadcasters with a high-performance, future-proof path to IP production that’s as simple to integrate as a traditional baseband router.

Alongside EASY-IP, NEJ will also highlight Arkona’s 2.8 software release, which introduces a redesigned licensing scheme to give users more flexibility and value. The new CORE + MAX licensing model dramatically reduces complexity: and at InterBEE, NEJ and Arkona specialists will present how this model permits users to scale and adapt their systems without frequent re-licensing burdens. Speaking of the upcoming partnership, Tomoo Takahashi, Technical Director at NEJ, stated: “We are excited to exhibit at InterBEE 2025, and keen to demonstrate Arkona’s range of production-focused solutions, all designed to make a transition from SDI to IP smooth, easy and seamless, delivering an end result that is as powerful and flexible as it is reliable”.

Adding to this, Wiggo Evensen, Sales & Partner Manager at Arkona. “It is with great pleasure that we have signed a Preferred Solution Partner Agreement with NEJ, whose experience and expertise we value immensely”. He continued: “Their proficiency in IP infrastructure and their long-term presence in Japan will be vital as more end users seek to migrate from legacy SDI/ UHD systems to ST 2110 IP environments, and with their representation we can finally bring our full vision to the Japanese market”.

Alfalite strengthens its presence in the Americas with Adistec

Alfalite has announced a strategic partnership with Adistec Corp, a leading value-added distributor of infrastructure, software, and professional media solutions in Latin America and the United States. The alliance marks a major step in Alfalite’s expansion strategy across the Media & Entertainment market in the Americas, bringing its high-performance LED display technology closer to broadcasters, production companies, and live event professionals throughout the region. Through this collaboration, Adistec will distribute and

Alfalite has announced a strategic partnership with Adistec Corp, a fessional media solutions in Latin America and the United States.

promote Alfalite’s full range of LED solutions for broadcast, virtual production (VP XR), live events, and corporate workspaces, leveraging its extensive regional network and more than two decades of expertise in channel development, logistics, and professional services. “We are delighted to partner with Adistec to accelerate our growth in such dynamic markets,” said Luis Garrido, Executive Director at Alfalite. “Their proven experience in business development and their regional coverage provide an excellent platform to extend our LED technology to new customers and projects across the Americas.”

Marcelo Gardelin, Strategic Alliances Director at Adistec Corp, added: “Alfalite stands out for its engineering excellence, innovation, and reliability. Its LED portfolio perfectly complements our existing offer for broadcast, production, corporate, and live event applications.” With this alliance, Alfalite reinforces its international

leading value-added distributor of infrastructure, software, and pro-

growth and commitment to providing sustainable, high-quality European-made LED technology to global markets. The company’s products, including its Modularpix Pro and Litepix series with ORIM (Optical Resin Injection Module) technology, are recognized for their precision engineering, durability, and energy efficiency, serving some of the world’s most demanding visual environments.

ISS signs contract with major UK Government department

ISS has entered into a new partnership with the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), a major ministerial department of the UK Government. The contract has an annual value of approximately DKK 300 million. Under the new contract, ISS will deliver a com-

prehensive range of integrated services and capital projects across the FCDO’s UK offices. These include daily services such as cleaning, catering, reception, and grounds maintenance, while ISS will also support larger projects - from technical equipment upgrades to office refurbishments and roof replacements. The contract is set to start in Q2 2026 and has a duration of five years, with an option to extend for two additional years.

Scott Davies, Country Manager of ISS United Kingdom & Ireland, says: “We are immensely excited and proud to enter this partnership with the FCDO. With our strong UK public sector expertise and people-centric approach, we will work as ‘one team’ with the FCDO to deliver high-quality services and exceptional workplace experiences that enhance efficiency and wellbeing. It is a true privilege for ISS to support such a vital government department in its daily mission to lead diplomatic, development, and consular work in the UK and across the globe.”

AVPros to Tecnetics

AVPros has announced a rebrand to Tecnetics, marking a significant evolution in the company’s identity, mission, and scope of services. The new name reflects the organization’s expanded capabilities beyond audiovisual integration, encompassing low voltage infrastructure, physical security, and managed IT field services designed to deliver complete, measurable outcomes across every layer of enterprise technology.

Under the leadership of two industry veterans, Ciaran Hamilton and Giovanni Agramonte, whose shared vision, complementary expertise, and passion for innovation, will define the company’s approach to technology integration. Ciaran leads with a consultative mindset -bridging engineering precision with strategic insight to help organisations adopt solutions that enhance the way they work. Giovanni, a seasoned AV and IT professional, brings extensive experience in system design, implementation, and operations management, ensuring each project is delivered seamlessly from planning to post-support. “Tecnetics isn’t just a new name; it’s a new promise,” said Ciaran Hamilton, Co-Founder & CEO. “Our clients asked us to take greater ownership across interconnected systems - from AV and network design to security and support—and this rebrand is our commitment to doing exactly that.”

The transition to Tecnetics represents the company’s growth from a regional audiovisual integrator into a national technology partner with standardised playbooks, governance models, and performance metrics. As customer programs have scaled, so too has the demand for unified accountability. Tecnetics now serves as a single point of responsibility across technology disciplines, ensuring faster project delivery, reduced handoffs, and predictable outcomes. The name “Tecnetics” encapsulates the company’s focus on technical precision, connectivity, and integrated delivery. While the company’s guiding vision, ‘Connecting technology to business out-

comes,’ underscores its mission to deliver measurable, scalable, and secure technology ecosystems that directly support operational goals. Tecnetics delivers a comprehensive suite of integrated technology solutions designed for reliability, scalability, and measurable outcomes. From standardised AV-over-IP deployments and digital signage to structured cabling and enterprise security, every project follows Tecnetics’ proven “Plan → Build Run” framework. Serving multi-site enterprises, healthcare, higher education, public sector, and large venues - as well as channel resellers and manufacturers through white-label partnerships- Tecnetics ensures consistency, accountability, and technical excellence across every engagement.

While the company’s name and visual identity have changed, Tecnetics’ commitment to craftsmanship, transparency, and safety remains steadfast. Existing customers will continue working with the same dedicated teams and processes, now supported by expanded resources and a unified brand promise. “Hybrid work, digital transformation, and evolving security requirements have blurred traditional boundaries between AV, IT, and physical infrastructure,” said Giovanni Agramonte, Co-Founder & COO. “Tecnetics bridges those worlds—so that technology simply works, securely and seamlessly.”

Peerless-AV expands capabilities with new California facility

Peerless-AV has opened the doors to its brand-new engineering and fabrication facility in Santa Fe Springs, California. The move marks an exciting new chapter for the company’s SEAMLESS Bespoke dvLED Mounting Solutions division, reflecting Peerless-AV’s massively increased demand for solutions as well as continued commitment to product innovation and collaborative partnerships that address the full scope of complex dvLED infrastructure needs. The brand-new LEED Gold Certified state-of-the-art facility is the largest dedicated dvLED infrastructure facility in North America, tripling the number of docks for improved logistics while providing all of the necessary upgrades needed to keep up with a rapidly expanding business.

The building layout now optimises workflow for maximum production efficiency and safety while simultaneously allowing for full team engagement and interaction. Among the details that reinforce the company’s commitment to sustainability, the new facility features abundant natural lighting coupled with smart lighting LED with sensors, which will significantly decrease energy consumption. Outside, native outdoor vegetation surrounds the building to reduce water consumption, and multiple electric vehicle charging stations encourage green commuting. Designed to foster creativity and connection, the office space allows for a more engaging customer/partner experience, that facilitates Peerless-AV to host customers/partners and showcase the

bespoke design process and product capabilities firsthand. “We wanted a space that reflects where we’re headed as a company; agile, modern, collaborative, and customer-focused,” said John Samaniego, General Manager, Peerless-AV SoCal. “Our products are behind some of the world’s most exclusive and technically demanding dvLED installations. This new facility allows us to welcome customers in, demonstrate how we design and build from start to finish, and give them a firsthand look at the meticulous precision and craftsmanship that defines every custom project.”

The new facility has already received overwhelmingly positive feedback from employees, customers, and industry partners. A recent open house event drew enthusiastic attendance and underscored the value of a dedicated space for bespoke engineering, precision manufacturing and dedicated production teams. Serving as the central hub for Peerless-AV’s dvLED custom mounting operations, the California facility is home to one of the leading industry design teams, acclaimed globally for their tailored solutions to many of the most complex, and one-of-a-kind installations in the industry. AV partners are regularly invited to tour the facility and collaborate directly with engineers in the design process

Peerless-AV has opened the doors to its brand-new engineering and

to ensure every project’s success. For Peerless-AV, the new California facility represents more than a move. It’s a bold statement of intent and reiterates the company’s commitment to Positioning Pixels Globally™, to keep pushing the boundaries of dvLED design and engineering while delivering word-class quality, service, and precision the company is known for.

LEA Professional Partners with Audio Americas

In a move that expands its global reach and reinforces its dedication to serving customers worldwide, LEA Professional announces its partnership with Audio Americas, a manufacturer’s representative that will enhance LEA’s presence in Latin America. Audio Americas will bring LEA’s rich technology catalogue, featuring industry-first advancements in intelligent IT solu-

tions, best-in-class DSP, and smart power management to channel partners across the region. Audio Americas specializes in commercial and residential AV, with a stable of over 120 customers in 24 countries. Through this partnership, Audio Americas will represent LEA Professional’s award-winning Network Connect series of professional amplifiers and companion Dante Connect series featuring Dante and AES67 connectivity.

These series enable integrators to utilize cloud-based remote control and monitoring from any internet-enabled device, allowing them to stay connected anywhere in the world. “LEA Professional has demonstrated its prominent position in this industry, and we’re excited to assist them in reaching a broader audience across Latin America,” said Matthew Garfein, General Manager, Audio Americas. “We look forward to introducing the extensive and impressive LEA technology catalogue to more people.”

LEA Professional’s smart amplifiers are the most feature-rich amplifiers available in the industry - featuring onboard 96kHz DSP, LEA Cloud connectivity, WebUI, third-party API control, real-time load monitoring, LoZ/70V/100V selectable by channel, Smart Power Bridge technology, event and fault monitoring, high-efficiency power design, over 3,000 speaker tuning presets, and LEA’s advanced amplifier control software, SharkWare. “Our partnership with Audio Americas represents a strategic step forward,” said Darrell Champagne, Director, Global Business Development at LEA Professional. “The team’s strong regional expertise and proven reputation will help us deliver full-spectrum support across every market segment, ensuring we meet the needs of customers from large-scale commercial projects to specialized residential installations. This collaboration strengthens our global commitment and reinforces our renewed focus on growth throughout Latin America.”

and fabrication facility in Santa Fe Springs, California.

INTELLIMIX TM FOUNDATION SYSTEM

2025 in the rear-view mirror

At the beginning of 2025, AV News, Avixa and many others published forecasts of what the year ahead would bring to the AV and UCC sectors. The consensus was that 2025 would see significant progress with AI, immersive technologies and sustainability, reforming how content is created, exchanged and consumed. The impact of AI was almost universally acknowledged for its potential to enhance AV experiences. In the meeting environment, for example, features like automated transcription, real-time language translation and smart content personalisation were considered to be ‘must-haves’ in the short to medium term.

While not universal, high-up on many shopping lists were AV-over IP solutions, supporting easier and more scalable content distribution across networks. Less certain. At least in the foreseeable futures, were the prospects of the xR realities, VR and AR. We can all see the potential, but the business case is often harder to make. VR in particular is a problem in outdoor and potentially hazardous environments. In order to present a convincing experience, many pundits argue that 4K resolution displays will soon be superseded by 8K – but it didn’t happen in 2025.

What did happen in 2025 was a renewed push for sustainability as the corporate market, in particular, realised that energy-efficient systems and practices now align with corporate sustainability goals. Equally valid is the migration to cloud technology enabling seamless integration and natural interactions and efficient communication in hybrid workspaces. Smart meeting spaces with AI-driven tools will enhance collaboration and support features like voice-activation automated camera tracking, and self-adjusting acoustics. In conclusion, Avixa forecast that the AV landscape in 2025 would be characterised by rapid technological advancements that enhance user experiences, improve collaboration and promote sustainability. In general, we agree but this industry is more than capable of producing those ‘rabbit out of a hat moments’ that do more than just keep it interesting.

January 2025

Sustainability

Lifetime extension for CTOUCH displays

CTOUCH, said to be the world's most sustainable touchscreen brand, presents its newest solution for display lifetime extension: CTOUCH Heartbeat Life is a comprehensive set of services designed to extend the lifetime of CTOUCH touchscreens. With Heartbeat Life, users can ensure their CTOUCH displays remain uniform, secure and supported for up to 10 years from purchase. This package guarantees that CTOUCH touchscreens remain future-proof and fully operational, meeting the evolving needs of modern workplaces and classrooms. Offering up to 10 years of support and warranty, Heartbeat Life provides unparalleled peace of mind for IT administrators, users and sustainability officers.

February

2025

Inclusivity

Highlights of 2025

It was undoubtedly true in 2025, as in just about any of the last 20 years, that AV technology is evolving faster than ever, with new tools that are transforming how we can connect, present, create and consume experiences. But as an industry, divided between the ‘tech giants’, smaller specialists and plucky start-ups seeking to develop emerging technologies and applications. But will the current round of rationalisation through mergers and acquisitions produce the best possible industry to best exploit these new opportunities? Here are some of the year’s highlights:

Women-Led companies shine ‘Best Places to Work in AV’

The PSNI Global Alliance has announced this year’s winners of its “Best Places to Work in AV” awards: PCC and ClarkPowell. Notably, both organisations are women-led, marking an inspiring milestone in the program’s seven-year history. PCC, led by Samantha Haun, was recognised as the top workplace for organisations with under 50 employees, while ClarkPowell, under the leadership of Kathi Cline, earned the title for companies with over 50 employees. More than 2,500 employees from PSNI’s Certified Solution Provider (CSP) network - spanning over 65 countries - participated in the annual survey. The results evaluate key workplace factors including culture, leadership, growth opportunities, and overall employee satisfaction.

March 2025

Productivity

Kinly report tackles “the UK productivity slump”

British businesses are fighting back against the UK’s productivity slump, with nearly half (41%) prioritising employee productivity in 2025, compared to a third of enterprises in Europe (36%) according to new data from Kinly. The new ‘Trusted Connections 2025’ research report, which surveyed 425 enterprise AV professionals working in the UK, Germany, Nordics, and the Netherlands, highlights an urgent need for UK businesses to modernise their technology and support employee wellbeing to overcome the productivity slump. Despite ambitions to improve productivity, UK businesses are struggling with systemic challenges, including outdated technology and budget constraints. Less than a third (31%) of UK organisations are investing in replacing legacy technology, falling behind other European counterparts such as Germany (36%) and the Netherlands (44%). This comes at a time when outdated AV technology is increasingly damaging productivity in remote work, with 62% of UK respondents citing it as a challenge – up from 60% in 2024.

April 2025

Crime

Shure scores ‘major victory’ against counterfeiters

Shure has collaborated with two other international audio equipment brands to address a network in China engaged in the large-scale manufacture and export of counterfeit products, including microphones, headphones and amplifiers. In May 2023, Shure received information about a network of nine entities in China exporting counterfeit audio equipment to Southeast Asia. The network operated more than 80 separate online stores selling to customers in Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Philippines. Shure, working through IP services business Rouse and its strategic partner firm, Lusheng, collaborated with two other audio equipment manufacturers to launch coordinated action against the counterfeit operation. China’s police force in the province, the Guangdong Province Public Security Bureau (PSB) launched simultaneous raids against the targets, seizing counterfeit products onsite at several locations in August 2023. The PSB investigated the trading company at the heart of the network and through careful forensics, discovered records showing more than $1.7 million USD in sales of counterfeit prod-

ucts from various international brands, including nearly $900,000 USD of counterfeit Shure products.

May 2025

Hacking

New study highlights prevalence of cyber risks

The Business Digital Index (BDI), created by Cybernews, evaluated the cybersecurity postures of 75 European Union government institutions and found that 67% received a D or F rating - placing them in high-risk or critical-risk categories. The BDI also revealed that every institution in the study had experienced at least one data breach. Email spoofing vulnerabilities were found across all C-rated institutions and

in 96% of D- and F-rated ones. In addition, 46% of F-rated institutions had suffered a recent breach, and 85% of employees in the lowest-rated organizations were reusing passwords that had already been exposed in previous leaks - a major red flag for security hygiene.

June 2025

Partnerships

Solstice AV partners with i3CONNECT

Solstice AV has announced a new strategic UK partnership with i3CONNECT, one of the world’s leading brands of large-format touch displays and interactive technologies for collaboration and education. With Solstice AV now handling local distribution, resellers across the UK will benefit from faster delivery times, enhanced availability and a more efficient ordering process. Born from the merger of i3-Technologies and CTOUCH, i3CON-

NECT combines cutting-edge technology with a strong commitment to sustainable innovation. From classrooms to boardrooms, i3CONNECT brings meaningful solutions designed to shape the future of learning and collaboration, with a portfolio that includes touchscreens, interactive boards, wireless presenting and more. “We’re excited to join forces with Solstice AV,” said Kurtis Oliver, Country Sales Manager UK at i3CONNECT. “This partnership is a key milestone in our UK growth strategy. By working with a trusted and service-driven local distributor, we can offer our partners a smoother and more responsive experience: exactly what the UK market deserves.”

July 2025

Partnerships

PPDS and Shure announce strategic global alignment

PPDS has announced a ‘landmark’ global alliance with Shure to deliver the industry's most advanced range of full room audio visual solutions, for seamless user experiences. The collaboration sees PPDS enter into a global alliance with Shure, combining the power of Philips Professional Displays with Shure’s premium audio systems. Ron Cottaar, Director of Global Marketing at PPDS, said: “Our collaboration with Shure further extends our commitment to bringing ‘total solutions’ to market, delivering the industry's most advanced and complete range of hardware and software. Together, we are empowering our customers to purchase with confidence for all their project needs, no matter how complex or creative they might be.” PL Wang, Vice President at the PPDS’ mother company, TPV Technology, said: “This industry first agreement marks the start of a powerful alliance between two global AV leaders, offering ultimate assurance to customers seeking integrated, proven, and scalable meeting room and learning space technologies.”

August 2025

Reinvestments

DCC sells off Info Tech business

DCC plc has announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement for the sale of DCC Technology's Info Tech business (‘the Business’) in the UK and Ireland to AURELIUS, a globally active private equity investor (the ‘Transaction’). The Transaction values the Business at a total enterprise value of c.£100 million on a cash-free, debt-free and normalised working capital basis. In the year ending 31 March 2025, the Business recorded

revenue of £2 billion and represented approximately 1% of DCC's continuing operating profit. The net cash proceeds to DCC of the Transaction are not material, reflecting the working capital seasonality, and the supply chain financing (£156 million as of 31 March 2025) associated with the Business. DCC also retains freehold title of our UK national distribution centre in Burnley, England. The remainder of DCC Technology, our Pro Tech business, is principally based in North America, with a smaller growth platform in Europe. DCC Technology is the largest specialist professional AV distributor globally and has a complementary position in high-quality Life Tech products in North America.

September 2025

Market growth

AVIXA: Pro AV industry to reach $402 Billion by 2030

AVIXA’s Industry Outlook and Trends Analysis (IOTA) predicts pro AV revenue will grow from $332 billion in 2025 to $402 billion by 2030. Previously, the IOTA predicted market growth to reach $325 billion in 2024, but growth was slower than previously predicted, reaching $321 billion instead. However, the pro AV industry remains resilient, with a forecasted increase of $70 billion over the next five years. The IOTA report is a comprehensive analysis of the pro AV market, using data from the previous five years and input from various market stakeholders. By providing a snapshot of end-user spending, the report presents data on the size of the pro AV industry with a global perspective, segmented by geography, vertical markets, solution areas, and product categories. Based on discussions with industry experts along with observations of macroeconomic pressures, the previous 5-year projection of a 5.3% growth was revised to 3.9%. Even with this

notable decrease in the growth rate due to the dampening effect of uncertainty in tariffs, geopolitics, and high interest rates, pro AV is expected to outpace the global GDP growth by 0.8 percentage points.

i3CONNECT announced the launch of its brand-new website, now live at www.i3 connect.com.

