AV News January 2026

JANUARY 2026

In this Issue ISE: Mike Blackman on the future of the show Barco enforces patents against Yealink BYOD in meeting rooms - the crisis nobody’s addressing DCC Technology Rebrands as Nexora

AV News Awards 2026: the Finalists!

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OPINION

Boom’s top 5 conferencing trends for 2026 Manufacturer Boom Collaboration has pinpointed the top five conferencing trends for 2026 - a multi-billion-dollar market it expects to rise by over 10 per cent. In association with distributors, MSPs, resellers and their customers, Boom has identified the latest changes reshaping the industry, where simplicity, interoperability and flexibility are some of the most in-demand trends.

“The video conferencing market continues to evolve, but the priority is clearer than ever. We’ve reached the point where simplicity beats features. If a system isn’t easy, it won’t get used, and that’s what will drive conversations and decisions in 2026.” confirmed Boom’s Co-Founder, Holli Hulett. “The landscape is changing quickly. Simplicity is becoming the standard. There’s no need to overcomplicate, over spec or oversell. The simpler approach often delivers the best results.”

Fellow Founder, Fredrik Hörnkvist, highlighted: “Bring Your Own Meeting (BYOM) has moved from an alternative to the primary workflow in many environments.

We’re seeing clear acceleration, particularly in smaller rooms where cost, flexibility and real-world usability win over complex in-room systems.”

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Boom’s top five conferencing trends for 2026 1 - Simplicity People want everything to be simple. They expect their video conferencing experiences to be easy, platform agnostic and user-friendly, based on the ability to just plug in and go.

2 – BYOM v in-room: the battle is over BYOM deployments are outstripping in-room systems 5:1. They rule the roost with total cost of ownership much less, especially in the medium to smaller spaces.

Customers can have the best of both worlds, combining the advantages of Bring Your Own Meeting deployments with existing in-room systems. The latest connectivity hubs ensure organisations don’t need to rip out their existing equipment and start again. It’s a have your cake and eat it approach.

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OPINION

3 – Interoperability The market has changed forever. People no longer wear just a Teams or Zoom badge. It’s about being vendor agnostic - any device, on any platform in any room. Users demand total flexibility.

4 – Certification Officially certified products are often part of an ecosystem that isn’t actually end-to- end certified. Certification still has value, but real-world meeting rooms rarely use fully certified ecosystems. Displays, switches, ceiling mics, laptops, smartphones, and BYOM workflows are almost never certified end-to-end. And yet they’re what people actually use. As meeting rooms become more flexible and more complex in 2026, organisations will prioritise compatibility and real-world performance over strict certification checklists.

lem. Often, the newest systems that offer every bell and whistle, including multiple cameras and extensive automated controls, come with not only a higher cost, but also a steep learning curve and ongoing investment in maintenance, licensing, and support. A balance needs to be struck, especially in challenging economic times.

Texas-based Boom offer a full portfolio of cameras, videobars, audio, connectivity hubs, controllers and complete room kits. It operates in over 35 countries worldwide from distribution centres in the US, Europe and Asia.

5 – AI Balance The rise of AI in both hardware and software will continue to accelerate. But ‘over speccing’ can be a big prob-

“The video conferencing market continues to evolve, but the priority is clearer than ever. We’ve reached the point where simplicity beats features,” Boom’s Co-Founder, Holli Hulett.

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Barco enforces patents against Yealink Barco has prevailed in its recent US patent lawsuit against Yealink. Yealink admitted to infringing six of Barco ClickShare’s patents related to wireless presentation.

As a result, a jury in the US District Court in Marshall, Texas awarded Barco over 900,000 USD in damages for one year of infringing sales. This award ensures the continued removal of the Yealink WPP20 and WPP30 devices from the US market. The jury’s verdict underscores Barco’s right to protect its intellectual property and maintain integrity of its wireless collaboration technology.

Barco introduced ClickShare in 2012. This wireless collaboration solution enables meeting attendees to effortlessly share content from their laptop with a single click via the ClickShare App or Button. For more than 13 years, ClickShare has been a pioneering product that stands out because of its simplicity, security, and ease of use. Barco’s wireless presentation technology is fundamental for good collaboration in the video conferencing market. “We welcome the jury’s award of over 900,000 USD in damages for Yealink’s infringement of Barco ClickShare’s patents,” said Kurt Verheggen, General Counsel at Barco. “The jury’s verdict ensures the continued removal of Yealink’s infringing products from the US market. We will carefully monitor the industry and prevent resellers of collaboration tools for video conferencing on online platforms and web shops from further reselling Yealink’s WPP20 and WPP30 devices in the US.” Barco has always persistently defended its intellectual property. ClickShare’s innovations for wireless presentation and conferencing are now protected by more than 110 patents in major jurisdictions. The company has built a solid reputation in safeguarding its strong patent portfolio for wireless collaboration solutions across the globe. The positive outcome in the US proves the importance and success of Barco’s focus on safeguarding its intellectual property.

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DCC Technology today announced a rebrand to Nexora, unve evolution into a unified and purpose led community of specia

DCC Technology Rebrands as Nexora DCC Technology today announced a rebrand to ‘Nexora;, unveiling a new identity and direction which reflects the group’s evolution into a unified and purpose-led community of specialist businesses. More than a name change, Nexora marks a significant step forward, defining the future of the group with clarity, purpose and momentum. The rebrand brings together twenty-seven specialist businesses and two thousand five hundred people under one shared vision to deliver progressive technology that enriches lives. “This is an exciting milestone for our business,” said Clive Fitzharris CEO of Nexora. “Nexora reflects who we are today and where we are going, a community of specialist businesses built on deep expertise and strong partnerships. It is an identity and direction which captures our energy, our ambition and our belief in the power of technology to enrich lives. I am proud of the inclusive process that brought us here and grateful to our teams who helped shape this next chapter.”

The journey to Nexora began in March 2025 when colleagues across the group were invited to propose names for the new identity. More than four hundred ideas were submitted. Nexora was chosen for its simplicity, its positive energy and its alignment with our purpose to deliver progressive technology that enriches lives. Formed from ‘Nex’ meaning next and ‘Ora’ meaning energy, Nexora symbolises progress, momentum, confidence

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years in the coming year. JAM recently celebrated fifty years. This heritage remains untouched and continues to be central to how we serve our partners.

With the completed sale of Exertis’ UK IT businesses and the exits from lower-margin IT activities in France, Spain, and the Netherlands, the Exertis name is being retired by the businesses in the Nexora family. This strategic move enables Nexora to focus entirely on its core strength; building strong specialist businesses in markets where it can deliver meaningful added value. With a simplified structure Nexora is increasing investment in talent, technology and demand creation across its specialist markets to support partners and open new opportunity.

EasyTools joins SRT Alliance for high quality, low latency streaming

eiling a new identity and direction which reflects the group’s alist businesses.

and forward motion. “Our goal was to create a name that unites our businesses and inspires progress,” said Vishal Chhatralia Chief Digital and Innovation Officer at Nexora. “Nexora provides clarity and motivation. It reflects what is next for our group and the energy of the people who drive our success. This identity gives us a strong platform to tell our story and strengthen our partnerships.”

The name was submitted jointly by five colleagues: •Marvin - Supervisor, Texas Distribution Centre •Jeff - Sales leader, Almo Appliances •Jordy - Account Manager, Benelux •Josh - Sales leader, Almo Pro AV •Sydney -HR, North America Nexora is the group identity that unites twenty-seven specialist businesses and two thousand five hundred people. This shared identity strengthens connection across markets enhances collaboration supports innovation and reinforces a strong sense of belonging across the community.

Nexora includes Comm-Tec across DACH, Italy and Iberia, Azenn and Connect in France, Hammer in Europe, Captech in the Nordic region and Almo and JAM in North America. Together these specialist businesses bring decades of proven leadership in their markets.

Almo celebrates eighty years of trading this year. CommTec celebrates forty years. Hammer will reach thirty-five

EasyTools joins SRT Alliance for high quality, low latency streaming EasyTools, a trailblazer in versatile software video infrastructure solutions, today announced that it has joined the SRT Alliance, a collaborative community of industry leaders and developers striving to achieve lower latency internet video transport. Moreover, the EasyTools contribution, distribution and monitoring solutions are certified as ‘SRT Ready’. The SRT Alliance, founded by Haivision in April 2017, already has more than 700 members. Its mission is to overcome the challenges of low-latency live streaming by supporting the collaborative development of SRT (Secure Reliable Transport), the fastest growing open-source streaming project.

SRT is a free open-source video transport protocol and technology stack originally developed and pioneered by Haivision, which enables the delivery of high-quality and secure, low-latency video across the public internet. While the SRT protocol has been integrated in the EasyTools products since 2019, this certification underscores EasyTools’ commitment to delivering high-quality video-infrastructure solutions that meet the demands of modern broadcast environments. Thanks to the SRT protocol, broadcasters using the EasyTools contribution and distribution solutions for sports, concerts, and other live events can replace expensive satellite contribution setups.

They can now use affordable Internet connections while still meeting stringent requirements for low latency and high quality. Moreover, broadcasters and streamers using the EasyTools Monitoring solution can monitor channels remotely, enhancing operational efficiency and oversight. “Operators building their video infrastructure want two things: low costs and high reliability,” said Christophe Massiot, founder and CEO of EasyTools.

“Our ‘affordability revolution’ presented at IBC meets the need for low cost. Now, with our products SRT Ready, operators can trust our solutions over IP net-

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works, ensuring top-notch quality and reliability for high-stakes distributions.”

EasyTools – which also offers distribution services – already processes several hundred SRT streams daily through its infrastructure on behalf of its clients. Furthermore, its SRT-Ready products also support SMPTE-2022-7 over SRT, offering seamless resilience in video transport.

ProDVX Europe and Sennheiser partner to “simplify access” Integration allows MobileConnect Stations to display their unique QR code directly on ProDVX Android Panel PCs, giving users instant access to assistive listening or other local audio streams. By simply scanning the code with the MobileConnect App, students, staff, or visitors can connect effortlessly without additional setup or technical support. “At Sennheiser, we are committed to making every learning experience more inclusive,” said Charlie Jones, Senior Partner Relations Manager, Sennheiser Business Communication. “This collaboration with ProDVX makes MobileConnect even easier to access within higher education and enterprise environments, ensuring that assistive and interactive listening is available to anyone who needs it, in just a few simple steps. “We are proud to partner with Sennheiser to bring this integration to life,” said Michael Theophanous, Sales Manager, ProDVX Europe. “Our devices are designed for 24/7 use, enhancing user interaction, and by adding direct access to MobileConnect, we’re helping institutions create spaces that are more connected, accessible, and engaging for everyone.