October 2025

Mergers

i3CONNECT new website and free online Academy

i3CONNECT announced the launch of its brand-new website, now live at www.i3 connect.com. Designed with clarity, usability and purpose in mind, the site brings the i3CONNECT brand to life – making it easier than ever for educators, business leaders and partners to explore our solutions, get inspired and take the next step in their digital journey. The new website reflects the bold new brand born from the merger of i3-Technologies and CTOUCH. It showcases i3CONNECT’s complete range of touch displays, software and accessories for classrooms and meeting rooms, while offering practical solutions to help people connect, collaborate and grow. “What you’ll find on www.i3-connect.com: A fresh, intuitive design that puts users first; Inspiring content for both education and business; Clear product overviews.

November 2025

Sustainability

Epson launches new circular leasing programme

Epson has announced a new strategic business model designed to make its technology more accessible for large corporate and public sector organisations, while advancing its sustainability commitments. In partnership with BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions, a European leader in equipment financing, Epson will introduce a comprehensive leasing programme covering its entire product portfolio. “This is a significant strategic milestone for Epson and will help us better support large scale customer requirements through a more competitive proposition,” says Rob Clark, COO, Epson Europe. “The solution means our customers can access the latest Epson technology without the burden of up-front investment.” The leasing programme spans Epson’s full range of solutions - from business printing and scanning to projection, retail technologies, industrial print and robotics, including its latest collaborative robots. Customers will also benefit from 360° support delivered through Epson’s partners providing fleet management, maintenance and servicing solutions, enhanced by Epson’s open API to enable integration with partners’ management platforms. A unique feature of the model is Epson’s retention of product ownership at the end-oflease, ensuring all equipment is returned for refurbishment, reuse or recycling.

Epson has announced a new strategic business model designed public sector organisations, while advancing its sustainability commitments.

December 2025

Partnerships

Barco ClickShare deepens partner ecosystem

Barco has announced the expansion of its strategic ClickShare partnerships with Sennheiser, Logitech, and Huddly. These long-standing partners have been selected for their critical role in the development of certified room system bundles built around the ClickShare Hub. Together, they strengthen the ClickShare ecosystem and enable Barco to deliver fully integrated, high-performance meeting room solutions. This marks an important step in Barco’s strategy to bring the ClickShare experience into every meeting room: from BYOD to room system, from huddle spaces to large meeting rooms. ClickShare has established the leading position in the wireless Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) market

designed to make its technology more accessible for large corporate and commitments.

That was the year that was!

In our opening remarks, we suggested some of the technology trends that we thought might be realised in 2025. AI, for example, is no longer one for the future – it is here now and already starting to impact the AV world. This trend will undoubtedly continue into the future –particularly in the UCC space with automated transcription, real-time language translation and personalised content provision soon on offer. We are equally assured that the race to higher resolutions will see 4K supplanted by 8K as new mmersive applications are adopted by the market.

So, which of our new year trends for 2025 were somewhat wide of the mark? The growth in availability of 5G technology was tipped to revolutionise AV systems in 2025, offering faster and more reliable mobile network connectivity. It did, but only in very limited circumstances. And what happened to the clamour for immersive audio? Yes, it exists - but again in limited and often trial or experimental circumstances.

and is now expanding its portfolio into room systems. ClickShare Hub is the company’s first room system device, built on the Microsoft Device Ecosystem Platform (MDEP), which provides a future-ready foundation and paves the way for certification. To support this evolution, Barco is working closely with trusted partners who bring deep expertise in audio and video and who share a commitment to quality, interoperability, and user-centric design. Each partner adds unique value to the ecosystem. Their combined strengths allow Barco to offer modular, high-performance bundles that meet the needs of modern meeting spaces.

Perhaps our biggest surprise / disappointment was the failure of xR technologies to really breakthrough to the mainstream in 2025 - in particular, VR and AR. These tools allow people to interact with digital spaces in real-time, making experiences more immersive and ‘real’. Despite the obvious advantages of novelty and, in some use cases, cost savings, VR and AR are still left in the margins of mainstream AV.

While, as an industry, AV has a formidable reputation for pioneering adoption of leading-edge technologies, we are bound by cost constraints and the conservatism of markets. Where the cost-benefit works in our favour, such as interactive digital signage, wireless AV, AVoIP and Cloud-based solutions, buyers will give these options serious consideration. Perhaps the one exception to this is the rise of sustainability in AV. Buyers are choosing energy-efficient products from suppliers that demonstrate a commitment to reducing waste. Long may it continue!

HDR by Barco expands global footprint to Germany

Barco has announced the expansion of its premium HDR by Barco format in Germany, launching with installations at select Cineplex Germany locations, and in Cinedom Cologne. This expansion marks a major footprint in European moviegoing, as Cineplex is a leading German exhibitor, and Cinedom Cologne is one of the country’s largest cinemas. As part of the international expansion, HDR by Barco is launching at three Cineplex Germany venues - Cineplex Münster, Cineplex Paderborn Pollux, and Cineplex Goslar - available as “ULTIMATE. in HDR by Barco” at these locations. The initiative will bring premium large format cinema to Cineplex Goslar for the first time and build on the current premium offerings at Cineplex Paderborn and Cineplex Münster to take the moviegoer experience to the next level of technological innovation. Cineplex Münster, also celebrating 25 years of operation this month, will be the first theatre in the world with two HDR by Barco enabled auditoriums. At Cinedom Cologne, the new HDR theatre will launch the circuit’s new “CinedomX” experience, a freshly conceived premium cinema concept from the brand. Installations are now underway so moviegoers in Germany can enjoy major holiday tentpoles opening in HDR by Barco this holiday season.

Based on the company’s patented Lightsteering technology, Barco’s approach to HDR works by strategically redistributing light on screen to produce highlights that are over 6x brighter than traditional projection, while retaining rich details in the darks for greater depth, clarity, and range. HDR by Barco delivers expansive creative possibilities for filmmakers, producing a wide colour gamut with high-contrast images that captivate audiences. “We’re proud to bring HDR by Barco to German audiences through our partnerships with Cineplex and Cinedom—two of the country’s most respected cinema brands,” said Gerwin Damberg, EVP of Barco Cinema. As someone who grew up in Germany, this milestone is personally meaningful. It’s exciting to see our vision and technology come full circle, enhancing the cinematic

Urben has announced the launch of Urben Express, a new generation place.

experience in the very theatres that once inspired my love of film.”

This announcement follows the launch of the fully redesigned website for moviegoers, www.HDRbyBarco. com, and the expansion of its 2025 HDR by Barco film slate. Both updates make it easier for audiences to experience the brand’s premium HDR Lightsteering technology ahead of the busy holiday season. Visit the website for the latest information on HDR by Barco locations, upcoming releases, and to find showtimes and purchase tickets.

Urben Express: the fastest way to modern meeting rooms?

Urben has announced the launch of Urben Express, a new generation of modular meeting room systems built for the modern workplace. Combining elegant design, intelligent engineering, and exceptional speed, Urben Express enables organisations to deploy fully configured meeting rooms in days as opposed to months, setting a new benchmark for agility and scalability within

enterprise customers. Urben Express is the result of seven years of innovation, distilled into a single solution, designed with precision engineering. The Express is pre-assembled and universally compatible with leading display manufacturers and collaboration platforms.

Available in sizes ranging from 55” to 98”, with single or dual-screen configurations, the Express range offers fast, consistent delivery across global office portfolios, from compact huddle spaces to large executive environments. “Enterprises everywhere are rethinking how they deliver meeting spaces,” said Mike Entwistle, Founder and CEO of Urben. “They are looking for speed, consistency and design quality. Urben Express answers that need with a system that installs in under two hours, looks stunning in any space and scales effortlessly. It’s a complete rethink of the meeting room.”

Each Urben Express system integrates displays, audio-visual components and cable management within a beautifully engineered metal frame, delivering perfect symmetry, durability, and simplicity. Every detail has been considered, including hidden wiring, fine-tuned

ergonomics and a premium aesthetic that enhances every workspace. Urben’s flat-pack design philosophy underpins the Express range, dramatically reducing freight volume, on-site construction, and installation waste. By simplifying every stage of the delivery process, Urben enables enterprises to accelerate rollouts and achieve measurable sustainability benefits without compromising performance or quality.

Urben systems have already been deployed by many of the world’s most innovative organisations, including global banks, technology leaders and property partners, supporting enterprise-wide standardisation and rapid transformation across thousands of meeting spaces. Urben Express is available for order now worldwide.

Barco ClickShare deepens partner ecosystem with room system bundles

Barco has announced the expansion of its strategic ClickShare partnerships with Sennheiser, Logitech, and Huddly. These long-standing partners have been selected for their critical role in the development of certified room system bundles built around the ClickShare Hub, launched in June 2025. Together, they strengthen the ClickShare ecosystem and enable Barco to deliver fully integrated, high-performance meeting room solutions. This marks an important step in Barco’s strategy to bring the ClickShare experience into every meeting room: from BYOD to room system, from huddle spaces to large meeting rooms.

ClickShare has established the leading position in the wireless Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) market and is now expanding its portfolio into room systems. ClickShare Hub is the company’s first room system device, built on the Microsoft Device Ecosystem Platform (MDEP), which provides a future-ready foundation and paves the way for certification. To support this evolution, Barco is working closely with trusted partners who bring deep expertise in audio and video and who share a commitment to quality, interoperability, and user-centric design. Each partner adds unique value to the ecosystem. Their combined strengths allow Barco to offer modular, high-performance bundles that meet the needs of modern meeting spaces, for example:

generation of modular meeting room systems built for the modern work-

•Sennheiser contributes its renowned audio expertise with video bars that include Dante connectivity, a professional audio-over-IP technology that simplifies installation and enables flexible audio distribution.

•Logitech brings a proven track record in meeting room peripherals, with high-quality video and audio solutions that are easy to deploy and scale.

•Huddly delivers scalable, AI-powered audio-video solutions that grow from small to large rooms with seamless multi-camera expansion. Its modular hardware and upgradable software make deployment, use, and scaling easy.

“These partnerships are a vital part of our certification journey,” said Jan van Houtte, Executive Vice President Meeting Experience at Barco. “We have built strong relationships with each of these partners over the years, and their expertise is essential as we expand the ClickShare portfolio into room systems. Together, we are creating a robust and interoperable ecosystem that enables customers to deploy certified, future-ready meeting room technology with confidence.”

‘Revolutionise’ complex projection workflows with Panasonic VSS

Panasonic Connect Europe has released its Windows-based Visual Software Suite (VSS) platform, consolidating separate Panasonic software tools into a single, intuitive platform, for quicker setup and streamlined workflows. Optimised for use with Panasonic’s projectors and ET-FMP50 Series media processors, VSS streamlines multiple functions into one intuitive, fourscreen interface for quick setup and easy onsite adjustments. Available for free download now, VSS gives AV professionals complete control over multi-projector environments. Its user-friendly design requires no training and boosts productivity through automated features that reduces time and manual intervention.

Projector setup and management is streamlined with comprehensive auto calibration features, including geometry correction, edge blending, black level adjustment, colour matching, and content splitting . Users can also perform advanced warping and colour adjustments, such as distortion correction, free-shape masking, and uniformity and brightness control. This ensures precise and consistent image quality across any projection surface. VSS also provides robust projector control, allowing adjustments to lens shift, zoom, and focus, as well as power and shutter management, test pattern display, and web browser access. Its content playback and management functionality supports multiple playlists, gapless looping, external UDP command integration, and real-time previews on a PC or projection screen. For enhanced operational efficiency, VSS offers automation and scheduling capabilities, enabling users to seamlessly create custom daily playback schedules. When used with Panasonic’s FMP50 Series of media processors – both the box-type devices (ET-FMP50/ FMP20) and an Intel SDM specification slot-compatible

function board (ET-SBFMP10) – VSS is compatible with nearly every Panasonic projector and display currently available. This provides installers with a flexible and powerful solution for managing complex, large-scale installations.

When paired with compatible cameras, VSS enables fast, accurate projection calibration – even on complex surfaces. It seamlessly handles geometry correction, edge blending, and colour matching, simplifying complex multi-projector installations that eliminate the need for extensive manual adjustments. This significantly reduces setup time and costs, ensuring AV professionals are focused on resource-heavy tasks. The release of VSS embodies Panasonic’s MEVIX strategy, which focuses on delivering innovative, end-to-end visual experiences, across the ProAV ecosystem.

By delivering projector control, auto calibration, playback management, and scheduling through a singlepane-of-glass solution, it enhances workflows for users, whilst making the whole process increasingly cost-effective. “The Visual Software Suite marks an important milestone in our journey to expand Panasonic’s software portfolio. It’s designed to simplify every step of the visual experience for AV professionals, including design and deployment, within a single, unified platform. With the launch of our MEVIX brand, we’re laying the foundations for a broader ecosystem of software solutions, which enable customers to work more efficiently, flexibly, and collaboratively,” comments Hartmut Kulessa, Head of Marketing, Visual System Solutions at Panasonic Connect Europe.

Datapath expands operator control with Aligo Workstation

Datapath has launched Aligo Workstation, a purpose-built interface designed to give operators real-time control of sources using Datapath’s intelligent AV-overIP and KVM platform, Aligo. It has been introduced as part of an update to the Aetria ecosystem, delivering a flexible, scalable, and future-ready solution for modern control rooms. Operating via a dedicated on-screen menu accessed via the Aligo receiver, Aligo Workstation combines real-time responsiveness with intuitive multi-screen KVM control and offers customers more options when creating their control room solutions. “Aligo Workstation provides our customers with a streamlined, easy-to-use, hardware-based system which complements our software-based Aetria Workstation perfectly,” says Matthew Tibbitt, Senior Product Manager, Datapath. “It is fast, secure, and allows operators to view, and seamlessly control all required sources. Delivering sub-millisecond latency, users are ensured real time video and highly responsive keyboard and mouse control, enabling them to respond swiftly to emerging incidents.

The interoperability of Aetria Workstation and Aligo Workstation gives the flexibility to mix and match solutions based on project requirements and budget, ensuring operators have the features and capabilities they need.” With built-in OneControl technology, users can

seamlessly switch keyboard and mouse focus across multiple screens simply by moving the cursor, eliminating the need for hotkeys, toggles, or additional hardware. In addition to support for HD and 4K monitors with 16:9 aspect ratios, the Aligo AVoIP solution has been enhanced to support a range of ultrawide and super ultrawide monitors, offering greater display flexibility.

Operators can instantly open any source on screen using Aligo Workstation, while multi-source layouts can be saved, recalled with ease, and assigned to keyboard shortcuts for ultra-fast switching. Layouts can also be pushed to other workstations within the Aetria ecosystem, where permissions allow. Aligo Workstation integrates fully with Aetria’s User Rights Management, providing fine-grained, permission-based access to sources and video walls. It connects only to sources within the control room, operating via direct hardware access with no operating system, ensuring simplicity, security, and faster operator response.

Barco adopts NVIDIA to bring real-time AI in the operating room

Barco has announced that it plans to integrate the newly launched NVIDIA IGX Thor robotics processor into its medical solutions portfolio. More specifically, Barco will integrate the NVIDIA IGX Thor platform in NexxisCompute, Barco’s platform enabling AI and advanced processing applications at the edge in high stakes environments such as operating rooms and interventional radiology labs. By adopting IGX Thor, Barco continues its commitment to driving innovation and reliability at the edge, empowering customers with unprecedented AI performance and advanced safety features NexxisCompute is engineered to remove hardware complexity for application developers by providing a seamless, ready-to-use foundation that eliminates the need for managing diverse and evolving hardware requirements. As a platform, NexxisCompute is capable of running multiple AI applications concurrently, allowing hospitals and healthcare providers to deploy and orchestrate a variety of advanced tools without being locked into a single vendor or workflow. On top of that, the integration of advanced Quality Assurance features ensures that Barco’s medical edge AI solutions maintain the highest standards of accuracy and compliance, contributing to reliability in critical healthcare environments.

The integration of cutting-edge technology like NVIDIA IGX Thor further strengthens Barco’s ability to deliver on this vision, enabling even greater flexibility, scalability, and performance for a rapidly evolving ecosystem of medical AI solutions. The NVIDIA IGX Thor platform combines integrated (iGPU) and discrete (dGPU) NVIDIA Blackwell GPUs, delivering an impressive 5,581 FP4 teraflops of AI compute and high-speed 400 GbE connectivity. IGX Thor enables up to 8x greater AI compute

on iGPUs and 2.5x higher AI compute on dGPUs compared to previous generations, with twice the connectivity. These capabilities allow Barco to seamlessly run large language models and vision language models, powering the next generation of edge AI applications in demanding healthcare environments. In this way, IGX Thor will support Barco in its vision to become the most complete and performant edge AI platform for integrated operating rooms. Barco will leverage the industrial-grade durability of the IGX Thor platform, featuring a 10-year lifecycle and robust support for the NVIDIA AI software stack, including NVIDIA AI Enterprise, NIM microservices, and Holoscan for sensor processing.

Bang & Olufsen launches ‘Reloved’

Bang & Olufsen has announced the launch of Reloved, a new circular initiative designed to extend the life of the brand’s timeless products. Through a new dedicated online platform, Reloved offers customers the opportunity to purchase pre-owned, authenticated, and certified Bang & Olufsen originals. In a world that moves fast - and discards even faster - the Reloved programme continues Bang & Olufsen’s commitment to honour what already exists: keeping iconic design in motion. Not just preserved but refurbished to play for years to come – love, on repeat “Reloved is the continuation of a story that began a century ago - a belief that design and sound should endure. We’ve always created products that are meant to be cherished for generations. This programme allows us to preserve that heritage by refurbishing our original pieces and helping them find new homes, ready to be loved again.” says Dorte Vestergaard, Head of Reloved at Bang & Olufsen

Each product that enters the programme begins its new journey through a meticulous process: traded in, inspected, refurbished, certified, and finally Reloved –complete with up to a three-year warranty. Rooted in the brand’s century-long belief that design excellence stands the test of time, Reloved celebrates the enduring craftsmanship and longevity that defines Bang &

Olufsen. Bringing beautiful sound to new homes, generation after generation. Bang & Olufsen has long refurbished and repaired out-of-warranty products dating back to the 1960s. Reloved marks the start of a structured, brand-led approach to supporting multiple cycles of use for Bang & Olufsen product circularity. Every product is inspected by experts, refurbished to full functionality, and certified as a genuine Bang & Olufsen original. Each item is graded according to conditionMint, Excellent, or Good - and is covered by warranty, ensuring trust, transparency, and lasting quality.

The debut Reloved drop features five handpicked products: Beoplay P2, Beoplay A2, Beosound Edge, Beosound 3000, and Beogram 2000. Products are selected based on availability of authentic spare parts and contemporary relevance, ensuring each piece can continue to perform as beautifully as it was designed to. Further certified Reloved drops will happen on a monthly basis. Reloved is more than an initiative - it’s a testament to the power of design made to endure. Each refurbished product carries its story forward: from one home to another, and one generation to the next. With

Barco has announced that it plans to integrate the newly launched folio.

NVIDIA IGX Thor robotics processor into its medical solutions port-

Reloved, Bang & Olufsen reaffirms its promise that great sound, like great design, should never go to waste. For the first time, clients can explore and purchase certified pre-owned Bang & Olufsen products directly from the brand’s website. The programme launches initially in the EU, UK, Norway, and Switzerland, with monthly product drops and expansion planned for additional markets in 2026. Bang & Olufsen’s first Reloved products are online now, while the next collection will drop later this year.

Crest Audio CPL+ Loudspeaker lines receives full EASE and CLF2 integration

Crest Audio, a division of Peavey Commercial Audio, has expanded the capabilities of its latest CPL+ loudspeaker series with full support for EASE (Enhanced Acoustic Simulator for Engineers) and CLF2 (Common Loudspeaker Format) data integration. The move gives AV consultants, system designers, and integrators direct access to accurate, manufacturer-verified loudspeaker data for use in predictive acoustic modelling,

coverage mapping, and design validation - essential steps in today’s data-driven installation workflow. The CPL+ range combines tour-grade components, robust cabinetry, and refined voicing to deliver high output, clarity, and reliability in demanding environments. Designed for both fixed installation and mobile reinforcement, the series includes a family of full-range and subwoofer models, offering coverage and configuration options for a wide variety of applications. Now EASE and CLF2-enabled, each CPL+ loudspeaker now ships with comprehensive GLL and CF2 data files, allowing users to perform detailed design simulations within EASE 5, EASE 4, and CLF Viewer, as well as most CLF compatible simulation software, providing:

•3D balloon and polar plots for precise directivity analysis

•Frequency response and phase plots validated to industry standards

•Comparative overlays to match CPL+ models against other manufacturers

•Accurate SPL coverage and STI mapping when deployed in EASE-modelled venues

“EASE and CLF2 integration ensure that CPL+ is not just powerful in performance, but also predictable in design,” said Christoph Sesseck, Sales Manager for Peavey Commercial Audio (EMEA). “We know that consultants and system designers depend on credible data. Now, they can drop CPL+ straight into their modelling software and trust that what they see in simulation is what they’ll get in the room. The combination of verified acoustic data, robust hardware design, and installation flexibility means our CPL+ loudspeakers can be confidently specified across diverse projects — from high-energy live music venues and auditoriums to corporate AV systems, educational spaces, and leisure environments.”

By supporting both EASE and CLF2, Crest Audio reinforces its commitment to open data standards, empowering consultants to model, compare, and specify CPL+ products with confidence alongside any professional loudspeaker brand. The CPL+ range includes six twoway full-range, two coax, and two column array enclo-

sures, featuring premium low-frequency drivers paired with a high-frequency driver for exceptional clarity and output. Offering a choice of constant-directivity horns or, with selected models, rotatable horns, the series provides optimal pattern control for precise coverage in any environment.

Completing the lineup, a choice of subwoofers delivers high-efficiency low-frequency performance with extended depth and tight, controlled punch. All models are designed for versatility, with flying, pole-mount, and bracket-mount options that make them equally at home in permanent installations or portable sound applications. All enclosures in the range are available in a tough black or white finish, featuring birch plywood construction and integrated rigging points, ensuring durability and easy integration into venues from theatres, clubs, and houses of worship to arenas, stadium concourses, and multipurpose halls.

D-Tools Cloud introduces Interconnect Diagrams

D-Tools has announced the launch of Interconnect Diagrams in D-Tools Cloud, a powerful new feature that gives integrators an intelligent, visual way to design and document signal flow and wire connections with complete accuracy. Built directly into D-Tools Cloud, Interconnect Diagrams replace disconnected spreadsheets and CAD drawings with an interactive, always-synced canvas that shows how devices connect in a project - by system, phase, or location. Each connection is automatically linked to the project’s bill of materials (BOM), ensuring every team member, from sales to installation, is working from the same up-to-date data. “Interconnect Diagrams represent the next step in accurately representing a system design and creates a communication platform around which team members gain a common understanding of a system’s design intent,” said Randy Stearns, CEO of D-Tools.

Interconnect Diagrams transform how integrators visualize, coordinate, and execute on projects. With quotes

and device connections synchronized, teams can collaborate more effectively, reduce costly errors, and gain confidence that projects are delivered in a manner that aligns with the original design intent. Unlike traditional tools, Interconnect Diagrams require no extra setup or third-party software. Teams can start immediately, utilizing D-Tools Cloud’s embedded Product Library; connections are made by simply selecting devices within a quote. The result is greater clarity and understanding across teams and clients, enabling clearer communication, fewer mistakes, and more efficient project delivery from proposal through installation. Key features include:

•Interactive Diagram Canvas – Visually connect devices with an intuitive click-to-connect experience.

•Flexible Layouts – Filter by system, phase, or location for clear, contextual visibility.

•Catalog Sync – Connections remain tied to live product and BOM data.

•Connection Summary Report – Generate documentation for field personnel instantly.

•Dynamic Grouping and Filters – Quickly locate and organize devices within any project.

Datapath has launched Aligo Workstation, a purpose-built interface designed to give operators real-time control of sources using Datapath’s intelligent AV-over-IP and KVM platform, Aligo

Introducing video style grade: from animatic to art direction

Previs Pro today announced a major update to its flagship Animatics feature – introducing AI-powered video styling. Video Style Grade is a new feature that transforms fully animated sequences into stylised, cinematic clips using generative AI. Similar to Previs Pro’s existing Style Grade for static images, this feature enables users to render animatics in distinct visual styles – from painterly and hand-drawn looks to photorealistic previews –helping creators better communicate tone and art direction in early pre-production.

Introduced in Previs Pro 3, Animatics transformed traditional storyboards into moving, production-ready sequences – combining timing, pacing, and camera movement with character and prop animation with cinematographic control impossible to achieve with prompted AI. The feature gives filmmakers the ability to preview the blocking, rhythm and flow of a scene long before cameras roll, bridging the gap between storyboard and full Previs. “With Video Style Grade, users can now go beyond motion,” said Ian Lynch-Smith, founder of Previs Pro. “You can visualize your entire sequence in the aesthetic of your film – from gritty realism to ink – all while keeping your camera work, timing, and direction intact. This is a unique advantage Previs Pro brings to animated AI generated video – it’s about ex-

tending creative control, not replacing it.”

This workflow aligns with Previs Pro’s growing suite of AI-assisted creative tools, including Style Grade and Light Grade, which use similar human created Previs as the hard ground truth for AI refinement in still frames. Together, these tools provide a powerful bridge between early previsualization and final production aesthetics –empowering teams to explore creative directions without complex rendering pipelines. Crucially, these AI systems are designed to enhance, not replace, the creative process – the concept and storyboard must be established first, ensuring that artistic intent remains firmly in the hands of the creators. Video Style Grade is available to use in the Previs Pro app now – downloadable from the App Store.

OUTSTANDING EXPERIENCES

Powered by Pandoras Box Software

Pandoras Box® Software Version 8.10 is here!

We added exciting new features to Version 8.10 to improve workflows and help you create even more outstanding AV experiences.

Try our free 90-day demo today

Let your imagination take you wherever you want to go with Pandoras Box Software and our free online training sessions.

Creativity, technique, intuition, and knowledge come together to turn everything into theatre with 3D mapping. Part of that formula is the support of the Christie team and Pandoras Box solutions.

DIRK VAN POPPEL 3D mapping artist

Artist DIRK VAN POPPEL

Partner SAHARA BENELUX

Venue ST. JAN, DEN BOSCH

Rethinking a ‘magical’ space

The museum’s Performance Center hosts live music five days a week as well as serving as its central ‘live room’ for recording purposes. The renovation of the 150 seat capacity space and its attendant Control Room was driven by a desire for more robust production capabilities as well as a more refined location for the museum’s broadcast and webcast activities. “The Performance Center has a wonderful acoustic signature and as such is a magical space, but it was initially designed to be a multi-purpose room,” explains New Orleans Jazz Museum Chief Production Engineer Danny Kadar. “It’s an incredible place to play as a musician and take in a live performance as an audience member, but there were areas we wished to improve as live-streaming and broadcasting have become a more important part of our programming.”

“The opportunity arose post-pandemic to refit the space for these purposes, and at that point we had a serious rethink of what we wanted to accomplish, and who could help us get there. This would allow us to focus on what the room’s usage has evolved to be.”

Herb Alpert – who has utilized the services of WSDG on many high-profile projects, including the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music and Harlem School of the Arts Renaissance Project – introduced the firm to museum leadership. WSDG partnered with Trapolin-Peer Architects, the museum’s Architect, and Kadar and his team on the renovation of the space. “What makes this project special is that it was a holistic evolution of what the museum does best – presenting incredible live jazz performances and preserving these performances for future generations,” states WSDG Partner, COO Joshua Morris. “Working alongside Trapolin-Peer, who have redefined the look and feel of the museum over the past five years, we devised a program to elevate their performance and recording spaces while also supporting their pivot to live-streaming and broadcast.”

Elevation, aesthetics, and sonic versatility

A key part of the project was retaining the Performance Center’s existing acoustic character while tightening it in both an acoustic and A/V sense for its expanded range of responsibilities. The WSDG Team took inspiration from the Performance Center’s slatted wood acoustic wall treatments to design a new, permanent front of house position that could serve these purposes. The team also made A/V recommendations for the sound system to optimize acoustic results. “It’s ultimately a balance of needs here – preserving the magic of a small, lively performance venue while optimizing it for recording and streaming,” said WSDG Partner, Director of Construction Technology, Matt Ballos. “Doing that while also designing a purpose-built FOH position that matched the feel of the room allowed us to elevate the entire space without compromising what made it special in the first place.”

“WSDG brought a very different approach to what we’ve been used to when dealing with acoustics,” adds Kidder. “Typically we’ve worked with people who try to

hide these elements away and aren’t working with the aesthetics of a given space. WSDG had a different approach which incorporated the treatment into the millwork and worked with the aesthetics of the room.”

“We really learned a lot working together and the results made a noticeable difference on how the space operates.”

More extensive renovations were made to the venue’s control room to turn it into a world-class recording and mixing space. This included reshaping the room and updating its interior room acoustics, building a new ISO booth, adding accommodations for Dolby Atmos recording and mixing, and reworking the HVAC systems for quieter operation. The suite now provides the sound engineers of NOLA Jazz with a creative haven suitable for all of their audio recording needs. “We do a lot of work in that control room that goes beyond its initial remit – recording and broadcasting the shows, recording artists for release on Gallatin Street Records, creating audio content for the museum exhibits, the list goes on,” says Kadar. “Now we finally have a control room where we can do all these things and mix-inhouse.”

“It sounds fantastic in there now and it’s been a total gamechanger for us. We couldn’t be happier with how

the project turned out.”

“The work of the NOLA Jazz Museum is vital to the preservation of one of the great American art forms,” concludes Morris. “We’re incredibly proud of the work we’ve been able to accomplish to aid in this important mission. Even better, it means we get more and better jazz in the world, which is something we could all ben-

Huntsville Museum of Art days of punk

The Huntsville Museum of Art is turning up the volume on rebellion with Days of Punk:, a vivid, sensory dive into the punk and new wave scenes of the late 1970s and early 1980s. Featuring more than 100 photographs, Days of Punk captures the raw energy, attitude, and artistry of icons like The Clash, Joan Jett, and Billy Idol. But this exhibition doesn’t just show the spirit of punkit lets visitors hear it!

Throughout the gallery, ten Holosonics Audio Spotlight AS-16iX speakers deliver an original soundtrack created by Roger Miller and Peter Prescott of the Boston-based band Mission of Burma. These custom soundscapes, ambient and unmistakably punk, are precisely targeted so visitors experience an intimate lay-

er of sound without it spilling into other parts of the space. “The addition of the speakers has greatly enhanced the exhibition experience, creating an immersive environment that brings the galleries to life. Their focused sound design seamlessly integrates into the space and adds a dynamic layer that draws visitors in and encourages deeper engagement with the photographic narratives,” said Natalie A. Mault Mead, Chief Curator, Huntsville Museum of Art

By pairing striking visuals with directional sound, the installation fully captures the pulse and intensity of the era, inviting visitors to step into the scene that helped shape a generation.

Jesus Christ Superstar’ in Hangar 4

In September and October 2025, the Komische Oper Berlin created a sensation. On 14 evenings, the rock oratorio ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ was staged in the monumental setting of Hangar 4 at the former Tempelhof airport – an extraordinary venue where the explosive power of the work was showcased in a spectacular production. The result was highly impressive. Hundreds of performers filled the vast stage, accompanied by an orchestra, a rock band, and a large choir. The stage design in the aircraft hangar – itself an iconic listed building – created an exciting setting where the action flowed back and forth between intoxicating collective ecstasy and quiet contemplation.

This multifaceted rock opera that effectively combines music, theatre and dance set new standards not only visually but also in terms of electroacoustics – and it did so in a location that is anything but ideal for the use of PA equipment. A key role in ensuring the best sound quality was played by the brand-new Sennheiser Spectera wideband ecosystem. Two Spectera Base Stations, 32 SEK bodypacks and eight DAD antennas delivered a magnificent performance. “There are two main reasons why Sennheiser Spectera systems were the preferred choice for ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’,“ explained tonmeister Holger Schwark, who was responsible for the sound design of the rock oratorio.

“First of all, Spectera is remarkably unaffected by interference that usually occurs in such demanding environments with lots of RF reflection. Secondly, the performers enjoy the high level of wearing comfort that it offers, as they only need a single beltpack instead of the usual two devices – the special feature of the SEK bodypacks is that they function simultaneously as a bodypack transmitter and an in-ear receiver. That benefit is much appreciated, of course, even though ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ does not have all that many costume changes.”

Schwark pointed to the hangar’s huge metal doors, the metal ceiling and the multitude of steel girders. “Many of the challenges that you have to overcome with conventional wireless systems are simply not a problem with Spectera because of its innovative transmission principle. Even the RF reflections, which are usually extremely annoying, are beneficial! In a direct comparison to the settings that had to be made in previous years,

operating the wireless system for ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ in Hangar 4 was remarkably stress-free.”

A similar opinion was expressed by Simon Böttler, the permanent tonmeister at the Komische Oper Berlin, who alternated with his colleague Andrea Jetter in operating the FOH console during the shows. “I didn’t have the opportunity before ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ to gain any practical experience with the Spectera system. But I can now confirm that this relatively new system works absolutely perfectly for us. I haven’t noticed any dropouts or interference of any kind at the FOH console. My colleagues from the wireless world also told me just how pleasant it was for them that they only have to equip the performers with one bodypack instead of two before the start of the show.”

Schwark emphasised that many performers really appreciate it when they see their own name appear on the continuously visible e-ink displays of the SEK bodypacks. “It may seem like a small detail, but it’s one that gives pleasure to a lot of performers,” said the tonmeister, who has completed many successful classical music projects of all shapes and sizes and who also regularly works for rock and pop acts such as the Pet Shop Boys. During the performances of ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’, 27 of a total of 32 Sennheiser Spectera SEK bodypacks were used in their dual function as a transmitter and receiver. The nine main actors as well as a further 18 ensemble members benefited from this bidirectional operation.

The saxophonist of the live rock band also used an SEK bodypack as a transmitter enabling him to move around the stage during the show. His instrument was fitted with a Neumann Miniature Clip Mic MCM system with a KK 14 cardioid capsule. Two additional SEK bodypacks served as pure in-ear solutions at the monitoring console. During the rehearsals, the assistant directors also used two SEK bodypacks, which were then available as back-ups for the shows themselves. Böttler pointed out that not only the saxophone but also the entire string section of the orchestra was miked with Neumann MCM systems. Schwark confirmed that the Neumann solutions provide very good sound characteristics and user-friendly handling. Neumann KM 184 small diaphragm condenser microphones were used as overheads and for miking various percussion instruments. “You can definitely say that the Spectera wireless system is quicker to set up than a conventional wireless system,” said Schwark with satisfaction. “It’s extremely convenient when you can manage all the components in one central system and you no longer have to handle a lot of individual devices, for example to synchronise the bodypack transmitters and in-ear receivers.” Böttler added: “When you use Spectera for the first time, it initially requires some rethinking due to the system’s innovative approach, but the advantages are obvious.”

“Spectera is a scalable system, and when I was preparing the shows in Hangar 4, it soon became clear to me that the project couldn’t be implemented properly with a single Base Station,” said Schwark. “My aim was

to keep the latency as low as possible while ensuring a stable wireless connection with a good range and still providing all performers with excellent sound quality. During the performances, we used the ‘Live’ audio link mode for the microphones and ‘Live Low Latency’ for the IEM channels. Both provide a balanced relationship between sound quality, range, latency and the consumption of energy and resources.”

This project commissioned by the Komische Oper Berlin in 2025 was the third time that Schwark had worked in a hangar at the former Tempelhof airport. “It was already decided last year that ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ would be on the programme for 2025,” he said. “Detailed planning began at the start of this year. The contract to provide the sound equipment was awarded to Neumann & Müller GmbH & Co. KG. As usual, additional material was rented from external providers. For the new Sennheiser Spectera systems, this was FREAKSOUND GmbH. Currently, there are still only a few rental companies in Germany that can supply Spectera systems.” Before the performances in Hangar 4, Schwark had used Spectera for “The World of Hans Zimmer – An Immersive Symphony” in Oberhausen.

In order to configure the Sennheiser Spectera systems efficiently, Schwark used the brand-independent RF planning software ‘SoundBase Sennheiser Spectera Mode Planner’. In Hangar 4, Spectera WebUI was displayed on a screen in the wireless world, and the wireless specialists working there on behalf of Neumann & Müller confirmed its exceptional clarity.

The SEK bodypacks with their Sennheiser BA 70 lithi-

um-ion battery packs can achieve an operating time of up to seven hours, which easily met the requirements of ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’. The battery packs were recharged in five L 6000 charging stations, before being pragmatically stored in a small cardboard box labelled “full” and available for the performance.

In Hangar 4, each of the two Spectera Base Stations used two 8 MHz wide TV channels in the UHF range, which corresponded to an overall bandwidth of 32 MHz (4 × 8 MHz). The centre frequencies were 474, 490, 538 and 586 MHz. The redundant power supplies of the Spectera Base Stations were connected both to a UPS and to the mains power supply. The compact 19” mainframes were integrated via MADI into the PA system, which was operated in a fibre optic ring with a word width of 24 bits and a sampling rate of 96 kHz.

“Using Spectera is particularly worthwhile if you need a larger number of wireless channels,” said Schwark. “I’m sure that nobody would seriously consider using such a system for just two or three headmics. It wouldn’t make much sense from a cost perspective either. But for our setup in Hangar 4, Spectera is in fact more cost-effective than other systems with a comparable number of microphone and in-ear channels. We actually worked out the costs in detail for ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’.“

A total of eight Spectera DAD antennas were distributed throughout Hangar 4 in strategic positions and were connected to the two Spectera base stations using long Cat cables. Spectera does not require the use of conventional coaxial cables and eliminates the need for

combiners, splitters and boosters. “Flexible Ethernet cables are a huge advantage especially when you have to route long cables high up below the ceiling into the rig,” said Böttler. “The wireless connections between the SEK bodypacks and the DAD antennas work reliably and the signal is not lost even when the performers move from the performance area into the canteen, which is separated by a door.” The Sennheiser DAD antennas serve both as receiving and transmitting antennas for IEM/IFB signals, mic/line signals and control data.

In addition to the sound crew from the Komische Oper Berlin, others involved in setting up Spectera included Stefan Ickert (Project Manager Neumann & Müller), and on behalf of Sennheiser, Per Witte, Business Development Manager, Volker Schmitt, Manager Technical Application Engineering, and Gerhard Spyra, Technical Application Engineer.

Kaspar Schwabe from Komische Oper Berlin operated the monitoring console for ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’. He had already worked at the former Tempelhof airport in Hans-Werner Henze’s ‘The Raft of the Medusa’ (2023) and Georg Friedrich Händel’s ‘Messiah’ (2024). “Using Spectera is a premiere for me”, the experienced audio professional explained. “About a year ago, I attended a Sennheiser presentation on the new WMAS technology, so I already knew quite a lot about the fundamentals in theory. The excellent initial impression that I had gained has now been confirmed in practice. The sound provided by Spectera is far better than with analogue in-ear channels, and the transmission of the microphone signals also works perfectly. For ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’, we didn’t even use the PCM mode but used the data-reduced audio link modes ‘Live’ for the microphone signals and ‘Live Low Latency’ for the in-ear channels. ‘Live’ mode provides a clear, detailed sound that is comparable with other digital Sennheiser wireless systems – but when it comes to reception and range, the Spectera system sets completely new standards, especially in such a demanding environment as Hangar 4. Schwabe added: “Many performers are really pleased with the fact that they only need a single device for the microphone and monitoring during the shows. And as far as the sound is concerned, I’ve only received extremely positive feedback from several people involved – so it’s not only experts who notice the difference compared to analogue IEM transmission with a compander. However, some performers found the fact that the control button on the SEK bodypack does not have a fixed end position a little unusual at first. I showed them that the current sound level is displayed when they press the control button twice. Once they had been made aware of that, there were no more questions. And anyway, most of the performers don’t even touch their beltpack again once they are in costume. We defined a sensible limit for the maximum listening volume, which can’t be exceeded – the maximum playing volume for the SEK bodypacks is actually incredibly high. We set the minimum volume at a level that ensures that the sound always remains audible, so that nobody could get the impression that their beltpack is defective or deactivated.”