MobileConnect is an innovative, smartphone-based audio accessibility solution designed to create inclusive listening experiences across education and enterprise environments. It combines three key components: the MobileConnect Station, the MobileConnect App for Android, and the MobileConnect Manager. The MobileConnect Station delivers low-latency audio over Wi-Fi to up to 100 connected smartphones. Through the intuitive MobileConnect App, users can personalize their listening experience and use the Audience Mic feature to share feedback or questions, encouraging greater interaction and engagement. The MobileConnect Manager provides secure, centralized control and easy scalability for multi-room or campus-wide deployments.

The ProDVX Android Panel PCs are widely used for interactive digital signage applications, from room booking, control panels and self-service kiosks to visitor management and digital reception. They are available from 7 to 32 inches. Running Android 13, these devices deliver reliable, commercial-grade performance ideal for campus environments and enterprises. Sennheiser and ProDVX make it easier for universities and enterprises to deliver accessible, engaging, and user-friendly audio experiences, helping everyone participate fully in shared learning and collaboration.

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.Broadcast Solutions has launched a new business, aimed at provid

Broadcast Solutions creates new business Broadcast Solutions has launched a new business, aimed at providing consultancy and design services across the media industry. Broadcast Solutions Connect is the result of a merger between Thum + Mahr GmbH, a systems integration specialist which was already part of the group and Broadcast Solutions Produkte und Service GmbH. The new business will be based in Monheim am Rhein, with another office in Frankfurt and representatives in the UK and France.

The company focuses on providing specialised services for the broadcast and media industry, including consulting, system architecture and workflow solutions, project management, managed services, coaching and support, coupled with a range of professional broadcast equipment. The goal is to provide strong partnerships, bringing together the various capabilities of Broadcast Solutions and its customers.

Heading Broadcast Solutions Connect will be Maximilian Breder, Co-CEO of the Broadcast Solutions Group.

He is joined in the leadership group by Bernhard Steinhoff, formerly COO of Thum + Mahr, and by Martin Schwöri, formerly COO of Broadcast Solutions Produkte und Service. “By combining forces, we are bringing a broad range of skills into a focused, targeted unit,”

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TRISON acquires Pioneer Group

ding consultancy and design services across the media industry.

Maximilian Breder said. “From key locations we look to the worldwide market, driving forward the core Broadcast Solutions values of practicality, innovation and reliability. Broadcast Solutions Connect will work alongside our colleagues in system integration, providing the best practical solutions to our valued customers”.

Martin Schwöri added, “We will of course continue to offer our products for sale, and support those who use them. What this new venture emphasises is our goal of ensuring we identify the real requirements of our clients, digging deep into their operations and their goals, and finding the best way to reach those goals”Bernhard Steinhoff said. “By bringing the combined experience from Broadcast Solutions Produkte und Service and Thum + Mahr into a single pool, we can greatly enhance our offering and really deliver value. It also gives us a larger workforce with an even greater spread of skills, giving us the flexibility to tailor our services precisely to the needs of each project. Broadcast Solutions Connect will have an initial workforce of around 20 people and will commence operations beginning 2026.

TRISON has announced the acquisition of Pioneer Group, a multi-service provider of AV solutions, network infrastructure and electrical services with a strong reputation in supporting quick service restaurants and stadia as well as retailers and corporate clients. The acquisition, completed on 1 December 2025, represents a significant step in TRISON’s strategy to continue its rapid growth and to provide its growing client base with the best service levels in the industry. This acquisition continues the work TRISON is focused on, expanding its offerings by leveraging the expertise that Pioneer Group has gained over its 14 years in business. Pioneer Group has a strong client base that includes well-known names such as KFC, Joe and The Juice, and numerous Sports clubs.

Alberto Caceres Tejedor, Global CEO of TRISON said: “This strategic acquisition underscores our unwavering commitment to global growth and to delivering customer experience solutions that profoundly and measurably influence our clients’ businesses. We aim to provide not only exceptional quality solutions but also unparalleled customer service. By joining forces with the talented team at Pioneer Group, we are poised to unlock even greater value for our customers and accelerate our journey towards sustained growth in the UK and beyond.”

Peter Critchley, UK CEO of TRISON: “We have closely observed Pioneer Group’s growth over the past few years, and we are genuinely impressed by their solutions focus and strong client retention rates. As a company with ambitious goals for continued expansion, we believe that Pioneer Group is the perfect match for us.

Their expertise aligns seamlessly with our strengths, and their impressive portfolio of clients speaks volumes about their capabilities.”

“Joining TRISON will allow us to leverage impressive resources, scale our offerings, access new global opportunities and support clients with an even wider range of more comprehensive solutions, while continuing to serve them with the same dedication that our fantastic team has delivered over the past 14 years. As Joint owners of Pioneer Group, we both see this as a tremendous opportunity for the team to develop and grow”, confirmed Paul Childerhouse, Joint Owner, Pioneer Group. Chris Appleyard, the other Joint Owner of Pioneer Group continues: “The combined talents of the new TRISON UK team will open up new and innovative avenues for continued growth and development. Paul

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BUSINESS

TRISON, a global company dedicated to the digital transformation of physical spaces, has announced the acquisition of Pioneer Group.

and I are both excited to be actively involved in driving the integrated business forward, and we couldn’t be more enthusiastic about the future for us and our team who will undoubtedly benefit from the new opportunities this acquisition holds for them!”

“Pioneer Group will transition to TRISON UK, with full integration underway immediately. Customers will benefit from expanded resources and a wider range of services,” Confirms Mark Childerhouse, Pioneer Group’s Sales and Marketing Director, who will be taking on the Commercial Director role at the merged company. Pioneer Group were advised by CN Strategic Advisors on the transaction with legal counsel provided by Browne Jacobson. TRISON were advised by Nockolds and EY.

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Motion Mapping opens experience centre at Business Design Centre Motion Mapping has officially opened the doors to its brand-new Experience Centre at the iconic Business Design Centre in Islington; an electrifying showcase of immersive technology where projection, storytelling and interactive design come together to transform the ordinary into the unforgettable. The Experience Centre is brought to life using a cache of 27 different Epson 3LCD high-brightness projectors, combining high-brightness interchangeable-lens models for large-scale visuals with a wide range of fixed-lens units for short and ultra-short throw applications. This mix ensures immersive projection across varied spaces, while dedicated digital signage projectors like LightScene and EB-L255F deliver dynamic content in a sleek, design-led format, setting them apart from traditional display solutions.

Following 18 months of momentum at their Ipswich showroom, the increased demand from brands and agencies led Motion Mapping to expand into a larger, more dynamic space in London. The Business Design Centre, known for innovation, is just a four-minute walk from Angel Tube which provides the perfect home for agencies and their clients seeking inspiration. The Experience Centre features a series of live, ever-evolving

BUSINESS

Motion Mapping has officially opened the doors to its brand-new Experience Centre at the iconic Business Design Centre in Islington.

d&b audiotechnik acquires distribution partner - ARVA Group demonstrations: an immersive area that transports guests into new worlds, magical shopfront windows that reveal hidden moments at the touch of a button, and reactive product showcases that shift and transform with movement and touch. Agencies can book private tours and are encouraged to bring clients for a truly unforgettable encounter with next-generation projection technology.

Every visit begins with a personalised projection welcome before guests move through a series of interactive zones featuring LiDAR touch glass, switchable windows, and seasonal installations that evolve throughout the year. The experience concludes with a relaxed meeting lounge, perfect for sparking fresh ideas, planning campaigns, and exploring big creative possibilities. Flexible access, including keypad entry for approved partners, also empowers agencies to host sessions independently and make the space their own. “More than a demonstration, the Experience Centre is a living lab of projection possibilities,” says Stuart Harris, Creative Director and Founder. “It’s designed to ignite imagination, spark bold brand activations, and unlock new creative potential.”

d&b audiotechnik has announced the acquisition of the ARVA Group, a leading supplier of top-end pro audio equipment in the Nordic region, with offices in Stockholm, Malmö, Aarhus, Oslo and Helsinki. This move reinforces d&b’s long-term commitment to local markets and customer proximity. Since its foundation in 1989, the ARVA Group has committed to providing products and solutions delivering the best sound quality, offering d&b audiotechnik as the flagship brand in its portfolio. Leveraging strong strategic partnerships, ARVA has consistently offered high-end audio solutions for a variety of markets including recording studios, large-scale live events, as well as performance and commercial audio installations.

ARVA’s operations span Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Finland, with each subsidiary deeply attuned to local market needs. Their service-driven approach and relationship-focused sales strategy have earned them a reputation as a reliable and knowledgeable partner in both mobile and installation markets. Customers across the Nordic region can expect the same high level of service and deep industry expertise. “ARVA and d&b share the same values and are dedicated to education – build-

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FEATURE BUSINESS

ing deep knowledge among our staff and customers”, says Olof Arvidsson, CEO & Founder of ARVA Group “With this acquisition we ensure continuity to our customers as well as employees. The team remains unchanged, and our collaboration builds on years of trust and shared values.”

The acquisition builds on a longstanding partnership, transforming collaboration into deeper integration under the d&b audiotechnik brand. “Together, we are closer to our Scandinavian customers than ever, offering tailored solutions, strategic expertise, and access to the latest innovations in professional audio.” says Jaakko Kaivonen, CRO d&b audiotechnik. “We look forward to continuing and expanding the strong relationships that have defined our partnership.” The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals.

DirectOut Technologies is a developer of professional audio connecti and installed sound applications. The company has announced that

DirectOut appoints DWR Distribution as South African Partner DirectOut Technologies, based in Mittweida, Germany, is a developer of professional audio connectivity, networking, and bridging solutions for broadcast, studio, live, and installed sound applications. The company is pleased to announce that DWR Distribution is its new partner in South Africa. Established in 2006, DWR Distribution is a trusted distributor of audio, lighting, AV, and LED display solutions, offering full technical solutions for the architectural, commercial, broadcast and entertainment markets. The company is also home to DiGiCo consoles in South Africa, a relationship that laid the foundation for the new partnership with DirectOut, as Kyle Robson, Sales, Support Specialist for DWR explains. “We received a phone call from Ian Staddon at DiGiCo, introducing us to Lorenzo Sassi and the team at DirectOut,” he says. “A lot of DiGiCo distributors across the globe also represent DirectOut, as it’s the audio backbone to signal flow, so I’m very excited about our new appointment! The company manufactures incredibly powerful solutions for managing and converting au-

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dio and data signals; it’s seamless redirection and integration is exactly what our clients need.”

Founded in 2008 DirectOut has built a reputation for combining multiple protocols and delivering robust, reliable redundancy. Major events are built on the technology, from touring stadium shows and international broadcasts to dance studios and beyond, the DirectOut modular solutions are providing exactly what engineers require in a single, rack-mountable device. Expanding their global reach with this new partnership is something that Lorenzo Sassi, Head of Sales at DirectOut, is very proud to announce. “We are excited to welcome DWR as our new South African distributor,” he says.