Schwabe summed up: “I think that this combination of a bodypack transmitter and an in-ear receiver in a single pack is definitely a groundbreaking solution for our application. As an additional feature for the monitoring console, I would also like to see a Cue Input function so that I can listen to all channels one after another at the touch of a button. At the moment, I make do with the Solo function in the console channels, but I would, of course, prefer to listen to the individual wireless channels directly on my SEK bodypack. From what I’ve heard so far, this will be resolved with an update, and I expect there will be some more very interesting new features for the Spectera wireless system in the future.”

When asked, finally, whether he had noticed anything particular about the new Sennheiser Spectera systems during ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’, Schwark replied: “I think what’s fantastic is that I really didn’t notice anything at all at the FOH console – Spectera worked perfectly and sounds excellent! Perhaps I can take a phrase often used by a Californian tech company and apply it to Spectera: It just works!”

d&b powers a new era of events at Les Salles du Carrousel

Les Salles du Carrousel, housed beneath the iconic glass pyramid of the Louvre in the heart of Paris, offers 6,635m2 of modular interior space to cater for events of all types and sizes. As the site operator, Viparis has relied for many years on the expertise of Magnum - one of France’s leading audiovisual providers - to deliver highend audiovisual solutions that elevate the prestige and excellence of the events it hosts. When the time came to renew the audio systems, Magnum selected the new CCL (Compact Cardioid Line Array) system from d&b audiotechnik to elevate the venue’s audio offering whilst respecting both Viparis’ and Magnum’s stringent sustainability criteria. “The previous system, while functional, was over 10 years old, and starting to show signs of wear and tear,” explained Eduard Dubus, who heads up the technical team at Magnum. “We were looking to replace it with something more modern, and ideally visually discreet to cater for the wide variety of events held in Les Salles du Carrousel. After much discussion and several demos, it became clear that we didn’t need to look any further – the new CCL system from d&b was exactly what we needed.”

Magnum equipped three rooms with the new CCL system — Delorme and Le Nôtre, each accommodating up to 2,500 guests, and Gabriel, a smaller space situated directly behind Delorme that can be opened up to form one expansive hall. The challenge in all three spaces was a combination of low ceilings and reflective wooden floors, which generated unwanted sound reflections. Magnum also wanted a compact solution that required fewer loudspeakers than the previous point source system, which had been highly visible. “Our new CCL system met all of Magnum’s requirements, significantly

improving sound quality, intelligibility and visual impact,” said d&b’s technical project lead, Boris Jaquier-Laforge. “The superior directivity control and cardioid design – which means very little excitation behind the loudspeaker – has made an enormous difference to the sound quality in the Salles du Carrousel.”

Working closely with d&b, Magnum selected clusters of three CCL12s as the base configuration mounted on specially designed trusses that match the curvature of the ceiling. The same trusses also house the lighting equipment. The larger rooms benefit from seven clusters each, arranged in three rows of two down the length of the room, plus a central cluster. The smaller space has four clusters in two rows. All are powered by d&b D40 amplifiers. “We preferred to have small clusters of just three boxes each to cover short distances as it makes the system much more modular and flexible and is much less visually imposing than larger arrays,” revealed Dubus. “The laser-precise directivity and the almost complete lack of back spill thanks to the cardioid design make this possible. We can really place the sound exactly where we want it and reflections have been significantly reduced.”

“It’s been a journey for us, as the d&b workflow is very different to what we’ve been used to for the last decade or so,” Dubus continued, “but the results are excellent, as has been the service from d&b who have accompanied us every step of the way. We couldn’t have hoped for better.” In addition to the CCL system, Magnum has

also invested in 10 compact CCL-SUB subwoofers which are completely mobile, in addition to 20 44S front fills and 10 versatile E8 loudspeakers that serve as stage monitors. Finally, Magnum also equipped the foyer area with five custom-painted 24C column loudspeakers for background music, announcements, and vocal reinforcement. “Working with d&b has been a real pleas-

Cheltenham Racecourse enhances safety and spectator experience

Cheltenham Racecourse, home of jump racing and one of the world’s most prestigious racing venues, has upgraded to a new L-Acoustics professional sound system designed and installed by Audiotek in conjunction with technical service provider RaceTech. The upgrade replaces parts of the existing PA system with a cutting-edge, fully monitored system that delivers uncompromising speech intelligibility for live commentary, background music, race-day announcements and emergency and evacuation messaging - essential for maintaining the excitement and the safety for up to 75,000 spectators across the grounds. A project three years in the making, the Jockey Club, which owns and operates Cheltenham Racecourse along with 14 other racecourses across the UK, selected Audiotek following a competitive tender process managed by audio consultant Stuart Strachan of RaceTech, who specified

strict performance criteria for the new system based on the British Standard BS 7827.

“Cheltenham is one of the jewels of the Jockey Club portfolio, and it was important that the new system matched the heritage and prestige of the venue while meeting modern performance and compliance standards,” says Chris Kmiec, Project Manager at Audiotek. “The brief was all about clarity - ensuring every word of the live commentary is heard precisely.”

“The crowd at Cheltenham is one of the loudest in racing – the ‘Cheltenham Roar’ at the start of the Festival is famous – so it was vital that we selected a system which would play in harmony with, not fight against, the atmosphere of the enthusiastic crowd” explains Strachan. The replacement of Cheltenham’s ageing system was driven by the need to comply with BS 7827, the British Standard code of practice for designing and operating emergency sound systems at sports grounds and large public venues. This standard ensures that voiced messages remain intelligible in all parts of a venue during both routine operations and emergencies, defining requirements for speech intelligibility and sound pressure levels. The old installation no longer met these modern standards, particularly in maintaining clarity during live race commentary, a defining part of the race-day experience.

The architectural and environmental challenges of the site added further complexity. Cheltenham’s grandstand, built in the 1970s, features exposed façades, balconies, and variable crowd densities, requiring precise control of coverage and SPL uniformity. Weatherproofing was also a crucial consideration, with the system needing to operate safely and consistently in open-air conditions. “The goal was not just to meet compliance but to enhance the spectator experience,” explains Kmiec. “Horse racing commentary is continuous and dynamic; every word has to cut through the crowd without sounding harsh or fatiguing. We needed a solution that could deliver power, precision, and clarity in equal measure.”

To address these challenges, Audiotek and RaceTech used L-Acoustics Soundvision as the primary design tool alongside EASE. Working with L-Acoustics UK application engineers Ross Brett and Kyle Durno, the team ran multiple design iterations to achieve even coverage and full compliance with BS 7827. Predictive modelling enabled Audiotek to simulate SPL distribution, speech intelligibility, and mechanical constraints across the entire betting ring and grandstand façade, while FIR filter optimisation fine-tuned tonal balance across varying audience zones. “Soundvision gave us the confidence to predict how speech would project over the betting ring and the grandstand tiers,” says Kmiec. “We could test scenarios virtually before installation, verify results on-site, and ensure both acoustic and mechanical precision. It’s an invaluable tool for projects of this scale.”

“The accuracy of the acoustic modelling data really made the L-Acoustics bid stand out during the tender process. The correlation between Soundvision, EASE, and the data I measured on site during a product demo

proved to be ruler-accurate, which really gave me confidence as a consultant to recommend the system to my customers at the Jockey Club. When significant investment is being made, it’s essential that the system can perform to exacting requirements.” says Strachan.

The final design deploys A15i arrays that cover the 40-metre throw from the front of the grandstand to the running rail, covering the main spectator area, configured as hangs of three or four cabinets each, using a mixture of Focus and Wide variants. Fifty-four X8i loudspeakers cover the tiered seats, steppings, and act as front-fill between the main arrays. Every speaker’s location was precisely defined in Soundvision and cross-verified for mechanical compatibility with the existing grandstand structure. Custom bracketry was engineered to integrate neatly into the façade, maintaining a low visual profile while ensuring weather protection and long-term stability.

The system is powered by six LA7.16i amplified controllers, chosen for their reliability, power density, and built-in monitoring capabilities. The advanced DSP and networked control via L-Acoustics Network Manager allow Cheltenham’s technical team to supervise remotely, ensuring operational confidence on event days. “The LA7.16i has all the necessary features for a life safety system – dual network audio and control, analogue backup, speaker line monitoring, fault reporting, and seamless integration with the Q-SYS DSP. It’s clear that the team at L-Acoustics has put real thought into the sports ground use case.” said Strachan. “Designing to BS 7827 added complexity, but it played to the strengths of the L-Acoustics ecosystem,” adds Kmiec. “With Soundvision and LA Network Manager, we could design, deploy, and monitor with total precision. The end result is discreet, powerful, and completely fit for purpose.”

“During the tender process, L-Acoustics was the proposal I was most excited to turn on,” says Strachan. That excitement proved justified when the new system debuted successfully during Cheltenham’s October race meeting ‘The Showcase,’ immediately improving speech clarity and crowd engagement across the venue. “Customer feedback has been excellent from both the Cheltenham team and spectators,” Strachan continues. “As sound engineers, we’re usually happy if nobody notices we’re there – but spectators are actively praising the sound quality.”

Looking ahead, the installation prepares the venue for the world-famous Cheltenham Festival in March, serving up to 280,000 racegoers over four days. Beyond racing, the flexible, networked infrastructure supports live events, hospitality, and AV integration across the site. “Cheltenham now benefits from a future-proof sound system that enhances both functionality and guest experience,” comments Gemma Steve, Regional Head of Operations at Cheltenham Racecourse. “Audiotek’s team delivered the installation with impressive speed and responsiveness within a tight timeframe, and the support from L-Acoustics has been fantastic – Kyle and Ross did an excellent job with the system design,”

added Strachan. “Above all, the product sounds fantastic. The A15i fills a real market niche as a high-end constant curvature array with incredible output at a great price point.”

Luxury cruise liner brings an ocean of guest entertainment

PPDS has announced the installation of 110x Google Cast and Netflix ready Philips MediaSuite TVs on Vietnam’s most luxurious 6-star floating superyacht hotels – the spectacular Grand Pioneers I and II. Halong Bay (which translates as ‘descending dragon’) on Tuan Chau Island is one of Vietnam’s most picturesque, fastest growing tourist destinations, with white sandy beaches, a clear turquoise ocean, and thousands of iconic limestone islets creating a paradisical setting like no other on earth.

With visitor numbers increasing threefold since 2010 to almost seven million, there has been an equal boom in hotel properties, estimated to now be more than 38,000, with around 780,000 rooms. As competition for hotels reaches an all-time high, coupled with growing high expectations from guests, the need for hoteliers – both on land and at sea – to differentiate and create unforgettable home from home experiences has never been greater.

Seizing new opportunities, Viet Thuan Group, the No. 1 waterway bulk cargo transport group in Vietnam, re-

cently acquired the twin 110 x 19 metre, seven deck, and 25,400 ton, Grand Pioneers I and II superyachts, which are the first luxury yacht hotels located in the Halong Bay. Operated by Grand Pioneers, the ambition was to set a new benchmark for onboard luxury, with a key focus centred on a ‘state of the art’ TV system, to bring unparalleled picture quality, entertainment choice, and capabilities to its modern and spacious cabins. Working in partnership with leading IT and AV integration specialist, LOGICO, PPDS’ market favourite Philips MediaSuite TV range was quickly identified as the standout choice and the only dedicated hospitality solution of its kind capable of achieving the company’s ambitions for this groundbreaking maritime project.

Already the preferred solution for some of the most established hotel chains around the world on land and, increasingly, at sea, a combined total of 110x Philips MediaSuite TVs – ranging from 50”-55” – were successfully installed inside cabins on the twin vessels ahead of their maiden voyages. Connected to a local media server on board, guests can experience a near seamless transition to the ways they choose to access and enjoy their preferred TV entertainment inside their modern and spacious cabins.

Surpassing the entertainment capabilities and opportunities found on any cruise ship TV, Philips MediaSuite lets guests take full control of how, when, and what passengers choose to watch on the big screen, with an extensive choice of terrestrial channels, catch up services, plus a library of movies, shows, music, channels*, and games available to suit all interests and age groups.

Guests can even experience a fully immersive experience, watching a Hollywood blockbuster while literally being on the set itself, with the likes of James Bond: The Living Daylights, Pan, and Kong Skull Island among movies filmed in Halong Bay. Furthermore, with Philips MediaSuite including Google Cast already integrated into the TV itself, guests on board can access and enjoy their favourite content from their preferred streaming platforms directly on the big screen using their own personal device (smartphone, tablet, laptop).

Up and running within seconds, with Google Cast guests simply scan the unique QR code displayed on the screen to begin streaming, with Apple TV+, DAZN, Disney+, Prime, and YouTube, among supported platforms. With customer security of paramount importance, all accounts are immediately disconnected – and any login details deleted – automatically upon checkout.

More than simply a TV, all displays on board the two ships, utilise the benefits of PPDS’ exclusive professional grade CMND remote management platform, providing a wave of new communication opportunities for the 100 plus crew members to communicate with guests directly in their cabins, while helping to ensure optimum performances at all time. Highly intuitive and requiring minimal training, CMND brings a range of on screen customisation opportunities for the Grand Pioneers (on and offsite) team to feature a range of tailored backgrounds (colours and images) to suit their company branding or occasion, plus other additional messaging (marketing, promotions, safety, personalised notes), all on a highly intuitive TV user interface.

Aligned with PPDS’ strategy, the two Grand Pioneers super yachts have been designed with sustainability in mind, becoming the first cruise ships in Vietnam to meet international standards based on their green credentials. Impacting all areas of the two ships, interiors are made from industrial wood (trees grown for industrial timber), instead of exploiting long term forests. The deck areas are made from environmentally modified bamboo, while the ships’ BMS (Building Management System) automatically adjusts the temperature, saving energy consumption of the air conditioning system by around 30 per cent. Grand Pioneers’ focus on sustainability also extended to the TVs, for which Philips MediaSuite further excelled.

Julian Lim, Sales VP for APA at PPDS, commented: “Since the introduction of Philips MediaSuite, we’ve helped to transform the in-room entertainment experiences in thousands of guestrooms around the world, from small B&Bs and motels to multinational chains and resorts. As with all our solutions, Philips MediaSuite was designed to provide maximum versatility, and the ability to be tailored to any environment our partners and customers required. As demonstrated by this incredible project, this now includes hotels at sea. This is a landmark installation for Philips MediaSuite TVs, and we’re thrilled that guests staying on board the Grand Pioneers I and II can enjoy a TV experience unmatched by any other cruise.”

APPLICATION

Mr Uy. Trinh Trungm IT Manager at Grand Pioneers added: “At Grand Pioneers, we strive to deliver unforgettable experiences for all our guests, whether on board to celebrate a wedding or other special occasion, dining on the ocean, hosting an important business meeting, or enjoying a well-deserved break. As the newest and most luxurious superyachts in Halong Bay, we wanted to raise the bar in our cabins drawing on the latest advances in technology to create an experience better than anything seen before on a luxury cruise –and indeed in many hotels. Philips MediaSuite has surpassed all expectations, and our guests are reaping the benefits. We cannot speak highly enough of the PPDS and Logico teams that combined seamlessly to bring our ambitions to life.”

Christie laser projectors bring largescale mapping to UNESCO site in Portugal

Visitors to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Quinta da Regaleira in Sintra (Portugal) discovered a new way to experience its mystical gardens and architecture, through an immersive night time show, Festina Lente, created by Vortice Dance Company. The project featured 12 Christie HS Series laser projectors to illuminate the estate’s façades, trees, and lakes with vivid imagery inspired by classical literature and the search for self-knowledge. The experience transformed one of Portugal’s most iconic landmarks into a dynamic display of light, sound, and movement. Blending dance, video mapping, and storytelling, Festina Lente guided audiences through a series of projected scenes that reinterpreted passages from Virgil’s Aeneid and Camões’ Os Lusíadas—two epics central to Western and Portuguese literary traditions.

Founded in 2001 and based in Fátima, Vortice Dance Company is globally recognised for its innovative blend of dance and new technologies. Led by co-founders and artistic directors Cláudia Martins and Rafael Carriço, the company has performed in over 35 countries, earning awards like the UNESCO Grand Prix of Choreography. To achieve this immersive experience, the company deployed a total of 12 Christie 1DLP laser projectors—four DWU23-HS and eight D20WU-HS - across multiple areas of the site. The units were installed throughout the gardens and near architectural elements, carefully integrated into the natural surroundings. Because of the outdoor setting, all projectors were housed in custom weatherproof enclosures, camouflaged among vegetation to preserve the visual harmony of the location. The system was implemented with long-standing support from Christie’s partner Total AV, which has collaborated with Vortice in several of its multimedia productions over the years. “The projectors were positioned across several areas of Quinta da Rega-

leira, some a few metres from the projection surfaces due to restricted throw distances,” explained Rafael Carriço of Vortice. “In those cases, we used short-throw 0.84–1.02:1 zoom lenses to achieve the required image size and mapping precision within the available space.” The mapped areas ranged from 4 to 40 metres (13 to 131 feet) in width and 4 to 16 metres (13 to 52 feet) in height, covering a variety of materials including stone façades, arches, towers, vegetation, rocks, and water surfaces. Each projection required customised warping and brightness adjustments to ensure consistency across these highly irregular and reflective surfaces. The content was rendered and optimised specifically for each mapped area to maintain pixel accuracy and visual coherence across all projection surfaces within Quinta da Regaleira. “To address the complexity of the site’s architecture and natural relief, we carried out an extensive 3D mapping process,” added Carriço. “Each area was digitally modelled, and we performed manual

Visitors to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Quinta da Regaleira in gardens and architecture, through an immersive night time show, Festina

fine-tuning and warping directly on-site using advanced projection mapping software. Brightness, colour, and contrast were adjusted locally to ensure the imagery blended naturally with the environment.”

The projections were powered at native WUXGA (1920 × 1200) resolution, with multi-projector blends reaching up to 3840 × 1200 pixels, depending on the setup. For one of the main palace façades, two 23,000-lumen projectors were overlapped to deliver a combined brightness of 46,000 lumens. Synchronising multiple projection points distributed across such a large and complex site required careful control to guarantee cohesive transitions and consistent timing between projection areas. Operating outdoors presented additional challenges, from humidity and temperature fluctuations to the dense vegetation and uneven terrain of the heritage site. All units were installed inside robust, ventilated housings that protected them from environmental factors while maintaining stable thermal conditions. Regu-

lar monitoring and maintenance ensured continuous performance throughout the two-month exhibition. “The Christie projectors performed exceptionally well,” said Carriço. “Their high brightness and reliability were essential to bring the visual narrative to life on complex surfaces like stone and foliage, while withstanding the demanding outdoor conditions of a heritage site. Overall, the solution proved robust and adapted well to the outdoor environment. The result met with visual precision and artistic integrity across the entire installation.”