“After a period of searching, we know we’ve have found a solid and well-established partner in DWR that is perfectly positioned to support our customers in the region.

Their reputation precedes them and the brands they represent are a testament to this. It was DiGiCo that introduced us to DWR, and when I heard they were interested in distributing DirectOut, I instantly jumped at the

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WyreStorm appoints Paul Lee as VP of the Americas

ivity, networking, and bridging solutions for broadcast, studio, live, t DWR Distribution is its new partner in South Africa.

chance. I met with Kyle and Duncan, and immediately found a great synergy between us. There is a true alignment between our companies in terms of business practices.”

Duncan Riley, Managing Director of DWR, echoed the enthusiasm for this new working relationship. “DirectOut enables audio engineers and technicians to elevate their sound to a more professional level, ensuring optimal integration, flexibility, and redundancy,” he concludes. “It brings peace of mind and tremendous value to the range of products we already represent.

Best of all, we get to work with the wonderful team at DirectOut.”

WyreStorm Technologies has announced Paul Lee as the new Vice President of the Americas, marking an exciting step forward in the company’s continued regional growth and forming a key part of WyreStorm’s multi-year global initiative to align the organization with evolving customer expectations and rapidly advancing technology. Paul brings with him a rich history in the Pro AV industry, with experience spanning sales leadership, business development, post-sales operations, and global partner engagement.

From his early days in Southern California to supporting large-scale AV deployments around the world, Paul has built a reputation for being a thoughtful leader who understands the industry from every angle. Driving a Customer-Centric Transformation across the Americas. In his new role, Paul will lead the charge in shaping a customer-first organisation, a core pillar of WyreStorm’s long-term growth strategy for the Americas. He will work closely with teams across Sales, Technical Services, and Marketing Communications to ensure that every interaction with partners, integrators, and end users reflects WyreStorm’s commitment to service, simplicity, and long-term value.

This appointment is part of a broader, multi-year global initiative led by George Lau, CEO of WyreStorm, to keep the company ahead of evolving market expectations and advancing technology trends. “Expanding our leadership in the Americas is a milestone that speaks to how far WyreStorm has come since our early days in a small town in Tennessee. Our commitment has always been to deliver solutions that are both technologically advanced and accessible to real-world users. Paul’s appointment strengthens that commitment and positions us to accelerate growth, deepen customer engagement, and raise the standard of support across the region,” said George Lau, CEO, WyreStorm Technologies.

Paul Lee, VP of the Americas added: “It’s truly an honour to step into this role and work alongside such a passionate and driven team. The Americas represent an incredible opportunity for WyreStorm, and I’m excited to help strengthen our relationships, elevate the customer experience, and build momentum that creates lasting value for our partners.”

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THE INTERVIEW

THE INTE VIEW

The Mike Blackman Q&A As we gear-up for ISE 2016, Mike Blackman, Managing Director, Integrated Systems Events talks to AV News editor Bryan Denyer about, among other things, the continuing success of the ISE event, the impact of growth, rising costs, sustainability and digital media on the in-person format of the event.

AVNews: ISE has retained its popularity despite the challenges posed by digital media and competing events. Is this because there’s still no real substitute for face-to-face interaction when it comes to building trust and rapport?

MB: Absolutely. Face-to-face interaction remains irreplaceable when it comes to building genuine trust and meaningful business relationships. Digital platforms are fantastic for communication and information sharing, but they simply can’t replicate the nuances of in-person engagement. The spontaneous conversations when walking the show floor, reading someone’s body language, the energy of a handshake or a shared laugh, these moments are often where real partnerships are born. ISE continues to thrive because it provides a space where people can connect on a human level and spark collaborations that go far beyond the show itself.

In a world that’s increasingly dominated by screens, the personal connections formed at ISE are still incredibly valuable.

AVNews: From an attendee’s perspective, ISE offers the chance to see, touch, and experience products firsthand. However, does the scale and growing diversity of the show create challenges in maintaining that handson experience?

MB: That’s a very fair point, and it’s something we’re very mindful of. As ISE continues to grow, it’s our responsibility to make sure attendees don’t lose that immersive experience that sets the show apart. We do this by carefully designing the show floor, curating Technology Zones for easy navigation, and creating interactive demo areas that make it easy for visitors to explore and engage with the innovations that matter most to them.

We also work closely with exhibitors to encourage expe-

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riential displays, so attendees can see products in action and even try them in real-world scenarios. Growth certainly brings greater diversity, but we’re committed to ensuring it never comes at the expense of that direct, tangible engagement that makes ISE so special.

AVNews: ISE brings together decision-makers from multiple related sectors, allowing participants to network with a large number of relevant contacts in just a few days. Does the size of the event ever become a drawback in this regard?

MB: The size of ISE can feel overwhelming at first glance, but we actually see it as one of our greatest strengths as we manage it thoughtfully. With so many sectors and so many potential connections under one roof, the real challenge is helping attendees focus on what matters most to them. That’s why we invest heavily in tools and resources to make networking as effective as possible, for example the ISE website now has the ability for users to create their very own event schedule – it simply asks for your company and job title, then uses AI to pull together a list of events personalised to you.

The event’s scale gives you access to an extraordinary breadth of contacts, but our goal is to make sure every connection counts.

AVNews: As ISE continues to expand, absorbing new product categories and niches, is there a point where growth in scope could become counterproductive?

MB: Expansion must be strategic. We’re mindful of the need to maintain coherence and relevance for our audience. We regularly consult with our advisory boards and

THE INTERVIEW

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stakeholders to assess new opportunities and ensure that any addition genuinely adds value. If we ever felt that growth was starting to dilute the show’s focus or overwhelm visitors, we wouldn’t hesitate to pause and reassess. The priority is maintaining ISE as the central hub for the AV and systems integration community, rather than trying to be everything to everyone. Growth is exciting, but relevance and clarity are always our guiding principles.

MB: The move to Barcelona was always about the longterm potential of the show - its ability to grow, innovate, and provide an exceptional experience for both exhibitors and attendees. The city’s infrastructure and venue facilities give us the flexibility to deliver a world-class event that simply wasn’t possible in Amsterdam. We continue to listen to feedback and look for ways to create an environment where our community can truly thrive.

AVNews: Do you believe it’s still possible for a new brand to compete effectively against established players at ISE?

AVNews: What steps are being taken to ensure attendees are qualified buyers actively seeking new products and solutions — and that they represent strong ROI for exhibitors?

MB: It’s definitely possible - one of ISE’s real strengths is its ability to level the playing field. Innovation Park is central to that; it’s a dedicated area specifically designed to showcase emerging companies and breakthrough technologies. It gives new brands a platform to demonstrate their solutions in a highly visible part of the show, allowing them to engage directly with potential customers and partners. Beyond exhibition space, Innovation Park fosters interaction through curated presentations, pitch sessions, and networking opportunities, helping startups tell their story in a way that resonates.

With the right preparation and a compelling offering, new brands can stand out and make meaningful connections, gaining traction that can shape their future in the industry.

AVNews: We’ve heard some concerns from exhibitors about the rising costs associated with exhibiting in Barcelona. Do the original arguments for moving from Amsterdam still hold true today?

MB: Ensuring a high-quality audience is a top priority for us. Our registration process gathers detailed information about attendees’ roles, responsibilities, and areas of interest. We also provide tools for pre-show appointment scheduling and host exclusive networking events that connect exhibitors directly with influential buyers. The goal is to make sure exhibitors are meeting people who are actively looking for solutions, so every interaction has the potential to generate meaningful business outcomes.

We also offer a host of matchmaking formats throughout the show, including ‘Speed-Dating Night’ on Tuesday 3 February, 17:00-18:00, which offers fast-paced networking for startups, investors, and innovation managers. ‘Innovation & Startup Matchmaking’ is all day on Wednesday 5 – Thursday 6 February. Here, investors and innovation managers gain tailored insights into the most relevant innovators, startups and scaleups, based on their specific search fields and innovation needs. Be

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THE INTERVIEW

sure to register for these as spaces fill up quickly!

AVNews: To what extent does ISE support exhibitors post-show in following up leads and closing deals?

MB: ISE’s role is really about creating the environment and platform that makes follow-up and relationship-building possible. From the moment exhibitors’ step on the show floor, we provide tools and spaces that make it easy to capture and organise leads, and to engage with the right contacts. Ultimately, the real value often emerges after the show, as exhibitors follow up and develop the relationships sparked at ISE. Our focus is on giving them the structure and visibility they need to turn those initial encounters into long-term partnerships and opportunities.

AVNews: What more can ISE do to extend the value of the show — for example, through additional media or ongoing engagement to improve overall ROI for exhibitors?

MB: We already provide a range of tools and platforms designed to help exhibitors extend the impact of the show well beyond the four days on the floor. Our complementary press opportunities including the digital press kit which makes it easy for exhibitors to upload and share news directly with media, and the Exhibitor Back Office allows you to upload up to three press releases, easily accessible to all visitors and media.

ISE Show TV is another key channel that we offer, giving exhibitors the chance to showcase products and stories to a wider audience. Together, these resources create multiple touchpoints that keep exhibitors visible, help them connect with the right audiences, and support ongoing engagement.

AVNews: Many trade shows now include virtual components to expand reach beyond physical attendees. How is ISE using digital tools to enhance, rather than replace, the in-person experience?

MB: Our focus has always been on creating an exceptional in-person experience. We want attendees to be on the show floor, seeing, touching, and experiencing the technology first-hand. Digital tools are there to complement that experience, not replace it. As I mentioned, ISE Show TV captures videos on the show floor, including product demos, Q&As, and 360-degree stand flythroughs. These are promoted during and after the show via the RISE website and newsletters, extending the reach of exhibitors’ stories.

Also, for ISE 2026 as part of our evolving content programme offerings, attendees with a Megatrend session ticket will have access to the online recordings for 2 weeks post-show, to catch up and refresh their knowledge.

AVNews: What are ISE’s current educational and CPD objectives, and how have these evolved over the years?

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MB: Education is at the heart of ISE, and our programme is designed to give attendees the insight and tools they need to stay ahead in a fast-moving industry.

We offer a comprehensive range of sessions covering everything from AV and systems integration to digital signage, smart building technologies, and beyond. This year, we’re especially excited to introduce the CyberSecurity Summit, Thursday 5 February, 09:00-12:00, reflecting the growing importance of secure systems in every sector. It will provide practical guidance, expert panels, and case studies to help attendees understand and navigate this critical area. Summit chair is Pere Ferrer i Sastre, a senior public executive and strategic advisor with over 15 years of experience in leadership roles across public safety, digital transformation, and critical infrastructure governance.