Meyer Sound PANTHER Powers Cirque du Soleil ALIZÉ

This November, Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group and Live Nation will premiere Cirque du Soleil ALIZÉ, its first-ever resident show in Europe, at Theatre am Potsdamer Platz in Berlin. To bring its immersive new blend of acrobatics and la magie nouvelle to life, Cirque turned to a Meyer Sound system supplied by Solotech and designed by veteran sound designer Jean-Michel Caron. For Caron, who has worked with Cirque du Soleil for more than 25 years in roles from monitor engineer to project manager to sound designer, ALIZÉ represents a new chapter. “I’ve done a lot of Big Top shows and arenas, but designing in a theatre was so exciting,” he says. “You have a controlled acoustic space where every detail can be fine-tuned, and you can really push the mix to the maximum.”

ALIZÉ combines traditional Cirque du Soleil artistry with illusions that blur the boundaries between circus and magic, a new art form Cirque calls ‘Acromagic’. Performers appear and disappear, defy gravity, and move between real and surreal worlds. For Caron, that meant bringing the sound design even more to the forefront. “Sound is a character in the show,” he explains. “If you lock what happens on stage with the music and sound design, you can build suspense, move the audience to the edge of their seat, and completely change their reaction.”

He points to the show’s opening scene as an example. “The first song takes place in a bedroom that’s ten feet in the air. At first everything plays in mono from the centre cluster, but the bedroom splits open, and the sound splits with it—suddenly you feel the surround come alive and left and right appear. It’s the system reinforcing the story, almost like another performer on stage.” That philosophy carries through the production’s spatial sound design, realized using Meyer Sound’s Spacemap Go sound design and mixing tool. “We have performers flying through the house, singers appearing in the balconies, and scenes that shift between the real world and a magical world,” says Caron. “With Spacemap Go,

in Sintra (Portugal) discovered a new way to experience its mystical Festina Lente, created by Vortice Dance Company.

I can move sounds anywhere in the room—a music box on a balcony, a vocal that suddenly comes from the opposite side—and pull the audience’s focus exactly where it needs to be.”

The Meyer Sound system centres around left and right arrays of 10 PANTHER large-format linear line array loudspeakers with 4 LEOPARD downfills, flanked by ULTRA-X82 versatile point source loudspeakers for crossfire and a centre 8-speaker PANTHER array. Low frequencies are delivered by dual cardioid hangs of three 2100-LFC low-frequency control elements, with five 1100-LFC low-frequency control elements deployed under the stage for special effects. Additional coverage is provided by ULTRA-X80 wide fills, three sets of timealigned LCR ULTRA-X20™ and ULTRA-X22™ under-balcony delays and UPQ-1P™ and UPQ 2P™ upper balcony delays, with ULTRA-X42™ stage side fills.

The Theatre am Potsdamer Platz hosts the Berlin Film Festival and was already equipped with a Dolby Atmos loudspeaker system. Caron integrated those speakers into the Meyer Sound system, repurposing them as surrounds. “We’re not using the Atmos processor; it’s all running through GALAXY and Spacemap Go,” he explains. “That gave me full control and flexibility. I like that Spacemap Go doesn’t lock you into a fixed speaker layout—you can draw whatever configuration you want and be creative.”

System optimisation and spatial processing are supplied by ten Galileo GALAXY Network Platforms, with six dedicated to the P.A. and four running in Spacemap Go mode to manage approximately 64 outputs. Everything

is connected via a Milan AVB network. Caron says he chose PANTHER for its power and transparency. “Even at very low levels you hear every detail, like a bow on a cello string or a musician breathing between notes,” says Caron. “And then it can hit full rock levels in the same room with no fatigue.”

The 2100-LFC proved to be the perfect partner to PANTHER. “It goes down to 28 Hz, and it’s flat across the room,” he adds. “Every bass note is distinct—you don’t get that mushy buildup. You feel the room shake, but the note is gone when it should be, and the next one comes clean. That speed and precision were a big reason I wanted this system.” The ALIZÉ soundtrack mixes full orchestral recordings with live performances, with vocalists, harps, clarinet, toy celesta, and kantile. “The system is so transparent that you can’t tell where the recording ends and the live musicians begin,” says Caron. “At some point you wonder if the singer’s mic is even on—it just sounds like she’s singing naturally in the room. That illusion is powerful, and it helps the magic of the show.”

For Caron, ALIZÉ raises the bar for resident Cirque du Soleil productions. “This show is different—from the illusions to the way sound and music are scored,” he says. “When we’re amazed ourselves in rehearsals, we know we’re on the right path to amaze the audience.”

CDD for New York’s Obvio cocktail bar

NYC-based Kurt Schlossberg has been specifying exclusively Martin Audio sound systems in Time Out Markets around the world for a number of years. But recently he undertook his first project for Chilean-born restaurateur Juan Santa Cruz, as Obvio joined the operator’s other upmarket establishments, including two in Central London’s trendy Mayfair and Notting Hill areas. His latest modern supper club and cocktail bar — named Obvio — is right on his own Manhattan doorstep, and again it is an exclusive Martin Audio house, taking advantage of the CDD series’ unique coaxial differential dispersion technology.

“Martin Audio is the only high-end brand I use”, Kurt Schlossberg, NETWORKS said: “Juan only does super exclusive places, and over Zoom he told me about this little jewel box that he was creating in New York,” explained Schlossberg. “He wanted the most discreet high performing system that could be colour matched, and which could double as triple A background as well as triple A foreground. I said there’s really only one product I would put in there!” Once again, the installer recommended CDD as he has for many venues since first discovering them on a visit to the ISE Show in Amsterdam, soon after the series was launched in 2015. “I walked into the [Martin Audio] demo room,” he said, “and I was immediately blown away. Although I have the pick of the litter when it comes to commercial audio, Martin Audio is the only high-end brand I use — it is literally the best of the best of what it is and is my ‘go

to’ for all critical path foreground music.”

Explaining further, he said, “When you can take CDD6 and CDD8 and mix them with the punchy subs they are matched to, you get an experience that makes you prouder in a commercial environment than you would be in your own listening room. And that’s something I’ve not been able to replicate from any other manufacturer.” And Kurt Schlossberg should know, with four decades in audio (analogue-into-digital), architecture, planning and playlist curating under his belt — skills that were brought to bear at Obvio. “Because a lot of the walls and panelling are rounded it has a very cocoon like feeling and so I worked closely with the architects … and felt good to be part of the architectural process again.”

Matching the speakers to the lighter tone of the wall panelling, four CDD6s are wall-mounted towards the front of the building, with eight CDD8 at the front, where punchier sound is focused over the dance area. Softer background music during the daytime trading is followed by a substantial hike in SPL after dark, when DJs take to the Pioneer CDJs. This is enhanced by a single SXC115 “which lives above the amoebic shape over the bar, and completely out of sight,” as he puts it. The quality of the sound system has generally received favourable reviews. “In fact, it’s proven to be quite a hit,” Kurt Schlossberg exclaims in conclusion.

Obvio in Manhattan is an exclusive Martin Audio house, taking advantage of the CDD series’ unique coaxial differential dispersion technology. (Photo credit: Jason Varney).

APPLICATION

LEA Professional amplifiers raise excitement to at AEK Arena

Georgios Karapatakis is a European football stadium in Larnaca, Cyprus. Completed in 2016, it serves as the home for AEK Larnaca FC and has a seating capacity of 8,000. AEK Arena is classified as a Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Category 4 stadium, meeting the specifications required to host UEFA European competitions. The seating stands are named after regions and villages of the Larnaca province, reflecting the club’s deep local roots.

Getting to a Category 4 rating required the venue to be partially reconfigured, including adding box seats and upgrading the sound system to cover the entire stadium. The venue contracted with DSP Innovative Solutions and their sister company Kalsedia Ltd to design and implement the upgrades, and they included LEA Professional amplifiers as part of the retrofit. “The all-inone amplifier plus DSP capabilities made LEA a perfect choice for the stadium,” said Solonas Nikitas, CEO of DSP Innovative Solutions. “LEA’s speaker tunings made it very easy for us when we swapped out the old gear.”

DSP Innovative Solutions installed Connect Series 704D amplifiers and Connect Series 168D amplifiers to power the stadium’s loudspeakers. The IoT-enabled 4-channel 704D provides 700 watts per channel, while the 8-channel 168D offers 160 watts per channel. Both models support Hi-Z (70V or 100V) and Lo-Z, selectable by channel, and feature Smart Power Bridge technology. Connect Series also includes 96kHz DSP, which is standard in all models and offers a range of benefits that significantly enhance audio performance and system versatility. Dante-enabled models like the 704D and 168D include 96kHz-capable Dante and AES67 connectivity options, plus Dante simplifies system installation with scalable, high-resolution audio over IP (AoIP).

The Connect Series delivers an industry-first professional amplifier family to feature cloud connectivity, a revolutionary advancement and a significant benefit for anyone maintaining the systems. With LEA Cloud, AV teams like DSP Innovative Solutions can remotely control and monitor the amplifiers regardless of the location or time of day, and with no subscription model or hidden costs, it’s completely free to use. In an era where fan experience is paramount, good stadium audio plays a vital role in creating an immersive and unforgettable environment, amplifying crowd chants, national anthems, and goal celebrations, deepening emotional engagement. “Nothing quite matches the energy of a football stadium at capacity, cheering on their club,” said Nikitas. “LEA amplifiers go a long way towards feeding that enthusiasm, making every match one to remember. I highly recommend LEA amplifiers to anyone in the market.”

BIG Digital chooses BrightSign to enhance

Selected by the PGA of America, BIG Digital’s range of portable, touch-enabled billboards ran on BrightSign digital signage media players, delivered reliability and security. BIG Digital utilized the authoring tools within BrightSign’s brightAuthor connected solution to design, deploy, and control all content. BIG Digital billboards were installed in three key areas:

•Numerous ROLO outdoor freestanding, fully portable digital billboards in fan zones across the golf course.

•ROLO outdoor billboards, and RUBY freestanding indoor 4K touch-enabled digital kiosks in the PGA of America Members Lounge. This included a photo carousel, whereby members could upload their own images onto the screens in real-time.

•Several ROLO portable outdoor digital billboards in Rockefeller Center’s interactive zones in central Manhattan – enabling those who couldn’t get to the golf course to follow the action in real-time.

The Ryder Cup is the biggest team event in men’s professional golf. Pitting teams from the United States and Europe against each other, it attracts over 200,000 fans across three days of action, with the 2025 edition held at the Bethpage Black Course in Long Island, New York. Previously, large LED video walls were used to display

Georgios Karapatakis is a European football stadium in Larnaca, Cyprus. FC and has a seating capacity of 8,000.

Cyprus. Completed in 2016, it serves as the home for AEK Larnaca all scoring, fan information, and live broadcasts. However, there were limited interactive solutions available for fans that offered appropriate height and eye-level positioning to display key information clearly and accessibly outdoors. The network of portable, dual-screen BIG Digital kiosks – housing BrightSign players – utilized API integrations with the PGA of America to provide live scoring, tee-off times/pairings, and player location updates. This was essential in delivering timely and accessible information to fans – especially as the schedules for Friday and Saturday afternoon were announced only a couple of hours before play started.

Each kiosk also featured interactive elements and QR codes for downloading content, including the Ryder Cup’s official mobile application. They also provided readily accessible, practical information to spectators when they needed it, including how to connect to WiFi networks, and the location of first-aid stations, exits, corporate hospitality, and food and beverage stations. This enabled spectators to maximize their time on the course, improving the holistic fan experience. Purpose-built for plug-and-play outdoor installation, BIG Digital’s interactive, battery-powered digital ROLO billboards can be rapidly deployed anywhere. Renowned

for their exceptional reliability and dependability, they digitize any environment regardless of weather conditions.

Portable, interactive kiosks are a popular choice for delivering immersive experiences for spectators at live events – transforming fan engagement, whilst helping brands make the most of their activations with bright, crisp visuals. This is especially important in professional golf, which has traditionally been hesitant to move away from static signage. Event organizers and golf course owners therefore require a visually engaging and interactive digital solution that is accessible to thousands of fans – regardless of where they are on the property. As a leader in digital immersive and interactive technology for live sports, BIG Digital’s technology has become a go-to solution for major sports organizations seeking to engage fans dynamically across physical spaces, redefining how events connect with audiences in real-time.

enhance fan experience at 2025 Ryder Cup

Portugal enters the era of virtual production powered by Alfalite

EMAV, one of Portugal’s leading technical production companies and part of the Media Capital Group, has unveiled a cutting-edge Virtual Production (VP XR) studio featuring LED technology from Alfalite, Europe’s only LED display manufacturer. Integrated by VANTeC DANMON GROUP Portugal, the project marks a major step forward for the country’s film, television, and advertising industries, and reinforces Portugal’s position within the growing Iberian virtual production landscape. The new facility features a 25x5-metre Alfalite Modularpix Pro 1.9 ORIM VP XR LED wall and an 8x5-metre Modularpix Pro 3.9 HB VP XR LED ceiling, powered by Pixotope’s real-time graphics engine and TrackMen camera tracking systems. This advanced setup enables the creation of hyper-realistic virtual environments for film, TV series, commercials, music videos, and live events. “The Alfalite panels met all our expectations. The colour reproduction is precise and uniform across the surface, and the flexibility in brightness and contrast lets us work with different lighting setups without compromising quality,” said Jorge Faria, Advisor to the General Management at EMAV. “The installation process was fast thanks to Alfalite’s team, and VANTeC’s experience in configuring the entire system was crucial. We finished our first production with excellent results— what would have taken days outdoors was achieved in a fraction of the time inside the studio.”

“We would also highlight the quality of the entire ecosystem. The reliability of the engines and the LED panels left our Director of Photography and Director very satisfied with the images captured in the virtual set. We’ve gained a powerful tool that will allow us to save time and maintain full control over every scene we choose to shoot virtually.” According to Jaime Amores, Product Manager at VANTeC, the EMAV project is “a clear example of advanced technological integration and collaboration between multiple systems.” He highlights “the perfect compatibility of Alfalite’s LED panels with Pixotope’s rendering and tracking infrastructure, ensuring a seamless match between real and virtual elements.”

VANTeC chose Alfalite for its proven quality, experience in virtual production environments, and its European manufacturing base. “From the early stages, Alfalite’s team showed strong technical expertise and a collaborative spirit, which made the integration process smooth. The reliability of the product and the confidence in their technical support were decisive factors,” added Amores. For Luis Garrido, Executive Director of Alfalite, the project reflects the power of collaboration and shared expertise across the European AV industry: “This installation at EMAV is not just about LED technology—it’s about empowering creative professionals with a reliable, precise, and adaptable tool. The project was made possible thanks to our partner in the Portuguese VP XR market, VANTeC DANMON GROUP Portugal, who led a remarkable initiative to advance virtual production in the country, together with our trusted collaborators Pixotope, Tangram Solutions, and Raised by Monsters.” “Working hand in hand with these partners and EMAV was an extraordinary experience, and we’re proud to see our displays contributing to Portugal’s growing leadership in next-generation production.” The new VP XR studio strengthens Media Capital Group’s vision to consolidate its technological leadership in Portugal and expand internationally. With this facility, EMAV offers filmmakers, producers, and directors of photography a versatile and scalable space designed to meet the evolving demands of broadcast and digital storytelling.

EMAV, one of Portugal’s leading technical production companies and Virtual Production (VP XR) studio featuring LED technology from Alfalite. Theatre

and part of the Media Capital Group, has unveiled a cutting-edge Alfalite.

EM Acoustics delivers a new era of audio to the Royal Lyceum

Theatre, Edinburgh

The Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh sits at the heart of the Scottish capital, welcoming over 100,000 yearly visitors to enjoy the magic of live performance. Home to the Lyceum Theatre Company for over 60 years, it stages a variety of performances from classic drama and contemporary plays to comedy and musicals. Along with the historic architecture went an ageing sound system and an upgrade was needed to ensure the iconic venue could continue to meet the demands of modern productions. EM Acoustics’ Reference Series was chosen to deliver precise, high-quality audio, whatever the performance.

Ian Gibson, Head of Sound & AV at the Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh, spent several years planning the upgrade, and has led the eventual implementation of the new system. “The theatre’s last major refurbishment was back in the mid-nineties, with no ongoing replacement or renewal of the PA system since then,” explains Gibson. “Many touring shows and production companies didn’t want to use our outdated system, so we had to keep de-rigging it to accommodate temporary gear for each show. By switching to EM Acoustics – a name trusted throughout the theatre industry – we’ll

largely be able to keep our house system in place all year round, including during Edinburgh International Festival.”

Having previously worked with EM Acoustics’ products on visiting shows, Gibson was confident that the Reference Series would be a perfect fit for the theatre. “You can always tell when technology is driven by people with a passion for what they do, and EM Acoustics exemplify this,” he says. The 658-seat theatre consists of three levels: Stalls, Grand Circle and Upper Circle. For the stalls level, two R8 loudspeakers in wide format are positioned on either side of the proscenium to provide full, even coverage. S15 subwoofers placed beneath the main R8s in the stalls, and hidden discreetly in the circle levels, deliver controlled low-frequency reinforcement across the room, ensuring a full and balanced sound experience.

The two circle levels feature particularly low ceilings, making it challenging to achieve clear sound to seats in these ‘letterbox-shaped’ areas. A flown pair of R8s in narrow format is positioned to cover both levels, along with a dedicated pair of S12s. This extended coverage into the higher seating areas ensures the upper-level audiences have an equal sonic experience to those sitting downstairs in the stalls.

For vocal intelligibility and directivity, a flown centre cluster of R6s anchors the sound to the stage, allowing audiences to experience speech as naturally as possible – crucial in live theatre production. A network of 20 R4 loudspeakers provides front fill, delay and box fill support. Four units along the stage edge cover the front rows, whilst a further 16 are strategically placed across the stalls, circle levels and grand boxes. This distributed system eliminates dead spots and guarantees consistent sound throughout the auditorium. The system is powered entirely by EM Acoustics’ installation series amplifiers, providing optimal efficiency and control. “Every loudspeaker in the Reference Series range is incredibly accurate and usable. The sound from them is very impressive,” confirms Gibson. “They have all the qualities of modern loudspeaker technology in terms of pattern control and directivity, which we were missing before.”

First opened in 1883, the historic building retains many original features. The compact form factor and discreet placement of all sound system elements mean the installation integrates flawlessly with the Lyceum’s Victorian architecture, whilst delivering the power and versatility required for modern productions. Since the PA system has been installed, both theatre staff and visitors have noticed huge benefits. “During a recent show with 11 radio mics and a forestage playing position, managing sound would have been extremely challenging with our old loudspeakers, especially in terms of gain before feedback,” explains Gibson. “With the EM Acoustics Reference Series, the system provides much more control and a very natural sound. It really lives up to expectations.”

‘Buffy Revamped’, a one-man show, was the first performance to take place following the upgrade and sound

levels were noticeably improved, with audiences enjoying clarity of speech throughout the performance. This will be followed by a three-week production of The Seagull. “From musicals and spoken word to stand-up comedy, we now have greater confidence in supporting performances with high-quality audio,” adds Gibson. The clarity of the sound system has significantly enriched the theatre’s productions, allowing actors’ voices to carry effortlessly across the venue and ensuring that every word spoken reaches the audience across all three levels.

By investing in the EM Acoustics Reference Series, the Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh has positioned itself to meet the demands of modern productions whilst respecting its historic architecture. The precision and elegant voicing offered by the Reference Series have not only improved vocal intelligibility and sound coverage across the venue but have also helped to reinforce the Royal Lyceum’s reputation as a leading venue that can support a diverse mix of productions. Additionally, the system has proven to be a smart investment, providing a high-performance solution that ensures long-term reliability and can be scaled up or down as required. “As we continue to host diverse productions, the EM Acoustics Reference Series will remain a reliable and powerful solution,” says Gibson. “It’s a great feeling to know we have the perfect system in place to deliver exceptional audio experiences for both performers and audiences for years to come.”