Another key element is our Megatrends programme.

These sessions focus on the major forces shaping the future of the industry: AI, Cybersecurity, Robotics, Smart Spaces, Sustainability, and TradeScape. They’re designed to give attendees a broader perspective on where the market is heading, helping them anticipate opportunities and challenges.

What makes ISE’s education offering unique is that it’s highly integrated with the show floor. Attendees can immediately connect what they learn in sessions to the products, solutions, and innovations they see in person.

The combination of deep-dive education, emerging trend analysis, and hands-on experience ensures participants leave with both knowledge and context empowering them to drive innovation within their own businesses.

THE INTERVIEW

benefit the local community after the event. We also work with partners who share our sustainability commitments, and we actively promote greener travel options, such as trains for those coming from within Europe.

Importantly, sustainability is also part of the content we offer. We integrate topics like environmental responsibility into our education and Megatrends sessions, helping the industry think about sustainability not just operationally, but strategically.

AVNews: Looking ahead, where do you see new visitors to the Barcelona-based event coming from — both in terms of sectors and geographic regions?

AVNews: With thousands of visitors and exhibitors travelling long distances, how sustainable is an event of ISE’s scale?

MB: From the very beginning, we’ve worked closely with Fira de Barcelona to build a greener event across multiple fronts. The venue itself is powered by 100 % renewable energy, drawing on sources such as solar, wind, hydro, biomass, and more, which significantly reduces the show’s environmental footprint.

But our commitment goes beyond energy: we actively encourage exhibitors to rethink how they design and build stands, guided by the 8Rs framework—rethink, refuse, reduce, reuse, repair, refurbish, repurpose, and recycle. This approach minimises waste and fosters circular economy practices, resulting in more modular, reusable structures, fewer single-use materials, and smarter choices about what is brought into the hall.

Sustainability is embedded in every aspect of planning and delivering the show. By working closely with partners and exhibitors, we strive to reduce environmental impact, promote responsible design, and support the communities that host us. As a proud supporter of the Better Stands Programme, we champion the transition from disposable, single use stands to high-quality, reusable structures. This initiative not only reduces waste but also enhances safety and efficiency during build and breakdown, contributing to a more sustainable future for the events industry.

On the show floor, initiatives like waste patrols, reusable badge holders, and donation programmes for leftover furniture and equipment help cut down waste and

MB: ISE has always attracted a diverse, international audience, and we expect that diversity to continue expanding. On the sector side, one of the most exciting growth areas is Broadcast AV, alongside traditional AV and systems integration. We’re also seeing increasing interest from hospitality, healthcare, education, and smart cities. The convergence of these sectors is creating unique opportunities, and ISE provides the perfect platform for professionals from different disciplines to come together, share ideas, and explore integrated solutions.

Geographically, Europe remains at the core of our audience, but we’re also seeing growing participation from North America, Asia, and the Middle East. Barcelona’s excellent international transport links and its status as a global hub make the event more accessible than ever, attracting visitors from regions that previously may not have attended.

AVNews: Finally, would you ever consider making ISE a hybrid (in-person and virtual) event to address sustainability concerns?

MB: The true energy of ISE comes alive when people are on the show floor, seeing, touching, and experiencing technology first-hand, and engaging in the spontaneous conversations that ignite fresh ideas, collaborations, and partnerships. No digital platform can fully replicate the serendipity and creative spark of these face-to-face interactions. At the same time, we leverage digital tools strategically to extend connections, amplify content, and keep the dialogue flowing before and after the event. Sustainability is central to every decision we make, and we remain committed to pioneering new ways to make ISE greener, ensuring that our industry’s most important gathering is both inspiring and responsible.

AVNews: Thanks Mike - have a great show!

Attending ISE 2026 AV News readers can register for ISE 2026 for FREE using the code ‘avnews’ at https://www.iseurope.org/ welcome/registration.

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AWARDS

AV News Awards 2026: The Finalists Yet again, the panel of judges for this year’s AV News Awards were staggered by both the volume and quality of nominations for the Awards. Over the Christmas period, the judges pored over the nominations, finally selecting the finalists listed below. The eventual winners will be chosen from this list and announced at the AV News Awards Ceremony on the 4th February 2026, held as part of the ISE trade show in Barcelona. As usual, finalists in the Personal Awards categories have not been published. Winners of Personal Awards will be announced at the AV News Awards Ceremony.

AV News Awards 2026 The Finalists AV News Awards 2026 Category: AV Reseller and integrator of the Year Finalists: Project Audio Visual Project Audio Visual (PAV) is a UK-headquartered AV integrator with a global reach, known for reshaping collaboration in the hybrid era. PAV has pioneered AVITdirect - an industry-first ecommerce platform that blends high-end AV/IT procurement with expert integration insight. Unlike faceless resellers, AVITdirect offers curated products backed by real technical experience, optional design and installation, and a seamless user journey. As a Platinum partner to leading vendors and part of Microsoft’s exclusive MRPP programme, PAV combines innovation with operational strength. With a people-first culture and future-facing strategy, PAV is redefining what smart, supported AV integration looks like in today’s digital workplace.

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FluidAV From a small village in County Down, NI, FluidAV has stepped up to be recognised as one of the foremost integrators in the UK: increasing turnover this year by approximately 300%; doubling its workforce; opening an Edinburgh office; and competing against the biggest names in the business to win tenders that will significantly impact the company’s future. With innovation at its core, FluidAV developed a bespoke custom QRbased service desk, which is now installed across all of its AV systems. This pioneering new offering has reduced service call times by 60% across the board, proving its flexibility and real-world impact.

Yorktel Kinly Yorktel Kinly brings together two industry leaders in collaboration, systems integration, and managed services to transform workplaces and elevate end-user experiences globally. With over 40 years of experience, 1,600 employees, more than $480 million in revenue and 27 offices across the US, EMEA and APAC, we operate at truly global scale. Our combined expertise spans AI-powered room monitoring, 24/7 support and a

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Category: Digital Signage Innovation of the Year Finalists: Samsung Spatial Signage Spatial Signage is a breakthrough in commercial display technology. For years, 3D displays were impractical for businesses — requiring special glasses, custom content or bulky installations that didn’t suit modern retail and hospitality spaces. Built on Samsung’s proprietary 3D Plate technology, Spatial Signage delivers immersive 3D from standard 2D assets. With realistic depth and dimension in a slim 52mm form factor, Spatial Signage creates a bold impact without the installation hassle.

The result is vivid detail that feels almost within reach and stands out in busy spaces.

unique enterprise service layer, enabling greater agility, efficiency and precision. With comprehensive capabilities, deep technical knowledge and expanded delivery teams, we empower organisations to thrive in the hybrid world and unlock the full potential of modern work.

Groupe Novelty Groupe Novelty, formerly Novelty Magnum Dushow, is Europe’s largest provider of technical solutions for installations, events, and rental/staging, with over 40 years of expertise and the continent’s biggest AVL inventory. At the end of last year, the group unified all its specialist companies (including Novelty, Magnum, Dushow, and a dozen others) under one banner while preserving their individual know how. Headquartered in Paris, Groupe Novelty employs 1,500 staff, generates €370m annually, and delivers around 15,000 events each year. With offices and warehouses across EMEA, it offers complete services in video, audio, lighting, rigging, power, SFX, staging, backline, recording, and broadcast.

Philips Unite LED 6000 Series AIO The stunning 135” 4K UHD Philips Unite LED 6000 Series All In One sets new standards for flexible, high-performance and sustainable large-format displays, with a unique focus on portability, versatility, and operational efficiency.

A masterclass in engineering, the 6000 Series features a foldable and height-adjustable design, conforming to the precise needs of its audience, i.e. boardrooms, trade shows, lobbies and classrooms. Maximising investments, displays can be effortlessly transported between rooms (even via lifts) for a diverse range of uses, while its fold-down design allows for compact storage.

With reduced energy consumption, running costs are minimised while product lifetimes are extended.

Brightsign XS6 Built-In System-on-a-Chip (SoC) solution The XS6 redefines BrightSign’s Built-In System-on-aChip (SoC) solution, delivering seamless 4K graphics and smooth 4K 60Hz video. The XS6 can be directly embedded into leading commercial-grade displays, with BrightSignOS integration. This simplifies setup and installation without sacrificing creative capabilities. Featuring a built-in NPU, the XS6 runs AI applications without compromising performance, enhancing engage-

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AWARDS FEATURE

ment through dynamic content. This allows users to create customised, immersive visuals that maximise creative opportunities and attract, engage, and captivate audiences. The XS6 demonstrates BrightSign’s leadership in delivering high performance and CMS choice. It sets new standards in reliability, security, and AI-enablement in digital signage.

ViewSonic LDE All-in-One Direct View LED display ViewSonic delivers a unified ecosystem of hardware, software, and services with seamless integration for a professional audiovisual environment. Within this ecosystem, the comprehensive All-in-One Direct View LED display lineup is designed for faster installation and easier adoption. Advancing this vision, the latest LDE Series features a patented design that integrates control, power, image stitching directly into the LED cabinet— achieving a 99% screen-to-body ratio and reducing weight by 28% compared to similar-sized models. Optimised for installers and system integrators, the LDE Series provides a simplified, space-efficient solution that lowers total cost of ownership and ensures accessible, high-performance visual communication.

Category: Project of the Year (Live Events) Finalists: Absen for Oasis Live Tour 2025 Oasis Live ’25 was a spectacular global production, leveraging cutting-edge video production by Universal Pixels. Central to the visuals was a 1,100sqm upstage wall built from Absen Venus 4.8mm LED, with imagery processed for pixel-perfection by Brompton Technology’s 4K Tessera processors. Playback and synchronization of generative content were handled by Disguise GX 3 media servers, bringing to life programmer Ant Condon’s bespoke scenes of vivid psychedelic artistry and cinematic landscapes. Planned only for Europe, the setup’s immediate success led to worldwide adoption, ensuring consistent, high-impact visual experiences, earning rave reviews from major publications and creating unforgettable memories for fans.

Panasonic for Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas redefines what is possible for entertainment at sea, with Panasonic’s PTRZ34 laser projectors playing a central role in delivering its most spectacular visual moments. As the world’s largest cruise ship, Icon required projection technology that could perform flawlessly in challenging maritime conditions while producing cinematic-grade imagery across expansive indoor and outdoor venues.

The ultra-compact, high-brightness PT-RZ34 proved the perfect fit. Its robust laser engine, exceptional colour reproduction, and flexible installation capabilities enabled Royal Caribbean’s creative teams to realise ambitious large-format visuals for live shows, interactive spaces, and signature guest experiences. The PTRZ34’s low-maintenance design and long-life optical engine ensure consistent performance voyage after voy-

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age, reducing operational burden for onboard AV crews.

By combining reliability, punchy brightness, and engineering resilience, the PT-RZ34 elevates entertainment throughout Icon of the Seas, delivering unforgettable moments that set a new standard for cruise-ship visual technology.

Category: AV Manufacturer / Developer of the Year Finalists: LED Studio Founded in 2009, LED Studio is a global manufacturer of high-performance LED display technologies, serving markets including DOOH, corporate, retail, transport and hospitality. Known for innovation, sustainability and simplicity, the company has transformed industry expectations through cabinet design, energy-saving systems like ECLIPSE and streamlined deployment platforms like FUSION. Its proprietary technologies reduce waste, complexity and energy use, backed by smart diagnostics and localised service models. With regional hubs across the UK, Europe and North America, LED Studio empowers partners with practical, scalable solutions. Under CEO Rob Bint, it continues to lead with conviction, values and visionary product development.

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ered solid business results through innovation and product development, driving new revenue opportunities for channel partners, and launching new solutions to solve challenges for end customers.

ClassVR ClassVR, created by Avantis Education, is the world’s leading virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR) solution designed exclusively for education. ClassVR combines purpose-built hardware, curriculum aligned content, and classroom management tools into one easy to use device. Unlike other VR/AR products, ClassVR has been thoughtfully designed to meet the evolving needs of education worldwide. Developed with students in mind, ClassVR headsets are lightweight, comfortable and durable. Students engage with educational XR experiences through ClassVR’s content engine, the Eduverse, which contains hundreds of thousands of resources including explorable scenes, 3D models, and 360° images and videos.

Category: AI Innovation of the Year Finalists:

Cisco Cisco is a global technology leader transforming collaboration and workplace experiences with secure, intelligent, and scalable AV solutions. For decades, Cisco has driven innovation in networking, video, and workspace management, empowering organizations to future-proof their environments. In 2025, Cisco accelerated its AVoIP strategy by integrating industry-leading AV over IP capabilities across its Catalyst 9000 switching platforms and collaboration endpoints. With Room OS 26, Cisco delivers AI-powered, intuitive in-room and remote experiences. Tools like Workspace Designer empower customers and partners to design, deploy, and scale modern workspaces efficiently, making Cisco the gold standard for flexible, sustainable, and inclusive AV deployments.

Jabra Jabra manufactures professional headsets, speakerphones, video conferencing solutions and integrated tools for offices, contact centres and collaboration to help professionals work more productively from anywhere. As part of the GN Group, the R&D team utilises innovative hardware, software and AI-enabled technologies and expertise across hearing, enterprise, and gaming product groups. In challenging market conditions, Jabra defended its market leadership and deliv-

Lenna NetSpeek Lena is NetSpeek’s flagship AI orchestration platform, purpose-built to address the complexity of managing multi-vendor AV and Unified Communications environments at scale. Originally introduced as a forward-looking concept at Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) 2025, Lena was developed in response to long-standing industry challenges around fragmented systems, reactive support, and reliance on specialised expertise. Through continuous development, customer validation, and strategic partnerships with leading manufacturers, Lena evolved into a production-ready platform publicly launched at ISE 2026. Today, Lena delivers AI-driven orchestration, automation, and contextual intelligence that enables proactive operations, scalable support, and reliable collaboration experiences.

Disguise Ask AId3n Ask AId3n is an AI-powered assistant for Disguise’s Emmy-award-winning Designer Pro software, used on major concerts, theatre shows and virtual productions worldwide. Powered by Google’s Gemini 2.5 Pro, it turns natural-language prompts into instant actions, automating repetitive or technical tasks that normally take hours.

Users can ask questions, generate Python code, troubleshoot issues, or instruct AId3n to directly build project elements such as layers, keyframes or venue-specific screen setups. AId3n also creates reusable custom tools stored in the cloud, enabling smarter workflows across organisations. By accelerating project setup and sequencing, Ask AId3n frees teams to focus on creativity.

Utelogy Predictive AI / Agentic AI Utelogy is a global software company delivering a cloud-native platform for monitoring, managing, and

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controlling AV, UC, and IoT environments at scale.

Founded in 2009, Utelogy pioneered the concept of software-defined AV management, providing enterprises with real-time insights, remote control, and automation across diverse ecosystems. Its latest innovations, Predictive AI and Agentic AI, bring the next level of intelligence to AV operations. Predictive AI identifies anomalies before they cause disruptions, while Agentic AI enables Tier-0 autonomous support, running diagnostics, self-healing, and communicating directly with end users. These capabilities are positioned to redefine reliability, efficiency, and user experience in connected workspaces.

Cisco Room Vision PTZ Cisco, a global leader in collaboration and networking, has a rich history of driving innovation in AV and workplace technology. The Cisco Room Vision PTZ is a next-generation AI-powered pan-tilt-zoom camera designed for seamless video-over-IP deployment. It combines broadcast-quality optics, silent motorized movement, and embedded AI for dynamic presenter and participant tracking. Available in Carbon Black and Arctic White, it offers flexible mounting for any space, integrates effortlessly with Cisco’s ecosystem, and enables radically simplified, scalable deployments. The Room Vision PTZ is built for the demands of hybrid meetings, training, and events, empowering organizations to deliver cinematic, inclusive collaboration experiences.

Category: AV Project of the Year (Education) Finalists: Roche AV Bloomberg Trading Suite Roche AV Pro partnered with Manchester Metropolitan University to deliver a cutting-edge Bloomberg Trading Suite at the Business School. Featuring 36 dual workstations, multiple large-format displays, and bespoke vertical stock tickers, the suite replicates a real-world trading floor. Powered by Crestron AV-over-IP technology, it enables seamless content sharing, collaboration, and live financial data analysis. The project enhances student employability, supports Bloomberg certification, and provides a dynamic, immersive environment for finance education. Its success has inspired other institu-

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tions such as UCLAN and University of Chester and even influenced a professional trading floor in London.

Northern Essex Community College Campus Communication Northern Essex Community College (NECC), a forward-thinking institution in Massachusetts, revitalised its campus communication by upgrading its ageing digital signage system with Avocor interactive displays. The project replaced unreliable legacy screens with advanced, integrated Avocor solutions across two campuses. The new system delivers high-resolution, engaging content for event promotion, campus news, and emergency alerts, all managed centrally for efficiency.

The installation was swift and seamless, transforming the campus environment into a more dynamic, welcoming space. Avocor’s robust features and future-ready integration capabilities have positioned NECC to better inform, engage, and connect its community.

Kramer AV for John Abbott College John Abbott College, Quebec, is a leading Canadian institution embracing innovation in education, with a clear vision to create flexible, technology-driven learning spaces.Kramer AV worked closely with the college

AWARDS

that supports AI-enabled collaboration and hands-on activities such as LEGO Serious Play. This implementation demonstrates how integrated AV systems can support complex hybrid learning in real classrooms.

Category: Sustainability Innovation of the Year Finalists:

through the deployment of its AV-over-IP solutions, delivering a scalable and user-friendly system designed to support modern teaching and collaboration.

In response to a growing student population and limited campus space, the college adopted a modular approach, installing 32 prefabricated units to form Maple Hall—home to 13 state-of-the-art classrooms equipped with Kramer technology.The networked AV design replaces traditional cabling, allowing any source to connect to any display across classrooms or even campus-wide. This flexibility has transformed the learning experience, fostering greater interaction, collaboration, and adaptability for both educators and students.

X2O Media for T.e.C.H Learning Space X2O Media is a global AV technology company delivering advanced hybrid learning solutions. OneRoom creates a unified experience for in-room and remote participants, using life-size presence, directional audio, multi-angle cameras, and interactive displays to deliver realistic engagement. Working with the Institute of Technical Education (ITE), OneRoom powers the T.e.C.H Learning Space, a cyber physical classroom

DigiLED ZEUS For too long, LED displays have wasted power (up to 18% of peak consumption) just by sitting in standby.

That’s why we developed digiLED ZEUS: a patented smart solution that cuts standby energy use to ZERO. In many sectors, screens are set to black at night but still draw large amounts of power. DigiLED ZEUS eliminates that. The result? Significant savings, both financially and environmentally, especially for larger displays or longer standby periods. We believe the best kind of sustainability comes from innovation that quietly delivers ongoing benefits that we can hand on to our clients.

LED Studio V1 Architecture LED Studio is a global leader in advanced LED display technology, operating across the UK, Europe, North America and Asia. With innovation and sustainability at its core, LED Studio pioneers futureproof display systems designed to reduce environmental impact throughout the product lifecycle. Its proprietary V1 Architecture allows displays to be upgraded without full system replacement and its ECLIPSE power management system eliminates standby energy consumption. Under the leadership of CEO Rob Bint, the company is redefining sustainable practice in the AV and DOOH sectors, combining technical excellence with environmental responsibility to deliver smarter, cleaner and longer-lasting display solutions.

Ross Video Ultrix Ross Video is a global leader in live production technology with more than five decades of experience building reliable, efficient, and sustainable systems for broadcast, corporate, government, entertainment environ-

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AWARDS

ments, and more. Ross Video’s Ultrix is the world’s first hyperconverged media processing platform, combining routing, multiviewers, and audio processing in a compact, software-defined system. It reduces power use, system weight, and cabling by more than 90 percent, significantly lowering environmental impact during shipping and operation. Its modular, upgradeable design extends product life and reduces waste. Ultrix advances Ross Video’s commitment to efficient, future-ready, and sustainable production infrastructure.

Category: AV Project of the Year (Commercial) Finalists: Samsung Virtual Production Stage In 2025, Samsung partnered with Twickenham Film Studios and Quite Brilliant to deliver the UK’s most advanced permanent Virtual Production stage, powered

by The Wall for Virtual Production (model name: IVC), Samsung’s cutting-edge Micro LED technology. Samsung’s first major VP LED installation in the UK, this build showcases Samsung’s engineering leadership through a curved 24m x 4.5m back wall and a 105 sq m LED ceiling that creates a realistic field of view on set.

Developed in collaboration with Twickenham’s production team and Quite Brilliant’s VP experts, the installation elevates on-set creativity and strengthens the UK’s leadership in virtual filmmaking.

Avocor for Pro Warehouse In 2025 Pro Warehouse, an Apple-focused technology provider in the Netherlands, relocated to a unified Amsterdam office to foster collaboration and efficiency.

Central to this transformation was the integration of Avocor K Series non-interactive displays, selected for their high performance and versatility. Installed in various meeting spaces, these displays – paired with advanced Logitech audio-visual solutions – enable seamless in-person and remote collaboration. The project, delivered in partnership with Avesqo, has streamlined communication, enhanced operational efficiency, and set new standards for workplace technology. Plans are underway to expand these capabilities to Pro Warehouse’s other locations, underscoring the project’s ongoing impact.