From the ballroom to the spin studio

The Belfry Golf Club, located in Royal Sutton Coldfield, is one of the most renowned golf resorts in the UK. Famous for its rich sporting legacy, it has hosted the Ryder Cup four times as well as the British Masters, making it a significant venue on the international golf circuit. The resort features three championship golf courses and a range of luxury amenities, including a hotel, spa, dining options and extensive event facilities. For the most recent expansion, which included a new hotel block and a wellness hub, known as ‘The Club’, London-based integrator Tateside led the design and installation of audio, video and lighting technology in various zones. “We became involved in The Belfry project through hotel technology consultants Fluent2,” explains Jack Cornish, Technical Director at Tateside. “The scope encompassed a large ballroom event space in the main hotel, and various zones in The Club, including studios, a gym, a spin room and spa areas.”

Involved from the initial design and planning stages, Tateside led on specifying a range of premium brands to fit with the Belfry’s AV needs across the different zones. With several contractors involved in the build and fit-out stages, the Tateside team needed to coordinate with various stakeholders to align on timelines, project needs and technical requirements, ensuring the project ran smoothly. Beginning in the Ballroom, the team designed the system with flexibility and user control in mind. A divisible space, Q-SYS Core processing

provides control over audio and video across the two spaces, whether in open or closed modes.

For users, two Q-SYS touchscreens mounted in the ballroom provide easy control of the room technology and routing, allowing for event audio to be played in other spaces, such as the business lounge or outdoor terrace. Audio is provided by Bose DM6C and DM8CSUB in-ceiling loudspeakers, and the Ballroom also features three projectors and projector screens. Tateside also supplied a comprehensive events infrastructure, including custom Neutrik panel connectors throughout, meaning event companies can easily connect to the AV system without running cables across the space.

The Club at The Belfy combines cutting-edge equipment and high-end facilities to inspire fitness and wellbeing. Here, Tateside was involved in the implementation of AV across four fitness studios, a gym and multi-purpose sports space, an outdoor spa area and changing rooms, along with background audio in corridors and bathrooms. The spin studio was the most demanding of the areas, encompassing top-of-the-line TechnoGym equipment, immersive LED lighting, perfor-

Along with the historic architecture went an ageing sound system and an upgrade was needed to ensure the iconic venue could continue to meet the demands of modern productions. (Photography credit: Eamonn McGoldrick).

mance audio, acoustic panelling and instructor-friendly control. “We were asked to design a feature lighting system, so we created several 3D renders in advance to present to the client,” explains Cornish. “The lighting was based around an LED Snaps solution of ceiling-mounted pixel-mapped lighting to provide dynamic lighting effects, easily controlled by the instructor on a touchscreen tablet.”

For audio, four Bose Arena Match Utility loudspeakers provide a powerful workout soundtrack in a compact format, with low-end from an Audac 18” infra-subwoofer. Two 85” Samsung screens provide further visual impact and display spin sessions stats to motivate riders. Audio input is via Bluetooth plates, and a Shure wireless headset system ensures instructors can be heard clearly.Across the other fitness studios, which are dedicated to multi-purpose activities ranging from Pilates and Yoga, through to BoxFit and Zumba, Tateside implemented versatile AV solutions based around Samsung screens, Bose DM8S loudspeakers and Audac 10” subwoofers. Each room is equipped with an HDMI wall plate for display input and a Bose digital audio controller for simplified source selection of pre-determined playlists and volume control.

Bose PowerShare amplifiers power the system, and Bose ControlSpace processors provide building-wide DSP. “It’s the details that make the difference in highend environments like this,” continues Cornish. “For example, the Shure wireless microphone systems are always on and ready to go, so instructors don’t need to fiddle around with controllers. The system is set up to be as simple as possible, and the mics automatically

For the most recent expansion of The Belfry, which included a new hotel block and a wellness hub, known as ‘The Club’, London-based integrator Tateside led the design and installation of audio, video and lighting technology in various zones.

APPLICATION

duck the music out underneath, so the instructor comes in, puts the headset on, pairs their phone to the Bluetooth, and they’re ready to go.”

For self-led workouts, a fully equipped gym is installed with twelve Bose DM6 loudspeakers, accompanied by a pair of Audac double 10” subs and two 85” Samsung screens. Sonance Extreme series in-ceiling loudspeakers continue the ambience in the steam and sauna rooms, whilst Sonance satellite loudspeakers take care of audio outside in the hot tub area. To complete the project, Tateside also installed background audio throughout the rest of the club. An Android tablet in the reception area provides centralised control of club-wide AV systems. Throughout The Club, the AV infrastructure is network-based, utilising Dante for all audio transport throughout the building via the Netgear Pro AV switching infrastructure. This allows for real-time visibility and monitoring of the system and remote management. The system is designed to be easily scalable, ensuring it can support the various audio needs across different areas of The Club if it expands.

Coldplay circles the globe with DiGiCo desks

Coldplay’s Music of the Spheres World Tour is a global concert trek without peer. Kicking off in San José, Costa Rica on March 18 2022 and taking a hiatus following a ten-date residency at London’s Wembley Stadium that concluded on September 12, 2025, the 225-show-todate tour has performed in 80 cities across 43 countries. Supporting 2021’s Music of the Spheres and 2024’s Moon Music albums, the stadium run has been equally significant for its remarkable sustainability initiatives, reducing CO2 emissions by nearly 60 percent compared to the band’s previous outing.

But the trek is far from over; it’s expected to pick back up in 2027 with another massive leg in what the band have teased as “138 more shows to go.” If the tour’s longevity is impressive, it pales in comparison to the tenures of some of its key crew, including Dan Green, Coldplay’s FOH engineer and audio producer since 1998, and Tony Smith, head of audio system design and FOH tech, who has worked with Green for 23 of those years. Almost as remarkable, the lion’s share of that timespan has found the duo working with DiGiCo worksurfaces. “I’ve been using DiGiCo since 2011, starting on the SD7, and have carried on ever since,” says Green, who eventually bumped up his worksurface to a Quantum7 with a new Quantum engine. “DiGiCo is just so versatile – it has so many ins and outs, and its matrixing is amazing. It’s just very versatile.”

In November 2024, when the tour headed to Australia, Green and Smith had the opportunity to switch the FOH mix over to a brand new Solotech-supplied DiGiCo Quantum852, and they jumped at the chance. “The Q8 has been amazing – it just offers so much more workflow flexibility,” Green enthuses. “It’s taken everything that was great about the Quantum7 and expanded upon that. The screens are amazing, obviously, and it enables

me to have more layers and a lot more workspace on the desk. The Q8 is clearly the best of the DiGiCo bunch, so far.”

Green notes that he particularly appreciates the Quantum852’s onboard processing. “The expanded Spice Rack has allowed me to free up some of my plugin chains, which I was using on outboard processors, and be more integrated into the console, which is really useful to have everything under my fingertips. The onboard filters are always the first thing that I go to for any channel that’s coming into the desk. I use them to do the immediate cleanup of the low end if it’s needed – or if the top end is needed to be cleaned up – and the Q8’s filters work really well. I really like their sound. They’ve got a nice analogue feel to them.” With the band performing on no less than three stages at each tour stop, a huge number of inputs are coming into the FOH console. “I think it’s around about 200 or so, plus another 32 channels of ambient microphones as we’re recording every show. The Q8 is amazing because, as far as I know, it’s the only desk on the market that would be able to handle that amount of inputs.”

Speaking of I/O, the Quantum852 has been invaluable for its ability to provide exceptional feeds for broadcasters. “Our recordings have far too many channels to be able to send out to a broadcast engineer; there’s no way they’d be able to accept those channels, let alone mix them in a live situation,” Green describes. “The Quantum8 has so many auxes that I’m able to create submixes of all of my individual elements and send out 48 channels of stems to the broadcasters so that they’ve got a head start. In fact, they can line up their faders at zero, and that’s a good starting point. They can recreate my mix and then adjust it to be tailored for whatever

they’re mixing for.”

“We’re really proud of what we’ve achieved with the sonics of the Coldplay shows, and we always get nice comments back about the shows. Wherever you are in the venue, it’s a great experience. And it’s also great because the social feeds and broadcasts sound brilliant because of our stem system. We’ve had an incredible response to our Glastonbury performance from the BBC, so we are really pleased with how everything is sounding.” The tour’s commitment to “going green” is embraced by all departments, including audio. “Sustainability has been a big part of what we’re trying to achieve for the tour,” Green shares. “In the audio department, we’ve tried to downscale our racks, whereas before I had a lot of analogue hardware, lots of analogue preamps, lots of outboard effects. And I’m really happy that now we’ve managed to reduce our setup down to the Quantum8 and basically one rack by the use of Fourier plugins and onboard effects and processing on the desk. It’s made a big difference.”

Green and Smith actually started out with the beta version of Fourier Audio’s transform.engine two and a half years ago, before it was officially launched, and were able to road test it by slowly integrating it into their setup. “Fourier was really interesting to me as I was able to host the VST3 plugins that I use a lot in the studio, and I wanted to have the opportunity to bring these into a live context,” says Green. “I was really excited to beta test it. And as soon as we got the full working version –the official release – we put it into our system, and it’s been fantastic. I’ve uploaded all of my effects onto the Fourier and have really enjoyed exploring VST3 plugins in a way that I wasn’t able to do before.”

“With mixing live audio, I’ve always enjoyed using pl-

ugins because it enables me to switch things out and try different things on an almost nightly basis, if I want,” he continues. “Hardware is amazing, and I love it, but it’s quite restricting in the fact that once you’ve built a rack, you’re normally stuck with that rack for the duration of the tour or the whole campaign – in our case, that’s four years! So, it’s quite hard to change things in and out on an ad hoc basis when it’s all still working. With the transform.engine, having access to all of these VST3 plugins enables me to experiment with any idea that I may have. Anything that pops to mind, I can basically just give it a try – let alone also being able to stack processes, which in hardware is much harder. For instance, I may have a reverb that I want to follow by a compressor. If I want to try that, I’ve got the option to be able to do that. The Fourier has been really rock-solid – no complaints there at all – and it’s been a joy to test it on DiGiCo products. I’m really excited about what they’ve got to offer in the future.”

For Smith, one of his main appreciations of the Quantum852 stems from a very practical standpoint when it comes to the potentially punishing environments of outdoor shows. “Everywhere seems to be hotter these days, and in some places on the tour the temperature at front of house has reached 43 degrees [110°F], so that presents its share of challenges for the consoles, racks, and everything else,” he says. “But clearly a lot of thought has been given to how air and heat flow through the Quantum8. It runs so much cooler, which is amazing, because there’s more processing power under the hood. Knowing that shows will stay up-and-running even in the hottest conditions, for me, that’s a huge relief.”

Under the stage, in monitor world, Chris “Woodsy” Wood continues to ride the faders of his tried-and-trusted Quantum7, says Smith. “Though he was tempted to move over to the Q8 when we did, Chris is more than happy with the Q7, so why change if it’s not broken?” he notes. “And aside from a Bricasti M7, there’s no outboard being used on monitors. The Q7’s Nodals get utilised, as well as all the Spice Rack and onboard effects – it’s all onboard.” Great gear is only as good as its support, and the support from DiGiCo has reportedly been sterling. “DiGiCo have just been amazing to us,” says Green. “They’ve been so supportive, and the team are always there to answer a text or help us with any emergency situation. And if we have any ideas on how to do things, or any strange requests, Dave and the team are always there to help us and answer our messages whenever we send them.” Smith agrees: “From my point of view, not being the mixer, one of my favourite things about DiGiCo is their amazing support, which you always need,” he says. “When you’re halfway around the world, things do go wrong. But if you’ve got the right support, you know you can get through it. And in the past, DiGiCo have done that. They’ve pulled rabbits out of hats, which has been amazing.”

KV2 Audio powers Adriatique’s performance in Jordan

Iconic Swiss duo, Adriatique, recently made their debut appearance in Jordan as they performed an energetic DJ set at The Cliff. To ensure every electronic beat and techno rhythm resonated perfectly throughout the night, event production specialists Triad AV were tasked with providing a high-performance solution, resulting in a comprehensive KV2 Audio system that kept the music flowing flawlessly.

Jordan’s premier live event promoter, Overground, has collaborated with Triad AV for the past two years, building a successful partnership that has resulted in a series of spectacular events. International acts such as Black Coffee, Mrak, Ash, Artbat, Hugel, Argy, Shimza, Aaron Sevilla, and Coco, among many others have made appearances in Jordan with the help of Overground and Triad AV. “We are the exclusive suppliers for Overground,” says Amjad Marar, General Manager of Triad AV. “Adriatique is one of many artists we’ve worked with over the last two years, and as usual, we deployed a KV2 Audio system to deliver the best live sound experience.”

Having developed events for artists of all sizes and genres for twenty-five years, Triad AV has chosen to work exclusively with KV2 Audio. “KV2 systems are far superior to any other audio systems out there – the power and reliability is unmatched,” Marar states. “We’re very familiar with The Cliff and KV2 systems, so we were well-prepared for any unexpected challenges,” he shares, reflecting on the team’s preparation for Adriatique’s show. “A combination of VHD1.0, VHD2.0, and VHD2.16 was used as the main stage hangs, with two additional VHD2.0 on the dancefloor to maximise coverage across the venue.”

Two ES1.0 and four ES2.6 loudspeakers were also utilised as side fills for peak SPL and dynamic range, ensuring a powerful and immersive electronic sound. “In the backstage area, we used the same loudspeaker setup, comprising two ES1.0 and four ES2.6 for depth and clarity, while two further ES1.0 and ES2.6 made up the DJ booth,” Marar explains. Across the venue, twelve VHD4.18 subwoofers were deployed for tightly con-

trolled low frequency.

“For an electronic act such as Adriatique, precision and clarity are essential,” reveals Marar. “This kind of music is all about accuracy and timing. That’s why we work with KV2 – they always deliver ultra-precise, high-quality performance.” Prior to Overground’s collaboration with Triad AV, the event promoter worked with a range of vendors who supplied traditional line array solutions. “Now that we are using KV2 point source systems at all events, Overground can feel and hear a true difference.”

The success of Adriatique’s debut in Jordan once again underscored the strength of the partnership between Overground and Triad AV while showcasing the exceptional quality of KV2 Audio systems. “Adriatique’s gig lived up to its expectations,” says Marar. “The soldout performance was a spectacle of lights and music set against the stunning backdrop of Amman. I’ve heard so much positive feedback about the quality of the audio from those who attended – KV2 Audio always delivers the finest sound.” With KV2 Audio at the heart of their productions, Overground and Triad AV continue to elevate Jordan’s live event industry, delivering unrivalled sound quality that resonates with both artists and audiences long after the music fades.

Iconic Swiss duo, Adriatique, recently made their debut appearance

Philips LED continues to drive new experiences at Red Bull Technology Campus

PPDS has announced its latest partner driven collaboration with Oracle Red Bull Racing, with the installation of two fully tailored all-weather dvLED displays at the Formula One giant’s global headquarters in Milton Keynes. Continuing a series of transformational projects driven by Oracle Red Bull Racing with Philips Professional Displays – exclusive digital display supplier and Team Partner – this new collaboration takes the power and sustainability benefits of the Philips LED range at the Red Bull Technology Campus outside for the first time.

Occupying more than 700,000 square feet, the campus is a place where ideas and innovations come to life – home to Oracle Red Bull Racing, Red Bull Ford Powertrains, the Visa Cash App Racing Bulls team, and the MK-7 event venue, which recently also saw the installation of a record breaking 46.25m wide Philips LED wall, as well as a range of Philips signage and interactive displays. This makes the Campus a daily hotbed of activity,

welcoming visitors from around the world – from celebrities to fans, engineers and employees – with the majority passing through its main entrance by vehicle. Following installations of digital signage, interactive touch screens, and dvLED displays within the MK-7 event space and the Oracle Red Bull Racing offices, the team turned its attention to welcoming and directing visitors upon entering the campus, replacing existing signage with a new digitised and connected display solution. Security and high brightness were a must.

Following multiple site visits and consultations, the P2.4 Philips Public LED 7000 Series displays were selected to be positioned after vehicles passed through the security barrier at the Campus, as well as at the main entrance to MK-7. With Milton Keynes averaging over 730mm of rain annually, protecting the displays was essential – with PPDS teaming up with Netherlands based specialist, VEBO Digital Signage Solutions, to build custom designed protective casings. The cabinets, standing nearly 3m tall, are embossed with Oracle Red Bull Racing branding and are built to withstand whatever weather Mother Nature provides. An IP30 rating and conformal coating ensure additional protection against any moisture or pollutants.

Crucial to the project’s success, and among the many reasons for the Philips Public LED 7000 Series being the outstanding choice to meet the team’s ambitions, was the ability to deliver stunning high brightness, quality resolution, and advanced colours and contrast to accurately showcase the Oracle Red Bull Racing brand and its campaigns, perfectly visible in any lighting condition.

Providing a personal touch, content can be created, scheduled and changed effortlessly to suit the occasion – such as welcoming special guests, partners and for corporate events – via Novastar controllers and DS Templates CMS. The project also meets Oracle Red Bull Racing’s uncompromising strategy around sustainability, with the Philips Public LED 7000 Series designed to deliver dynamic power savings, helping to reduce environmental impact and total cost of ownership.

In keeping with the fast pace of F1, the Philips Public LED 7000 Series also offers active health monitoring and has been designed to make maintenance fast, pre-

appearance in Jordan as they performed an energetic DJ set at The Cliff.

APPLICATION

dictable, and simple – just like a pitstop. Laurent Mekies, CEO and Team Principal at Oracle Red Bull Racing, commented: “In the high-stakes world of Formula One, following along isn’t an option. From precision displays trackside and bold branding in our hospitality areas, to the stunning LED arc and expansive screen network at the Red Bull Technology Campus, our Philips Professional Displays are uniquely configured to continue the magic of the race and showcase the best for Oracle Red Bull Racing.”

Jae O Choi Park, EMEA Commercial Head at PPDS, added: “Drawing upon our network of PPDS Partners allows us to augment our Philips Professional Displays with unique solutions for Oracle Red Bull Racing. Indoors, outdoors, and all around, we make it our mission to ensure the best experiences for the team, as well as its visitors and guests.” Emily Falconer, Head of Events at Oracle Red Bull Racing, added: “The welcome we give to our visitors and guests at Oracle Red Bull Racing starts from the moment they arrive on Campus. Our Philips LED displays are positioned to ensure an easy and well branded journey, from the gatehouse to our facilities.”

PPDS has announced its latest partner driven collaboration with Oracle Red Bull Racing, with the installation of two fully tailored all-weather dvLED displays at the Formula One giant’s global headquarters in Milton Keynes.

Stade Malherbe Caen upgrades home venue with a cutting-edge LED display solution from INFiLED

French National league football club Stade Malherbe Caen has upgraded its home venue, Stade Michel d’Ornano, with a cutting-edge LED display solution from INFiLED, working in close collaboration with AV integration specialist AUVISYS. The upgrade marks a new chapter for the 20,000-capacity stadium, with vibrant digital signage replacing outdated static boards and transforming the experience for fans, sponsors and stadium operators alike.

After more than 15 years of service, the stadium’s previous LED screens had reached the end of their lifespan. Rather than simply replacing like for like, the club’s management team used the opportunity to rethink their approach to digital signage. Their goals were clear: to provide an engaging visual platform for sponsors, enrich the fan experience with vivid, high-impact content, ensure long-term reliability in all weather conditions, and simplify day-to-day technical operations.

To achieve this, they turned to AUVISYS, a well-established French AV integrator known for its expertise in delivering large-scale, technically sound installations. Together with INFiLED, AUVISYS designed and delivered a new solution built around INFiLED’s robust MV Series, and specifically the ORMV P7.8 Max, an LED panel engineered for demanding outdoor environments.

A total of 72 square metres of LED was installed, with two large-format screens each measuring 8 by 4.5 metres. Offering a resolution of 1024 × 576 pixels and a

brightness level of 8,000 nits, the new displays ensure excellent visibility even in full daylight, delivering rich colours and sharp visuals from every seat in the house. The system’s modular design allowed for seamless integration into the stadium’s existing architecture, with bespoke mounting systems developed to secure the displays at optimal viewing heights.