Datapath for Edinburgh Airport Edinburgh Airport’s ambitious LED upgrade was delivered by NuVideo in partnership with Datapath, Absen and BrightSign. At the heart of the system, Datapath provided VSN V3 video wall controllers and WallControl 10/PRO software paired with VisionSC capture cards, ensuring flawless integration with Absen’s cutting-edge 85m LED displays. Datapath supported every stage including design, configuration, commissioning and training, creating a resilient, high-performance platform for 24/7 operation. BrightSign players powered dynamic content delivery, while Absen’s energy-efficient screens transformed the visual landscape. Together, these technologies provide a seamless, engaging passenger experience and a future-ready digital environment for Scot-

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land’s busiest airport.

Category: Collaboration Innovation of the Year Finalists: Airtame 3 Airtame is the all-in-one platform that helps schools and businesses get more out of their shared screens. With the launch of Airtame 3—its fastest and most capable device yet—the company brings wireless screen sharing, video conferencing, and digital signage together in one simple experience. Airtame 3 offers instant connectivity, 4K sharing, and dual-screen support, with integrations for Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Google Meet, and Webex. IT teams save time through zero-touch deployment and full remote management, making Airtame easy to scale across classrooms, meeting rooms, and entire campuses. Airtame makes reliable technology that supports clearer communication and better collaboration.

Hikvision In the heart of the Pyrenees, Hikvision partnered with

OPINION FEATURE AWARDS

benefit from immediate ease and engagement, IT teams gain centralised device management, enterprise-grade security, and simplified maintenance, making every space a scalable, secure, and reliable collaboration hub.

Avocor A Series The Avocor A Series is next-generation interactive display designed to revolutionise collaboration and learning. EDLA-certified and fully integrated with the Google Play Store, it enables educators and teams to access trusted cloud-based apps like Google Classroom and Jamboard directly on the display. Featuring a detachable 4K camera with advanced audio for crystal-clear video conferencing, the A Series bridges in-person and remote experiences seamlessly. Its premium touch responsiveness, stunning 4K visuals, and powerful 2.1 channel audio system create an immersive environment for engagement. Secure NFC login and over-the-air updates ensure simplicity and safety making the A Series truly future-ready.

AV News 2026 Award Winners Winners of the AV News Awards 2026 in all of the above categories, plus the Personal Award categories will be announced at the Presentation Ceremony Date : 3rd February 2026 Place: ISE Garden F Time: 14.00-16-16.00

non-profit Associació Projecte 4 Estacions through its STAR Programme for Social Good to transform mountain monitoring. Supplying advanced 4G and PTZ cameras, Hikvision enabled real-time observation of weather and environmental conditions across Catalonia and Andorra’s most remote peaks. They support critical scientific research, improve avalanche and safety alerts, and help protect fragile ecosystems threatened by climate change. Accessible via public platforms and local media, the network empowers communities, researchers and tourists. This innovative collaboration demonstrates how technology can deliver life.

ViewSonic Future Meeting Room With 38 years of expertise, ViewSonic delivers a comprehensive visual ecosystem to enable “Future Meeting Room” that combines hardware and software into flexible, modular solutions tailored for modern meeting spaces. The 75-inch interactive display (IM series) debuts “TeamJoin OS,” a new operating launcher that integrates the TeamOne whiteboard, Room Kit for MTR, and AirSync wireless casting into a single, customisable interface. “Collaborate, cast, and video conferencing”— the solution streamlines every meeting. While users

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TECHNOLOGY FEATURE Introducing Iris: new AV platform revolutionizes cloud connected camera control Iris has introduced a platform that transforms how cameras are controlled, and productions are managed. By turning virtually any PTZ camera into a software-connected, remotely controlled device, Iris eliminates the traditional constraints of camera operation, such as hardware dependencies, inconsistent control, and the lack of on-site crews. The platform removes long-standing pain points for production teams: fragmented control tools and protocols across brands, the need for constant manual adjustments, and the inherent limits of on-site equipment and staffing. Iris changes this by providing universal, browser-based control that works across camera brands and enables full production management from anywhere in the world.

The platform’s AI-powered automation handles traditionally manual tasks, like real-time subject tracking and framing, allowing operators to focus on creative decisions rather than technical adjustments. Its intuitive interface ensures that non-technical users can achieve professional results, democratizing access to advanced capabilities that deliver the production quality of larger-budget operations. The impact extends far beyond individual productions. Organisations using Iris can scale their operations without proportionally increasing their costs or crew size. A single operator can manage multiple cameras across multiple locations, while remote teams collaborate in real time as if they were in the same room. This scalability opens doors to productions that were previously impractical or impossible, from small community theatre livestreams to global corporate events spanning multiple time zones.

Through the Iris desktop application, production teams can quickly discover, link to, and control over 300 models of cameras on their local network. For those using Iris-enabled cameras, the platform is built directly into the device’s firmware, connecting instantly to the cloud without any additional hardware or complex setup. This direct-to-cloud capability debuts alongside broad support from leading PTZ camera manufacturers, including AIDA, BirdDog, Bolin, BZBGear, Everet, HDKATOV, Lumens, Marshall, NEOiD, Telycam, and Z CAM. Together, these integrations position Iris as the leading software standard for camera control. “Setup now takes minutes, not hours,” said Noah Johnson, Founder of Iris. “Our custom drivers unlock every camera feature— not just the common ones—and our intelligent framing tools make operating cameras feel natural, fast, and cinematic. And because Iris lives in the cloud, your cameras are now truly remote—you can manage, access, and control them from anywhere, anytime.”

Iris is designed to ensure that no production is left behind, even if its cameras aren’t equipped with Iris-enabled firmware. With the innovative Iris desktop utility and browser-based interface, virtually any PTZ camera can be connected and controlled without hardware.

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PPDS has announced the launch of the 32:9 Philips Stretch 315 reliability for a widening range of environments and applications.

This bridging software allows production teams to unlock advanced automation and PTZ control features in cameras from brands not yet natively supported, ensuring that even legacy or third-party hardware can access the platform’s capabilities, extending equipment life and maximizing investment.

The Iris platform is a reimagining of what’s possible in nearly any type of production. Houses of worship can empower volunteer teams to deliver professional-looking livestreams using automation and visual effects. Educational institutions can manage cameras across lecture halls with a centralised, remote-control room.

Corporate teams can produce executive communications and all-hands meetings across multiple offices.

Media producers can collaborate in real time across locations for seamless productions. With Iris, even remote interviews become effortless: ship a camera, plug it in, and instantly access the video and controls in your Iris account. By removing traditional barriers to camera control and production management, Iris empowers creators to focus on what matters most: telling compelling stories and delivering exceptional experiences. Users can update any Iris-enabled camera firmware to instantly enhance their PTZ camera.

The Iris platform is available at tryiris.ai for content

TECHNOLOGY

50, delivering advanced creativity, flexibility, and around-the-clock

producers to begin connecting cameras immediately.

Additionally, its software is included in select camera manufacturers through simple firmware updates. The platform’s flexible pricing model—which includes a free tier for individuals whose productions use one camera source—means users only pay for the size of productions they produce, making professional-grade capabilities accessible to organisations of all sizes. With plugand-play setup and an intuitive interface, teams can begin transforming their workflows within minutes.

New Philips Stretch 3150 displays announced pre ISE PPDS has announced the launch of the 32:9 Philips Stretch 3150, delivering advanced creativity, flexibility, and around-the-clock reliability for a widening range of environments and applications. Reimagined using invaluable market feedback, as well as harnessing the latest breakthroughs in screen technology and compact design, the all-new Philips Stretch 3150 marks another major milestone in PPDS’ mission to amalgamate best in class visual performance with better energy efficiency

across an expanding range of form factors.

Available now – and set to go on show for the first time at ISE 2026 in Barcelona – the unique and instantly recognisable Philips Stretch 3150 has been crafted to widen the possibilities for installations that demand to be seen, featuring a stunning 37”, 32:9, 1920x540 resolution display. Superseding the popular Philips S-Line – unveiled in 2022 – the upgraded and enhanced Philips Stretch 3150 has been modelled around the evolving needs of the market, with each display able to be tailored with solutions for retail, transportation, food and beverage, hospitality, education, banking, healthcare, public venues, stadiums and arenas, and more.

With flexibility and reliability at its core, the portrait and landscape mountable Philips Stretch 3150 has been designed to offer reliability 24/7, with 700 cd/m2 brightness offering crystal clear visibility in natural and artificial lighting conditions. Weighing just 7.6kg and featuring ultra narrow bezels (7.7mm L/R and 14.0mm T/B), the Philips Stretch 3150 is designed to transform almost any space, particularly those unsuitable for more conventional sized digital signage displays – including areas above in store shelving, or even on temporary walls, such as those used on kiosks and pop ups within shopping malls.

Branding, marketing, live timetables, wayfinding and menu boards are among the most popular applications for the Philips Stretch (S-Line) display to date, with the new model opening even greater opportunities and benefits. Expanding possibilities further, Philips Stretch 3150 displays can be installed either as a standalone solution or, for larger and more creative visions, multiple displays can be seamlessly daisy chained by connecting the HDMI Out port to the HDMI In port of another display. For tiled setups, businesses can simply connect two or more Philips Stretch 3150 displays with a single external player for single source content management that is effortless, no matter the number of displays selected.

One of the biggest – yet invisible – upgrades on the new Philips Stretch 3150 is the inclusion of a discreetly integrated slot for a CRD32 Wi-Fi module, introducing optional wireless network connectivity and Bluetooth functionality on the display. Meeting all needs and preferences (including security), AV/IT managers can easily create and schedule content to play on their displays either directly from the Cloud (centrally and remotely managed), from local memory, or via USB. Eliminating many of the obstacles faced by users of other comparable models in the market, the Philips Stretch 3150 is now powered via the Android 13 System on Chip, delivering enhanced connectivity and trusted security built in. This also means the Philips Stretch 3150 is also optimised for native Android apps, with users able to install their desired apps directly to the display, eliminating the need for an external media player.

Helping unlock its power, versatility, and intelligence, the Philips Stretch 3150 joins PPDS’ growing portfolio of Android SoC displays compatible with Philips Wave.

This revolutionary cloud platform puts users fully in

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control of their display network, simplifying installation and setup, along with enabling easier monitoring and control, upgrading firmware, managing playlists and setting power schedules. Philips Wave plays an integral role in PPDS’ ever evolving sustainability strategy, helping users to save time and energy, cutting down on the need for physical travel to display locations, and reducing overall environmental impact via remote device management. The Philips Stretch 3150 also delivers on a 60 per cent reduction in power use compared to its predecessor, typically consuming 26W, earning an F rated EU Energy Label. Bart Wouters, Global Product Manager for Digital Signage at PPDS commented: “At PPDS, our focus fulfilling and catering for the visual needs and unique requirements of the market, no matter how creative or complex those ambitions might be.