Reliability was a core requirement for the project, and the ORMV P7.8 Max delivered on all fronts. The IP65-rated enclosures offer protection against rain, dust and humidity – ensuring consistent performance in all weather – while front and rear access, along with redundant power and signal inputs, enable fast maintenance and minimise downtime during busy match schedules. Installation was completed smoothly and on schedule, despite tight timelines. INFiLED’s French team remained closely involved throughout the process, supporting AUVISYS from initial site assessment through to colour and brightness calibration, and final handover.

AUVISYS describes their decision to work with INFiLED as being based on three factors: product quality, cost-effectiveness and outstanding local support. The company notes that the choice wasn’t based solely on initial cost but also on the long-term value of the solution – including reliability, energy efficiency and revenue potential from new advertising opportunities. AUVISYS also highlights the “human support” provided by

French National league football club Stade Malherbe Caen has upgraded its home venue, Stade Michel d’Ornano, with a cutting-edge LED display solution from INFiLED.

INFiLED’s local team as a key ingredient in the project’s success, praising their accessibility, responsiveness and collaborative spirit.

Since going live, the new displays have had a visible impact on the atmosphere inside the stadium. Fans have responded positively to the improved visual quality, and the upgraded platform has created new possibilities for partner engagement and content delivery. By combining advanced LED display technology with expert local integration and support, INFiLED has helped Stade Malherbe Caen take a significant step forward in its digital transformation. The Stade Michel d’Ornano project is the latest in a series of successful outdoor and sports venue installations for INFiLED, reinforcing the company’s position as a trusted partner for high-performance display solutions across Europe.

VITEC to elevate Dubai Airshow 2025 with dynamic IPTV and digital signage

VITEC has announced that its IPTV and digital signage system will power content at the Dubai Airshow 2025, at Dubai World Central. VITEC’s solution will deliver real-time video streaming of live flight demonstrations, exhibitor presentations, television streams and event details, powering 4K content to displays across the show floor. The VITEC system comprises a centralized IPTV server, Head-end chassis with g45xx Series Satellite Gateways, ultra-low latency encoders, and IPTV endpoints, allowing the show to deliver informative, entertaining and engaging content to attendees.

“The Dubai Airshow stands as a leading global aviation event, and VITEC’s IPTV and digital signage solu-

tion is instrumental in providing real-time content throughout the venue,” says Laurent Genari-Conti, Solutions Director – ME at VITEC. “Our technology delivers high-quality video streams of live flight demonstrations and essential event information, benefiting exhibitors, attendees, and the media. This deployment showcases VITEC’s capability to support large-scale live events with scalable, dependable, and high-performance multimedia solutions.”

VITEC has partnered with the biennial event since 2013 to deliver a seamless, immersive, and information-rich experience for attendees, exhibitors, and organizers. With recent upgrades to the system enabling 4K streaming, the reliable and scalable system has met the evolving demands of the Dubai Airshow, supporting a diverse range of ‘infotainment’ content sources and integrating seamlessly with the event’s existing network infrastructure.

VITEC’s role has steadily evolved from a technology provider to a more significant partnership, whilst the Dubai Airshow itself has emerged as a premier aviation showcase. The VITEC system’s flexibility allows organizers to add screens as needed, manage content centrally, and tailor information for specific pavilions or audiences. The platform’s intuitive management interface enables operators to create, schedule, and publish content instantly, ensuring that every attendee receives relevant updates and entertainment wherever they are on site. As one of the world’s largest and most influential aerospace events, the Dubai Airshow will welcome more than 1,500 exhibitors and over 148,000 industry professionals from around the globe.

LEA Professional amplifiers elevate the qudio at Bethlehem Baptist

Bethlehem Baptist Church, located in Greensburg, Kentucky, is a small, rural Christian congregation in a community where faith and tradition hold deep significance. A modest, brick building with a steeple — its interior is reflective of a traditional Baptist style, with pews arranged in rows facing the pulpit and a sense of reverence and intimacy in the service. Although open and airy, the parishioners struggled to hear and understand the sermon at times. Amplifiers from LEA Professional were the perfect solution to increase headroom during musical worship and provide better intelligibility for spoken liturgy.

Church staff contacted Alex Peake, a project manager at JCA Media, to design a new audio system for the sanctuary. Since the LEA Connect Series of two-, four-, and eight-channel amplifiers are the most full-featured in the industry, Peake recommended them to meet the church’s goal of high intelligibility. “Most amplifiers are being commoditized and sold at almost the same price,” said Alex Peake, project manager at JCA Media. “But then LEA adds in DSP capabilities, a control system [WebUI], and remote connectivity [LEA Cloud], essentially all for free. Those are huge benefits and a lot of the reason LEA is the primary amplifier I’m installing these days.”

Peake installed Connect Series 354 amplifiers to power the church’s new monitors as well as existing mains. The IoT-enabled 4-channel 354 provides 350 watts per channel into 2, 4, and 8 ohms, and 70Vrms and 100Vrms. It supports Hi-Z (70V or 100V) and Lo-Z selectable by channel and features Smart Power Bridge technology. The integrated 96kHz DSP effectively eliminated the need for unnecessary equipment in the rack, ensuring the overall job cost was kept to a minimum.

The Connect Series delivers an industry-first professional amplifier family to feature cloud connectivity, a revolutionary advancement, and a significant benefit for anyone maintaining the systems. With LEA Cloud, AV companies like JCA Media can remotely control and monitor amplifiers from anywhere, at any time, and with

no subscription model or hidden costs. It’s completely free to use.

WebUI functions as a simple on-site control interface, offering integrators and end users an easy-to-use platform to view and adjust channel settings, ranging from load monitoring to EQ adjustments, through any standard web browser. For AV companies like JCA Media, WebUI streamlines on-the-spot testing and modifications, enabling efficient system setup and fine-tuning during system installation.

The difference between the old and new audio systems was immediately apparent. Parishioners no longer needed to struggle to understand the sermon, and the musical worship reproduction was crisp and clean. “Being able to mix and match four ohm, eight ohm, 70 volt, and 100 volt on the same amplifier is great,” said Peake. “And my favourite fact is that you don’t lose channels when you want to do that. Top it off with cloud connectivity for remote support, and that’s why I use LEA amplifiers every chance I get.”

Bethlehem Baptist Church, located in Greensburg, Kentucky, is a small, tradition hold deep significance.

small, rural Christian congregation in a community where faith and

Electrocraft deploys CODA Audio for series of major events

After quickly establishing itself in India with a number of high-profile fixed installations, CODA Audio’s impact on the country’s live sector has been equally eye-catching. This year has seen the brand at the heart of a number of prestigious events as leading suppliers take advantage of its next generation technologies. The power and clarity obtainable from CODA’s compact and lightweight boxes has made it a favourite among rental companies such as Electrocraft, who have enjoyed a busy summer deploying systems at a variety of shows.

The festival of Navratri, celebrated by Hindus in India and across the world, is commemorated in a wide range of events. One of the largest takes place in the country’s most populous city, Mumbai, across eleven days, at the Jio World Convention Centre. Around 10,000 people per day enjoyed spectacular live performances, which this year included renowned singer Falguni Pathak and her band. For the second successive year a CODA Audio system was chosen to meet the demands of this event, reflecting the brand’s ever-increasing popularity in the Indian market.

At the Jio Centre, the CODA Audio VCA family of systems (ViRAY, CiRAY, and flagship AiRAY) combined to deliver powerful, crystal-clear sound. Electrocraft deployed a main rig comprising 10 x AiRAY per side, supplemented by 3 x APS (arrayable point source) per side as outfills, with low-end reinforcement provided by 24 x

SCP-F sensor-controlled subs across the front. A quantity of HOPS7-Pro served as front fills. Two rigs were used for delays, the first comprising 2 x AiRAY, 4 CiRAY, and 1 x SCV-F sub per side, and the second, 6 x ViRAY with 2 x SCV-F subs per side. With a consistent sonic signature across all the units, every member of the audience experienced the same high-quality audio in every area of the venue.

Founder and Managing Director of CODA Audio’s Indian distribution partners, Alphatec, Devasis Barkataki comments: “We are very proud to bring CODA Audio into the spotlight of India’s live music scene, especially at an iconic celebration like Navratri. With its advanced waveguide technology, CODA delivers exceptional clarity and tonal precision - perfect for live performances. The brand is setting a new benchmark for sound experiences in India.”

Managing Director and founder of Electrocraft Roger Drego is renowned in India as a pioneering sound engineer and first used CODA Audio’s AiRAY system at Mahindra Independence Rock Festival in late 2024. Speaking after the Navratri Festival he was full of praise for the system: “Working with CODA’s system for this scale of celebration was a rewarding challenge. The precision of the AiRAY and CiRAY, combined with the depth of the SCP and SCV subs, gave us the confidence to deliver a consistent impact across the venue. It’s rare to find technology that combines power, control, and clarity at this level, but CODA Audio makes it possible.”

Across Mumbai at the NSCI Dome, just over a week before the Navratri event, YouTube Fanfest India 2025 attracted a live audience of around 6,000, with millions more watching a livestream of the event which featured India’s biggest digital creators, performers, and collaborators. Electrocraft, designed and supplied a CODA Audio system for the event, where once again a combination of AiRAY, CiRAY, and SCP-F subs, complemented by HOPS and APS as extra fills, provided the power and coverage for non-stop high-energy live performances. A specific production requirement of the event was that the PA needed to be as discreet as possible to limit its impact on sight lines and broadcast cameras, so the compact nature of the CODA units made them the ideal choice in this respect.

PPDS names Bruce Wyrwitzke as senior director of sales for North America

PPDS has announced the merited promotion of Bruce Wyrwitzke to the leadership role of Senior Director of Sales for North America. Leading PPDS’ total solutions growth strategy to support all market verticals in North America, Bruce, who is now entering his twenty-fifth year as an AV professional, joined PPDS as Sales Director in 2021. During this period, Bruce – a former United States Air Force officer specialising in space systems –has proved himself to be an accomplished leader, playing a pivotal role in positioning the company as a disruptive force in North America, with him and his team continuing to surpass sales expectations and establishing PPDS as an unparalleled leader for innovation, quality of product, and service.

In his new position as Senior Director of Sales, Bruce will oversee all PPDS sales in North America – including digital signage, interactive displays, videowalls, dvLED, and professional TV, as well as complementary hardware and software – while continuing to support partners, customers, and colleagues on projects that extend beyond US shores. Reporting to Angela Lin, Commercial Head for North America, Bruce’s primary responsibilities will now include, but are not limited to, defining the mid and long-term sales strategy for North America, setting and achieving quarterly sales targets, managing the supply chain, service and post-sales, and driving greater awareness of the capabilities and unique benefits of Philips Professional Displays. All market verticals are now supported, with tailored offerings available for retail, education, broadcast, corporate, transportation, public venues, stadia, theme parks, government and security (including control rooms), hospitality, houses of worship, and food and beverage, to name a few.

Bruce will also help support businesses and educators in achieving their sustainability ambitions through PPDS’ growing range of ultra-low power and extended lifetime solutions, which are available to all partners and customers across North America. These include, but are far from limited to, the multi award winning ‘zero power’ Philips Tableaux ePaper range, and the Philips Signage 3650 EcoDesign (QE-Line) display, with the

50” model becoming the first signage display to achieve an EPEAT Climate+ Gold rating.

PPDS parent company, TPV Technology, was also recently awarded the highly coveted EcoVadis Platinum Medal, confirming its position as one of the world’s most sustainable organisations – compelling messages Bruce and his team will continue to communicate. Commenting on his new role, Bruce said: “Since I walked through the door in 2021, PPDS has been a company which continues to grow and amaze. Today, thanks to our impressive range of Philips Professional Displays and our committed teams, PPDS is a company that’s impossible to ignore. We’re a solid part of the conversation. I’m proud to be entrusted to lead this talented team and our company forward to even greater success.”

Angela Lin, added: “Bruce has proved himself to be an accomplished leader and committed member of the PPDS team in North America. The foundations have been laid, and we see some incredible opportunities ahead. On behalf of the entire PPDS team, I wish Bruce every success. It is time to step up to the next level.”

PPDS has announced the merited promotion of Bruce Wyrwitzke to the leadership role of Senior Director of Sales for North America.

RG Jones Sound Engineering announces exciting Pro Audio restructure

As RG Jones approaches its centenary year, the company is evolving its business strategy, focusing on investment in both equipment and people. With the appointment of Commercial Manager Sam Thomas in November 2024, the company began a period of reflection as Thomas took time to fully understand the mechanics of the business and what is required to maintain agility and efficiency in an ever-changing industry. The result of this observation is the recent appointment of Sam Brazier and Ricky Spiers as Project Managers in the RG Jones Sound Engineering Pro Audio Division, alongside significant investment in its audio inventory.

As Commercial Manager, Thomas has a unique corporate overview, and this has helped him to focus on adapting to industry changes. His aim includes evolving the business model to stay ahead of technological changes, while strategically placing experienced professionals and young talent together. This enables RG Jones to address an industry-wide skills shortage while offering flexible and attractive working practices. “Looking at the last 20 years, RG Jones has enjoyed some spectacular success stories, so we chose to examine the company along that timeframe and decide how to better that,” Thomas explains. “With a company this established, we can talk in life cycles, so we decided that I would watch an entire calendar cycle and take note. This approach has afforded us both a short term and longer-term perspective: we know we have to change to keep moving forward, but it is how we predict and react to challenges that will define our success.”

Braizer is a theatrically trained engineer with a list of credits from touring and London’s West End. His expertise is in delivering complex audio systems with the key attention to detail required by musical theatre. Taking this knowledge into RG Jones’s client base is a challenge he is really looking forward to. “Following the time spend freelancing with the team, stepping into a full-

time role feels like a natural next step,” Brazier expands. “I’m excited to keep pushing boundaries on some of the UK’s biggest events and be part of the next chapter for RG Jones.”

For Spiers, the relationship with RG Jones began almost a decade ago, working as a freelancer on many of the larger shows the company oversees. This knowledge of the RG Jones landscape means Spiers is well placed to head up the day-to-day running of the Pro-Audio division“Joining RG Jones officially feels like a full circle moment,” he says. “I’ve worked alongside the team for years and have huge respect for the people, the standards, and the legacy here. It’s a company that’s always been about doing things properly. I’m looking forward to being part of the next chapter and helping deliver the kind of projects that keep RG Jones at the top of its game.

The arrival of the trio is indicative of the direction that RG Jones will be taking over the next few years. Brazier and Spiers have complimentary skill sets and represent the broader base that RG Jones will be building upon for the future. Alongside Thomas, the team is committed to growing, not only the company’s client list, but its skills and knowledge, ensuring the sustainable expansion of RG Jones Sound Engineering well into the future.

As RG Jones approaches its centenary year, the company is evolving its business strategy, focusing on investment in both equipment and people.

Broadcast Solutions expands its management team

Systems integrator Broadcast Solutions is taking a forward-looking approach and expanding its management team. Effective from 1 November 2025, Stefan Breder continues in his current role as CEO together with Maximilian Breder in a Co-CEO structure. At the same time Zlatan Gavran was appointed COO of the company. Stefan Breder commented, “I am very much looking forward to working closely together with Maximilian as Co-CEOs and I am confident that, together, we will successfully drive the continued development of the Broadcast Solutions Group. This step marks an important part of shaping our future.”

Stefan Breder continued on Zlatan Gavran’s appointment, “With Zlatan, we have also gained a very experienced industry expert as COO - together we will lead our company successfully into the coming years.” Gavran is a career leader in media technology and joins Broadcast Solutions from NEP Germany GmbH. “Throughout my career – and especially at NEP – I have been a customer of Broadcast Solutions,” said Gavran. “I know just how reliable, innovative and passionate the company is. When the invitation came to join its leadership team I naturally jumped at the chance.” Gavran studied for both bachelor and master’s degrees in AV and broadcast technology at Stuttgart Media University. His career has taken him to senior roles in major business-

es, culminating in eight years as managing director of NEP Germany. He brings a proven background in innovative systems engineering and strong leadership to his new role.

This strengthening of the management team ensures a stable, planned future for the company. Alongside the Co-CEOs and Gavran, Rainer Kampe remains as CTO, and Wladislaw Grabowski also retains his senior leadership role as COO. Zlatan Gavran now takes direct responsibility for all broadcast operations, from workflow design and project management to purchasing and quality control. Maximilian Breder concluded, “I am truly grateful for the trust placed in me and very much look forward to the opportunity of leading the company into the future. I am delighted to welcome Zlatan to the team and greatly look forward to working with him.”

Leading systems integrator Broadcast Solutions is taking a forward-looking approach and expanding its management team.(L - R) Wladislaw Grabowski (COO), Rainer Kampe (CTO), Stefan Breder (Co-CEO), Maximilian Breder (Co-CEO), Zlatan Gavran (COO).

Absen embarks on next phase of growth

As Absen celebrates 25 years of pioneering LED display technology, the company continues to invest in its future with the appointment of five new Business Development Managers, reinforcing its constant innovation and development. These strategic hires bring a wealth of expertise to the Absen team and will support its continued momentum in the DACH region and Southern Europe. Joining the team are:

Fabian Lembach, Business Development Manager, AbsenLive: Known for his hands-on expertise in event technology and a strong background in the live production sector, Fabian is well-positioned to support Absen’s continued growth within the ProAV and live events markets. His commitment to delivering innovative solutions and building lasting client relationships aligns perfectly with Absen’s vision for the future. Tobias Fähnrich, Business Development Manager, DACH Region: With a strong background in professional audiovisual solutions and a deep understanding of the local market, Tobias brings valuable expertise and insight to the team. His appointment underscores Absen’s initiative to deliver innovative LED solutions and exceptional service to clients across the DACH region. Rainer Link, Business Development Manager, DACH Region: Rainer is an accomplished senior sales professional with a proven track record in the ProAV and broadcast industry. His extensive skills span video and LED display technologies, holographic immersive solutions, digital signage, and business development will help assure Absen’s presence in the region.

Luca La Mantia, Business Development Manager, Southern Europe: Joining us with over a decade of experience in LFD and LED display solutions within in the ProAV industry. His deep technical knowledge, strategic market insight, and proven success in driving growth across the region make him the ideal addition to strengthen Absen’s ProAV presence in Southern Europe. Marcos Arevalo Luna, Business Development Manager, Spain & Portugal: With over 15 years’ experience in sales and business development, Marcos has refined his focus on driving growth through close collaboration with ProAV integrators and official distributors. His new role with Absen centres on building strong partnerships, expanding market presence, and delivering LED solutions which create real value for clients. “The addition of these five talented professionals marks an exciting milestone for Absen as we continue to grow our European presence,” says Martine Dodwell-Bennett, EU Sales Director. “Their diverse expertise reinforces our focus on innovation and excellence, and I’m confident they will make a lasting impact on our clients, partners, and the wider LED display market.”

As Absen celebrates 25 years of pioneering LED display technology, the company continues to invest in its future with the appointment of five new Business Development Managers, reinforcing its constant innovation and development.

Kramer appoints Jesse Gadon as president of EMEA

Kramer is pleased to announce the appointment of Jesse Gadon as President of the EMEA region, effective from October 1, 2025. Jesse will also join Kramer’s Global Management Team. With over a decade of experience at Kramer, Jesse has held senior roles across multiple disciplines and geographies. For the past three and a half years, Jesse has served as Vice President of North America Sales, where he played a central role in strengthening Kramer’s presence and performance across the region. His appointment as President, EMEA marks a continued evolution in his journey with Kramer and reflects the company’s commitment to building regional leadership from within. “I’m confident that Jesse’s leadership, strategic mindset, and deep understanding of Kramer’s global business will further elevate our operations and growth in EMEA,” said Gilad Yron, CEO of Kramer. “This appointment strengthens our customer-focused approach and positions us well for continued expansion.”

Jesse will lead the EMEA region alongside Aviva Rykower, who will continue as Vice President of Sales, EMEA, with expanded responsibilities across additional geographies and business areas. Together, Jesse and Aviva bring complementary leadership and market expertise, reinforcing Kramer’s mission to deliver cutting-edge AV solutions and meaningful customer value across the region. The company also extends its appreciation to Brooke Ellingworth for her contributions over the past year. Brooke co-led the EMEA region during a period of renewed stability and growth, and her impact has helped lay the foundation for this next phase. Kramer’s evolving regional leadership structure is aligned with its global strategy to scale operations and deepen customer engagement, ensuring agile, responsive, and regionally empowered teams around the world.

Kramer is pleased to announce the appointment of Jesse Gadon as President of the EMEA region, effective October 1, 2025. Jesse will also join Kramer’s Global Management Team

Renkus-Heinz

appoints Jonathan Phillips as CRO

Renkus-Heinz has appointed Jonathan Phillips as Chief Revenue Officer (CRO). Phillips will oversee global partnerships and revenue strategy, reinforcing the company’s position at the forefront of professional audio. “Jonathan’s operational experience and technical background make him an excellent addition to our leadership team,” said Monika Smetona, President of Renkus-Heinz. “His track record building businesses and developing new markets and products aligns with our expansion objectives, and his strategic mindset and passion for technology reflect our core values.”

Phillips brings 25+ years’ expertise scaling technology companies from innovation to market. A named inventor on patents in materials processing and algorithmic analysis, he secured multi-million-dollar development programs from the Canadian government while advancing manufacturing technologies with an advanced science team at Equispheres. Earlier, he built and led Canadian operations for Cintex Metal Detection Systems through its acquisition by 3i and co-led Canadian Inkjet Systems to its sale to Domino Printing Sciences.

As Renkus-Heinz continues to lead the industry in advanced audio solutions, Phillips’s operational vision and forward-thinking approach will help guide the company into its next era – shaping the future of sound technology. “I’m thrilled to join the Renkus-Heinz leadership team at such a pivotal moment in the company’s journey,” states Phillips. “With its legacy of innovation and a

L-Acoustics debuts Middle East Application Team

L-Acoustics debuted its recently formed Middle East, Africa & Eurasia Application Team at an exclusive technology showcase on November 5 at Dubai’s Theatre of Digital Art. The event marked the first major regional appearance for the dedicated three-person team, re-

rapidly expanding portfolio of transformative solutions, Renkus-Heinz has strong technology and market position in professional audio. I’m focused on accelerating revenue growth through expanded distribution channels and deeper customer relationships in all key markets.” Smetona is equally optimistic for the future: “Jonathan’s addition to our executive team marks an exciting milestone for the company,” she continues. “His insight and guidance will help propel Renkus-Heinz to new heights and reinforce our position as an industry leader.”

(CRO).

flecting the company’s strategic commitment to delivering world-class technical support in one of its fastest-growing markets.

The Dubai event brought together more than 125 industry professionals for hands-on demonstrations of L-Acoustics’ L2 line source array and L-ISA immersive audio technology across multiple vertical markets, from live events and sports venues to themed entertainment, hospitality, and house of worship applications. Attendees experienced interactive demos, including live L-ISA DJ performances and technical workshops led by the new regional application team.

The new team structure is led by Mehdi Khelil, appointed Head of Application, Middle East, Africa & Eurasia, reporting to Vikram Kirby, Global Director of Application Operations. Supporting Mehdi are two expert

L-Acoustics new Middle East, Africa & Eurasia Application Team (L-R): Luke James Brookes, Application Engineer, Middle East & India; Mehdi Khelil, Head of Application; Adriaan van der Walt, Application Engineer - L-ISA.

Renkus-Heinz has appointed Jonathan Phillips as Chief Revenue Officer

Renkus-Heinz has appointed Jonathan Phillips as Chief Revenue Officer (CRO).

Application Engineers: Adriaan van der Walt (Application Engineer, Middle East - L-ISA) and Luke James Brookes (Application Engineer, Middle East & India). The team brings exceptional collective expertise to the region. Mehdi Khelil draws on more than 15 years of hands-on experience in live events and audiovisual technology across the Middle East’s entertainment and events sector, most recently serving as Senior Operations Manager at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.

Adriaan van der Walt is an L-ISA specialist with FOH mixing experience including four years on The Voice. Luke James Brookes, a two-time TPI Award nominee for System Designer of the Year, previously led audio operations at Dubai’s Coca-Cola Arena. “The establishment of this dedicated application team represents our commitment to meeting the evolving technical demands of the Middle East, Africa & Eurasia markets,” said Kirby. “With Mehdi’s leadership and the combined expertise of Adriaan and Luke, we’re positioned to deliver exceptional technical support and drive innovation in immersive audio experiences across the region.”

The new application team will focus on technical project support, system design consultation, and advancing L-Acoustics technology adoption throughout the region—from major live events and permanent installations to luxury residential projects and next-generation entertainment venues. This strategic expansion follows the recent restructuring of L-Acoustics’ sales team under Director of Sales EMEA Tim Völker, with Chris Mead serving as Head of Sales, Middle East, India, Africa & Eurasia. Both Völker and Mead will participate in the Dubai event alongside the application team. The company has experienced unprecedented growth, with a 30% increase in workforce over the past two years, driven by exceptional performance across all market sectors. “Our expanded application capabilities in the Middle East reflect the region’s growing importance in the global entertainment and events landscape,” added

Follow-Me appoints Menno Appelhof as Technical Sales Specialist

Follow-Me, has appointed Menno Appelhof to the role of Technical Sales Specialist. With 35 years of experience spanning lighting design, operations, and sales across the live entertainment industry, Appelhof will play a pivotal role in expanding Follow-Me’s global distribution and sales partner network while supporting both partners and end users with technical expertise. Appelhof’s extensive career began in the mid-1980s, where he started building shows and pushing flight cases at just 15 years old. His journey evolved through lighting design and programming to sales, where he established his own distribution company representing lighting brands. Throughout his career, he has worked with industry-leading companies including Avolites and Elation, gaining deep expertise in control systems and lighting technology.

“I’ve known about Follow-Me since the moment they

Follow-Me, has appointed Menno Appelhof to the role of Technical Sales Specialist.

started, and I already knew many people within the company from my time in the industry,” says Appelhof. “My experience helps me filter out what’s really important for each specific client. Every use case is unique, so I can tailor our offering to pinpoint exactly what matters to each individual’s needs.” Follow-Me’s performer tracking technology utilizes any fixture in the rig as a follow-spot and synchronizes performer position data with audio and video systems, media servers, and stage automation applications. In his new role, Appelhof will focus on growing Follow-Me’s distribution and sales partner network globally, with particular emphasis on strategic regions and carefully selected partnerships. He will also provide technical and functional support to partners, designers, and end users, helping them maximise the potential of Follow-Me’s performer tracking solutions.

“I’m especially excited about the opportunities to collaborate within the broadcast and theatre industries,” Appelhof shares. “Both fields are full of creative talent and innovation, and I’m eager to show how Follow-Me can enhance their artistic vision. It’s incredibly rewarding to see our technology come to life in major productions — whether that’s a world tour, a live broadcast, or New Year’s Eve celebrations. My goal is to see Follow-Me empowering shows of every scale around the globe.”

Marc Van der Wel, Managing Director at Follow-Me, shares his excitement about Appelhof’s appointment: “Menno has a great amount of experience with control systems in the industry,” he says. “He will help our partners, designers and users upscale their knowledge of our systems, as well as providing technical and functional support to move forward together.” Appelhof is committed to working across all aspects of Follow-Me’s business, from product introduction and sales to training and onboarding, to streamline operations for partners and users to ensure Follow-Me continues to deliver the best performer tracking technology and support in the industry.

Absen has appointed Eero Rask as Director of Digital Outof-Home (DOOH) for Europe.

Absen welcomes Eero Rask as EU DOOH Director of Business Development

Absen has appointed Eero Rask as Director of Digital Out-of-Home (DOOH) for Europe. In this role, Eero will lead strategic growth, innovation, and operational excellence across the region’s fast-evolving DOOH landscape. With over 15 years’ experience in digital signage, unified communications, and business development, Eero has held senior roles at Elisa Videra, LG Electronics, and Symbicon Ltd., delivering impactful AV solutions across Europe. His expertise and leadership have made him a trusted advisor to major brands and integration partners. “I’m thrilled to join Absen at such an exciting time for the DOOH industry,” says Eero. “Absen’s reputation for innovation and quality is unmatched, and I look forward to building strong partnerships and delivering digital experiences that truly connect with audiences.”

Ruben Rengel, Vice President of Global Business Development adds. “We’re delighted to welcome Eero to the team. His deep industry knowledge and strategic vision will be instrumental in accelerating our DOOH growth and delivering exceptional value to our partners and customers”.

Powersoft strengthens global marketing and technical teams

Powersoft has announced two new appointments that reinforce its commitment to global growth and partner support. Alessandro Bizzarri joins the company as marketing communications specialist, while Sofian Osman takes on the role of solutions engineer for south-east Asia. Together, they bring extensive expertise in market-

ing, systems integration and technical support to further strengthen Powersoft’s global presence. With more than a decade of experience in the professional audio and musical instrument industries, Bizzarri initially entered the industry as a sound engineer in the distributor sector, before embarking on a decade-long career across editorial and marketing roles.

He began as an editorial contributor to a leading Italian B2B magazine on AV technologies and system integration before later serving as channel marketing specialist for a major Italian distributor of professional audio solutions and musical instruments, where he helped implement joint marketing plans with distributed brands across the dealer network. Alongside his professional career, Bizzarri lectures at Roma Tre University, sharing his industry insights with the next generation of music educators. Commenting on his appointment, Bizzarri says: “In the professional audio industry, Powersoft is a true top-of-mind brand when it comes to performance and reliability in amplification. My professional goal in recent years has been to transition from the distributor side to the manufacturer side”.

Having worked on the distributor side for years, Bizzarri says he realises how important it is to listen to local needs and provide consistent support. At Powersoft, he views his role as a bridge, helping distributors, partners, and clients worldwide to succeed by providing them with the tools, campaigns and brand consistency they need to strengthen their presence in each market. “Joining the marketing team of such a global leader is very exciting. The best possible opportunity, the real and most exciting challenge, for me, is making the transition from supporting a local distributor to contributing to the growth of an international player,” he adds.

Complementing this appointment, Osman joins Powersoft as solutions engineer for south-east Asia, bringing over 15 years of experience in the AV and video conferencing industry.

His career spans hands-on technical roles, project and field engineering, and large-scale system integrations across the corporate, education and government sectors. Prior to joining Powersoft, he served as commissioning agent/AV field engineer at AVI-SPL Singapore, specialising in system deployment, client training and technical coordination.

Osman explains his motivation for joining Powersoft: “What excites me most about joining Powersoft is its commitment to innovation through sustainability and intelligence in sound. The company’s vision – to deliver energy-efficient, networked amplification with uncompromising audio quality – perfectly matches my passion for intelligent system design and future-ready AV integration. To me, Powersoft represents precision, reliability, and Italian engineering at its finest. It’s a brand trusted by professionals who care about both sound quality and system intelligence. The opportunity lies in educating and enabling the market – especially among system integrators and consultants – to appreciate how Powersoft’s ecosystem, from Mezzo to Unica, integrates seamlessly into modern AV frameworks”.

As part of his role, Osman plans to lead technical enablement initiatives in south-east Asia that focus on proactive partnership and transparency, including training programmes, proof-of-concept demonstrations and system design consultations. His priorities include expanding Powersoft’s presence across the corporate, hospitality and education sectors, while building a strong network of technically confident and empowered partners.

AVIXA Announces 2026 Board of Directors and Leadership Search Committee Members

AVIXA, the Audiovisual and Integrated Experience Association, has announced the election results for the 2026 AVIXA Board of Directors and Leadership Search Committee. John Bailey, Senior Vice President, Technology & Innovation, AVI-SPL, has been elected as Secretary-Treasurer of the Board by AVIXA membership. AVIXA members also elected to the Board Loubna Imenchal, Managing Director, Middle East, Turkey, Central Asia & Africa (MEA) at Axis Communications; and Cristiano Mazza, CTS, Partner, Grupo Discabos.

The AVIXA Leadership Search Committee (LSC) has appointed Ilya Bukshteyn, Corporate Vice President for Microsoft Teams Calling, Devices, and Premium Experiences; John Joseph, Co-Founder and Managing Director, Blue Rhine Industries; and Christine Schyvinck, President and CEO, Shure Incorporated, to AVIXA’s Board of Directors. Carolina Sosa, CFO of Integración AV, has been elected by AVIXA members to the Leadership Search Committee. In addition, Jatan Shah, Chair of the AVIXA Board of Directors, has appointed Faye Bennett, Founder and Managing Director of Faye Bennett Consultancy Services, and Christine Rogers, Vice President of XTG, AVI-SPL, to the Leadership Search Committee (LSC).

This is a complete listing of the 2026 AVIXA Board of Directors:

LSC Chair: Jatan Shah, QSC

Chair of the Board of Directors: Tobias Lang, LANG AG Vice Chair: Mradul Sharma, 3CDN Workplace Tech

Secretary-Treasurer: John Bailey, AVI-SPL

Directors: Kristin Bidwell, Audiovisual Consulting Team; Ilya Bukshteyn, Microsoft; Nicholas E. Cox, Sr., Mizuho Americas; Loubna Imenchal, Axis Communications; John Joseph, Blue Rhine Industries; Cristiano Mazza, Grupo Discabos; Christine Schyvinck, Shure Incorporated; and Tom Shen, Shen Milsom & Wilke.

“AVIXA is delighted to welcome these exceptional leaders to its Board of Directors and Leadership Search Committee. Their diverse insights and commitment are vital as we continue to enhance our support for AV professionals globally,” said David Labuskes, CTS, CAE, RCDD, Chief Executive Officer of AVIXA.

AVIXA thanks outgoing Leadership Search Committee Chair and former Chair of the AVIXA Board Cathryn Lai, Las Vegas Sands Corp., and outgoing Board members Christian Carrero, Kern & Stelly Medientechnik GmbH; Laila Hede Jensen, Zenova; Gale Moutrey, Gale Moutrey Communications Consulting; and Kaushik Mukhopadhyay, AVID India & AVID UAE. AVIXA also acknowledges and appreciates the contributions of outgoing LSC members Mike Brandes, QSC, Pedro Valletta, interproAV, and Juan José Vila, Equipson.

ISE 2026 launches inaugural CyberSecurity Summit

Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) has announced the launch of the CyberSecurity Summit, a major new addition to its 2026 content programme. Scheduled for Thursday, 5 February 2026, the Summit will tackle the escalating cybersecurity challenges confronting the professional AV and systems integration industries, as digital threats increasingly impact critical infrastructure, smart buildings, venues, and public services. The announcement comes during European Cybersecurity Awareness Month, a continent-wide initiative coordinated by ENISA and the European Commission to promote safer digital practices across businesses, institutions, and individuals. With cybercrime surging across Europe and globally, the timing of ISE’s new Summit couldn’t be more relevant.

As AV systems become increasingly networked and embedded in enterprise, public sector, and venue environments, they are directly exposed to the same vulnerabilities as traditional IT infrastructure. From control rooms and conferencing platforms to digital signage, smart buildings, and event venues, AV solutions are now high-value targets for ransomware, data breaches, social engineering, and denial-of-service attacks. At ISE’s CyberSecurity Summit, AV professionals will learn about safeguarding critical systems, navigate evolving regulations like NIS2 and ISO 27001, and transform cybersecurity from a vulnerability into a strategic advantage, before it’s too late. “Cybersecurity is no longer a technical afterthought, it’s a business-critical factor,” says Mike Blackman, Managing Director of Integrated Systems Events. “For AV manufacturers, integrators, and technology users, it’s essential for accessing public tenders, ensuring regulatory compliance, and building long-term trust with clients.”

Summit Chair Pere Ferrer i Sastre, former Director

of the Catalan Police (Mossos d’Esquadra) with extensive experience in public security, digital transformation, regulatory frameworks, and critical infrastructure management, will facilitate discussions addressing emerging digital threats to the AV and systems integration sectors. He explains: “Cybersecurity is no longer optional; it lies at the heart of every AV innovation. ISE’s CyberSecurity Summit brings together the brightest minds in our industry to confront today’s digital threats head-on and turn them into strategic advantages. By sharing actionable insights, proven strategies, and real-world experience, we will empower AV professionals to protect critical systems, lead with confidence, and build a safer, smarter future for the entire industry.”

The CyberSecurity Summit at ISE 2026 will unite AV and cybersecurity leaders to tackle the most pressing challenges facing connected AV systems in critical infrastructure, smart buildings, and corporate environments. Opening with Pere Ferrer, the Summit features keynotes from Shaun Reardon (DNV Cyber) on building cyber resilience, Timo Kosig and Andrew Dowsett (Barco Control Rooms) on secure operations, and Pedro Pablo Pérez (TRC) on protecting corporate communications. Roundtables with Laura Caballero (Cybersecurity Agency of Catalonia), Folly Farrel (TÜV SÜD), and Sergi Carmona (Veolia España) will explore compliance, governance, and best practices for securing critical AV environments.

The Summit is part of ISE 2026’s overarching theme, Push Beyond, which challenges the global AV and systems integration community to redefine what’s possible. By introducing the CyberSecurity Summit, ISE is pushing beyond traditional boundaries to address one of the most urgent and complex issues facing the industry today. Registration for ISE 2026 is now open, so take your place among the visionaries, trailblazers, and creative minds from every corner of the globe. Whether you’re an AV integrator, manufacturer, IT manager, or facilities

General

director, the CyberSecurity Summit offers essential knowledge and networking opportunities to help you navigate the evolving threat landscape. It’s a chance to learn from leading voices in cybersecurity and discover how to protect your business, your clients, and your reputation.

LG wins multiple CES 2006 Innovation Awards

LG Electronics (LG) has been honoured with numerous CES 2026 Innovation Awards, including two Best of Innovation distinctions, recognising its contribution to next-generation smart life solutions and display technology excellence. Presented annually by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) ahead of CES – the world’s largest consumer electronics and IT trade show – the Innovation Awards recognize groundbreaking products and services that drive the future of technology and design.

LG’s latest honours span multiple product categories, with its OLED TVs and monitors alone earning five Innovation Awards across Imaging, Gaming & eSports and Computer Hardware & Components. Leading the lineup is the LG SIGNATURE OLED T, which received the Best of Innovation Award in the Imaging category. The recognition underscores LG’s dominance in OLED technology and its commitment to delivering new value and user experiences. The 2026 honours mark the fourth consecutive year an LG OLED TV has claimed a Best of Innovation Award. The milestone follows a remarkable run of previous winners: the LG OLED evo

featuring a new Brightness Enhancement technology (2025); LG’s first wireless OLED TV (2024); and the bendable gaming OLED TV, LG OLED Flex (2023). For 2026, the world’s first true wireless and transparent TV – the LG SIGNATURE OLED T – continues this legacy of innovation at the pinnacle of the TV industry.

The LG SIGNATURE OLED T redefines the viewing experience with a stunning 77-inch transparent OLED display, ultra-sharp 4K (3,840 x 2,160) resolution and LG’s wireless AV transmission technology. Combining groundbreaking form with unrivaled performance, it sets a new benchmark for immersive design. Last month, the OLED T drew global attention at the APEC CEO Summit Korea 2025 in Gyeongju, where LG created a kinetic media chandelier using 28 units of the transparent TV – a striking showcase of LG’s vision for future display innovation.

LG’s webOS smart TV platform, a key pillar of the company’s platform-based service business, earned dual recognition this year with Innovation Awards in both Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity categories. webOS has now been honoured in the Cybersecurity category for two consecutive years, reinforcing its reputation as a secure and intelligent entertainment platform. Other LG products recognized by the CES 2026 Innovation Awards include a premium LCD TV with Micro RGB technology; the LG StanbyME 2, a next-generation portable lifestyle screen; and the LG UltraFine evo 6K professional monitor, the world’s first display to support both 6K (6,144 × 3,456) resolution and the latest Thunderbolt 5 interface. The full list and details of LG’s CES 2026 Innovation Award-winning products will be revealed at CES 2026 in Las Vegas on January 6, 2026.