With the new and enhanced Philips Stretch 3150, we are bringing the best of the original Philips S-Line, together with a wave of new and upgraded features and designs, providing our partners and customers with the high-quality tools to reach and exceed their ambitions.”

The new Philips Stretch 3150 will be showcasing on Philips booth 3P500 at ISE 2026.

Sennheiser announces major enhancements to TC Bar Solutions Sennheiser has announced a firmware update that improves the already robust feature set of its TeamConnect (TC) Bar Solutions. Aimed to improve user experience, firmware update 1.3.8 includes camera enhancements, additional Dante audio outputs, increased network reliability and improved security and energy efficiency. Sennheiser’s TC Bar Solutions are the most flexible all-in-one devices for small to mid-sized meeting rooms and collaboration spaces. The TC Bar S features four microphones and two speakers, while the TC Bar M features six microphones and four speakers.

Both are certified for Microsoft Teams and include benefits like Trusted Sennheiser Audio Quality, easy setup, brand-agnostic integration, easy management and control, high video quality, security and sustainability.

With the latest firmware update, the TC Bar’s 4K AI-enhanced camera’s frame movement has been reduced, delivering a more natural, engaging, and lifelike video experience when using features like person tiling and auto-framing. In response to customer feedback, the new default camera mode will allow users to experience more consistent camera behaviour during meetings, while making temporary in-call adjustments via remote possible. TC Bars come standard with full-range stereo speakers for best-in-class audio performance. For users requiring a setup with additional audio outputs, the update enables connection of standalone speakers via Dante. Further, the external speakers can also be used to stream audio continuously to Sennheiser’s bi-directional communication solution, MobileConnect.

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Sennheiser has announced a firmware update that improves the alr

The firmware update will improve user experience in several other ways. To ensure meetings start without delays, the TC Bars’ standby wake-up times have been significantly reduced by optimizing the default energy mode and adding an optional “Always On” setting. The update also delivers peace of mind to users by ensuring that the TC Bars are compliant with all current security and regulatory standards. For complex environments, especially in split mode setups, network reliability has been improved through enhanced routing, ensuring an even more smooth and professional experience. The latest firmware version is available for free and can be downloaded via Sennheiser Control Cockpit or by visiting the Sennheiser website and selecting TC Bar S or TC Bar M, scrolling down to the “Downloads” section and selecting “Firmware Updates”

TECHNOLOGY

ready robust feature set of its TeamConnect (TC) Bar Solutions

(TC) Bar Solutions.

Alibaba Unveils Wan2.6 Series Enabling Everyone to Star in Videos New visual generation models uplift video production Alibaba kas unveiled the latest evolution of its visual generation models, the Wan2.6 series. It enables creators to appear in AI-generated videos as themselves and in their own voices with flexible multi-shot storytelling – new features designed to unlock creative possibilities

for professional-grade content production with enhanced multi-person dialogue and extended duration for richer narratives. The Wan2.6 series features a new reference-to-video generation model as well as comprehensive upgrades to its four existing models. Wan2.6R2V enables users to upload a character reference video with both appearance and voice, utilising text prompts to generate vivid new scenes starring that same character. Users can create videos featuring a person, animal or object, or even multiple subjects together, while preserving the distinctive look and sound of the original reference. Powered by multimodal reference generation capabilities, Wan2.6-R2V is China’s first reference-to-video generation model that makes it possible for users to insert themselves or other subjects into AI-generated scenes with consistent visuals and audio.

This changes the way short-form drama creators tell stories and streamlines their production process.

The Wan2.6 series also includes enhancements to its text-to-video model (Wan2.6-T2V), its image-to-video model (Wan2.6-I2V), and to its two image generation models (Wan2.6-image and Wan2.6-T2I). The new models introduce intelligent multi-shot storytelling capabilities that allow for richer, more expressive narratives with visual consistency throughout. Its improved capabilities in audio-visual synchronisation and audio-to-video generation deliver more realistic scenes with richer sound effects. Supporting video outputs of up to 15 seconds, the models give creators more room to develop their stories. Combined with enhanced instruction-following precision and improved visual quality, they enable creators to produce cinematic-style content with professional-grade results.

For image generation, the Wan2.6 series enables users to create interleaved text-image output with advanced logical reasoning capabilities, to further support coherent visual storytelling. It also demonstrates outstanding capabilities in precise artistic style control, generating realistic portraits with remarkable fidelity and image editing. Advanced understanding of lengthy Chinese and English text prompts enables creators to produce high-quality, expressive visual content that captures nuance and artistic intent. Users can access and deploy the models through Model Studio - Alibaba Cloud’s AI development platform - and Wan’s official website. The models will also be integrated into Qwen App, Alibaba’s flagship AI application. First unveiled earlier this year, the Wan series has undergone continuous upgrades, reflecting Alibaba’s leadership and innovation in AI-driven multimedia technologies.

Alibaba kas unveiled the latest evolution of its visual generation models, the Wan2.6 series. It enables creators to appear in AI-generated videos as themselves and in their own voices with flexible multi-shot storytelling.

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Martin Audio overhauls Sidney’s Bristol hotel complex A major makeover of a popular Sydney-based 80s retro venue in the city’s Central Business District has resulted in a completely reimagined multi-concept venue, called The Bristol. Owned and operated by burgeoning leisure hospitality company, Oscars Group, the historic former Bristol Arms Hotel trades on five storeys, each with its own theme, including restaurants, bars, a nightclub, rooftop and event spaces, after being closed for the previous four years. Retaining much of its nightclub roots, the potent Calypso nightclub — its ceiling adorned with 300 mirror balls — has been equipped with Martin Audio’s CDD coaxial differential dispersion series.

In fact, CDDs provide the audio playback solution from the ground up, with more than 60 enclosures right across the series visible throughout — purpose mounted in their dedicated yoke assemblies and maximised for wide dispersion. Anthony Russo, technical director of Total Audio Group (TAG), Martin Audio’s Australian distributor, worked alongside system integrators Pro Sound and Lighting (Wollongong) to deliver this Martin Audio deployment, on the express wishes of the client (for whom TAG had previously supplied the brand at previous operations). “With the new Martin Audio system, guests will enjoy a richer, more immersive sound experience” said Claude Spinelli, Pro Sound and Lighting.

CDD makes its biggest statement in Calypso, equipped with soft furnishing, and with a carpet extending across the dancefloor, giving it a classy New York club feel. The main room features six CDD15 distributed around the dancefloor in an immersive configuration, with a pair of SX118s under the booth and further pair for delay.

“CDD’s wide dispersion really lent itself to the low ceiling, and its throw onto the dancefloor,” continues Russo. “Being coaxial it is a true point source, whether on or off axis, with great time alignment.” Each booth seating is also served by its own CDD10, while a separate annexe can either function as a separate breakout room, equipped with CDD10 and SX212 subwoofers, or as an annexe to the main room.

Such is the cachet that the venue has acquired in little time, that it has already hosted an appearance by Groove Armada who played a DJ set in the Calypso

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A major makeover of a popular Sydney-based 80s retro venue in the agined multi-concept venue, called The Bristol.

lounge. Elsewhere, up in the Rooftop, where the popular Sunday sessions overlook the harbour, the doors are opened up and DJs play out under the stars through weatherised CDD10-WRs. The muscularity of the CDD enclosures can also be felt in the main Bristol Sports Bar, where patrons congregate in front of a giant 11-metre screen, while the other spaces include Ela Ela, a Greek restaurant on the ground floor, and Midtown Bar & Lounge piano bar and cocktail lounge.

Commenting on the system, Claude Spinelli, General Manager of Pro Sound and Lighting, “We have completed a brand-new Martin Audio speaker installation which brings world class sound to one of the region’s favourite venues. This upgrade delivers crystal clear vocals, warm, full low-end and even coverage across the entire room — perfect audio for DJs, bands, functions and weekend parties. With the new Martin Audio system, guests will enjoy a richer, more immersive sound experience — no dead spots, no harsh highs, just beautiful balanced audio everywhere you stand. Installed by Pro Sound and Lighting, this setup is built for reliability, power, and premium performance, making the Bristol event-ready for any night of the week.” .

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e city’s Central Business District has resulted in a completely reim-

Brompton Technology drives immersive theatrical experience Brompton Technology’s Tessera LED video processors are bringing a dystopian future to life in ‘Oscar At The Crown’, an innovative theatrical experience running in a converted basement venue beneath London’s Tottenham Court Road. The production showcases how advanced LED processing technology can transform intimate spaces into powerful storytelling environments.

Set in a post-apocalyptic world where climate change has torn society apart, ‘Oscar At The Crown’ follows a group of people exiled for their libertarian views, who have found refuge in a disused underground bunker that once served as a bar. To maintain their sanity and spirits, they perform a nightly musical celebration of Oscar Wilde, reimagined for the modern era with rock music and unbridled expression.

The production utilises a Brompton 4K Tessera SX40 LED video processor paired with a Tessera XD 10G data distribution unit and redundancy system, all supplied and supported by Stage Sound Services. The centrepiece is a 10m by 2m INFiLED AR series 2.97mm pixel pitch LED wall, concealed behind a two-way mirror that dramatically reveals itself during key moments of the

show. The narrative weaves together themes of free expression and survival, with an unexpected focus on Julie Cooper from The OC, who the characters believe predicted humanity’s downfall through social media, noting that Twitter and The OC launched on the same day. This storyline culminates in a nine-minute musical number that transforms the concealed LED wall into what Video and Projection Designer, and Creative Director at video design company PixelLux, Nina Dunn, describes as “a ballistic stained-glass window.”

The venue itself, a former storage basement, was transformed into multiple performance spaces including a half tube carriage, banks of TV screens, a bar, stage, and DJ booth, with the LED wall running along one entire wall, which serves dual purposes. It provides set extensions that transport audiences into spaces beyond the physical venue and creates a massive canvas for the characters’ imagination. Content includes Unreal Engine-generated environments that mirror the physical space, alongside live camera feeds from three PTZ cameras capturing the performers. The production demands exceptional colour accuracy and intensity, particularly challenging given the two-way mirror placement and the show’s theme of media overload with rapid-fire visual cuts. “Colour is really important to me, along with the intensity of the image,” notes Dunn. “I always ride the processor really, really high, and then dim down the content so that if we do need that pinprick sparkle, we can really get it.”

The SX40’s interface proved crucial for quick adjustments during the intense production schedule. “How the interface works is really intuitive. I found that very useful, as was just being able to drag colour to where it was required. It seemed to be that my requests were met really quickly,” Dunn explains. The two-way mirror presented specific technical challenges, adding a brown tint and dimming the display. Dunn and the PixelLux team, who worked on both the content and engineering of the show, used Tessera’s Overdrive function to push through these optical barriers while maintaining colour fidelity. “We found the Overdrive button and hit it to make it push through,” adds Dunn. “Having something that’s reliable that we can hand over to an in-house team who know how to troubleshoot it was really important.” ‘Oscar At The Crown’ pushes the boundaries of theatrical experience, combining a club atmosphere

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with narrative storytelling.

The LED screen displays live camera feeds so audience members at the bar can watch the performance, graphics for post-show DJ sets, and animated content synchronised to performers’ voguing movements. “Information in this show is delivered thick and fast,” says Dunn. “One of the roles of video was to try and support the speed of information delivery, because the whole show is about media overload.” The SX40 handles this rapid delivery of content while maintaining consistent visual quality across multiple input sources and output formats. The production concludes each evening by transforming from theatrical performance into an actual club night, with the LED technology seamlessly transitioning from narrative support to dance floor enhancement. “What was also amazing, just as a workflow thing, is being able to send content upstream and knowing that it will reach the processor reliably. The signal path felt really true to what we were outputting. That was crucial, especially when you’re trying to match costume and lighting states,” concludes Dunn. “The show is unique because it’s a club night, but it’s also a club night with heart because there’s a story. Brompton’s LED processing makes this blend of theatre and club environment possible, maintaining consistent visual quality from intense performance moments to postshow DJ visuals.”

Guests at Ireland’s 5 star Europe Hotel benefit from installation of Philips MediaSuite TVs PPDS has announced that Philips’ MediaSuite TVs has been selected to deliver fully personalised in room entertainment services to guestrooms at one of Ireland’s most luxurious and idyllic 5-star retreats, the Europe Hotel and Resort in Killarney. Nestled on the shores of Loch Lein, and with stunning panoramic views of the majestic Kerry landscape, the Europe Hotel and Resort is a destination tailored around the needs of its guests.

Whether seeking luxury and relaxation or the thrill and adventure provided by its scenic surroundings – with mountains, lakes, woodlands, and waterfalls visible at every turn – the Europe Hotel and Resort aims to create memories that last a lifetime.

In addition to its extensive range of on and offsite amenities, including bars, restaurants, indoor tennis courts, swimming pools, and treatment facilities, great attention is placed on the comfort and experiences available in all 180 guestrooms and suites, including the role of the in-room TV. With a diverse customer base, each accustomed to their own preferences around how and when they choose to access their favourite media content – whether linear (terrestrial), catch up or streaming via an account – the hotel owners sought a future ready TV solution that could be tailored around the unique needs of every guest. To achieve these ambitions, the team at The Europe Hotel and Resort turned

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PPDS has announced that Philips’ MediaSuite TVs has been selec guestrooms at one of Ireland’s most luxurious and idyllic 5-star retr

to international hospitality technology integration specialist, VDA Telkonet, who specified 65” Philips MediaSuite TVs as the standout choice for the upgrade program.

Primed for versatile integration with the hotel’s existing technology architecture, the TVs were an easy fit for The Europe Hotel and Resort’s IPTV network and PMS, delivering on the personalised welcome and experience the team desired for its guests. The Philips MediaSuite TVs also answered the brief on both size and functionality, bringing integrated Google Cast with no external hardware required, allowing guests to control their viewing experiences by accessing content via their preferred streaming accounts – such as Amazon Prime, Apple TV+, YouTube and more – with a few clicks on their phone. In addition, MediaSuite TVs provide guests with access to the Google Play store and its wealth of apps, catering to every guest’s needs using the TV to access local area information, weather, news, games, music, and much more.

The project has been deemed a resounding success by the Europe Hotel’s management team, surpassing all expectations for today and, leveraging the regular firmware updates enabled on the Android platform, ready

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cted to deliver fully personalised in room entertainment services to reats, the Europe Hotel and Resort in Killarney.

for whatever is required in future. Michael Brennan, Managing Director at the Europe Hotel and Resort, commented: “PPDS is a great supplier to work with, and they always give great customer care. One of the things we were looking for, first and foremost, was a larger TV with enhanced features, particularly the built in casting facility. The MediaSuite TVs delivered on everything we needed for our guests. Quality of picture, a new guest information system, built-in casting, and links to our property management system, as well.”

Kendra Ingram, UK Business Manager for Philips Professional TVs at PPDS, added: “It was great to be with the team at the Europe Hotel and Resort for this installation. We have a proud history of integrating Philips hotel TVs for the team spanning back more than fifteen years, and we’re delighted they have selected Philips MediaSuite to upgrade and future proof the experience for their guests. The hospitality industry moves fast, and expectations from guests continue to grow and evolve.

The hotel team required a solution that could keep pace with the ever-changing viewing habits of guests, while at the same time providing a seamless home-from-home experience. In a competitive market, Philips MediaSuite stood tall.”

When it comes to wildlife filmmaking, capturing the essence of nature is not just about stunning visuals — sound plays an equally crucial role. In Rhino, the latest documentary by Tom Martienssen, founder of Dustoff Films, the sounds of the African wilderness become a key narrative tool. The documentary, which follows a group of elite wildlife rangers in Kenya who are working to protect the critically endangered black rhino, is garnering attention for both its powerful conservation message and its exceptional audio quality. At the heart of the film’s sound are Sennheiser’s cutting-edge MKH 8000 series microphones, which helped bring the film’s immersive world to life.

From the deep rumbles of rhino calls to the subtle rustling of the grasslands, the film’s soundscape is as critical to the narrative as its visuals. The use of Sennheiser’s MKH 8000 RF condenser microphones allowed Martienssen and his small production team to authentically capture the environment’s sounds on location. The microphones provided clarity and detail, even in the toughest conditions Kenya’s wilderness could throw at them. Martienssen, who formerly worked in Combat Search and Rescue and was a qualified team medic, founded Dustoff Films around a decade ago. Inspired by his experiences on the frontlines of war and the pressing need for greater environmental awareness, his work quickly evolved to focus on wildlife conservation.

Dustoff Films is now committed to producing powerful documentaries that tackle critical issues such as climate change, conservation, and human rights.

In ‘Rhino’, Martienssen and his team have chosen to share a story of hope amidst environmental jeopardy.

The film chronicles the extraordinary recovery of Kenya’s rhino population, which, after facing near extinction in the 1970s, is now thriving thanks to successful conservation efforts. However, this resurgence has come with its own set of challenges: the rhino population has outgrown its habitat, causing territorial disputes and aggression among the animals. In a groundbreaking move, wildlife rangers are now tasked with relocating the animals to new areas to ensure their survival and growth.

The documentary shines a light on the tireless and dangerous work of the rangers, the positive outcomes of the conservation efforts, and the larger global importance of protecting endangered species. Filming wildlife is inherently challenging, especially when it comes to capturing authentic sounds. While the breathtaking visuals often steal the spotlight in wildlife filmmaking, sound is just as essential in creating an immersive experience. “We wanted the sound to be real,” says Martienssen. “We didn’t want to recreate wildlife calls or add in anything that wasn’t there in the moment. It was important that the sounds we recorded on location were the ones you’d hear if you were actually there with us, in the middle of the African savanna.”

This commitment to authentic sound led the team to

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use Sennheiser’s MKH 8000 series microphones to ensure every audio detail was captured with precision in the midst of dusty, windy, and sometimes dangerous conditions, and helping to preserve the raw, unfiltered sounds of the Kenyan wilderness. The MKH 8060, known for its highly directional pickup and clarity, was used throughout the film to capture crisp, isolated sound from specific sources, such as animal calls and rangers’ conversations. Its compact size, incredible sensitivity and climate-proof robustness made it ideal for use in the field, even in challenging environments like the Kenyan savanna.

Martienssen first met Sennheiser’s Tim Constable while giving a lecture on using RED Digital Cinema cameras for storytelling. “Our conversation shifted to the film’s sound, and that’s when Sennheiser, through Tim, provided us with a double MS stereo rig, featuring two MKH 8040s and one MKH 8030 mic,” he says. “We used this setup to capture natural ambient sound from each location in the film to create an immersive soundscape. The 8000 series mics, whether it’s the 8060, 8030, or 8040, all sound very similar, so you can easily mix and match them without any issues,” Constable adds. “The sound profile stays consistent, which meant there was no need for extensive post-production adjustments. Based on our discussions with Tom, we came up with a solution that worked seamlessly from the start.”

Alongside the MKH 8060, the double MS stereo rig provided another layer of sonic richness and allowed Martienssen and his team to record spatially immersive sound: “We used two main microphone setups,” explains Martienssen. “One was an MKH 8060 mounted on the camera, capturing audio wherever the camera pointed. The second setup involved a boom mic, where we alternated between the double MS stereo rig with two MKH 8040s and an MKH 8030, or just the MKH 8060. We did a side-by-side test with the 8060 we had from the start and another one we got about six months ago. After two and a half years of use, they sounded identical — just like the new one, straight out of the box.”

Before each shoot, they decided which setup would work best for the specific scene. They found the MKH 8060 was great for its directional focus and compact size, while the double MS stereo rig excelled in capturing the full surround sound of a scene by placing it in the middle of the action. “We didn’t have the time to swap microphones between setups, so we committed to one system per shoot,” Martienssen continues. “We wanted to keep things simple. Instead of the usual setup with two cameras and one boom mic, we reversed it: we had two MKH 8060 mics — one on the camera and one on a boom following the person I wasn’t filming.

This setup allowed us to capture great sound with a smaller crew, keeping costs down and making it easier to work closely with the rangers without getting in the way.”

Filming in the remote wilderness of Kenya required Martienssen and his team to minimise their footprint and be resourceful with their equipment. “Rhino was

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shot by just two people; I handled the camera, and James May took care of the audio,” he adds. “We did have some support through a trainee scheme with Kenyan film students, which was part of our effort to build resilience in the Kenyan film industry. However, they were only present for planned moments, like the rhino translocation and a few other key events. The rest of the time, it was just James and me. We used Sennheiser HD 25 headphones throughout, especially for James during recording. Many of the situations we were in were dangerous, with a lot of movement around us. We always recorded in 32-bit float to give us a larger dynamic range, so even if James couldn’t react quickly — like if he was running from a rhino — we’d still have clean audio without worrying about overmodulation.

The HD 25s were key, offering clear audio while still allowing us to hear what was happening around us, which is crucial when you’re dealing with rhinos.”

Sound Devices MixPre-3 II and MixPre-6 II recorders were also used, which provided enough channels for the double MS stereo rig. In line with maintaining a compact yet efficient setup on the visual side, Martienssen used RED KOMODO-X and V-RAPTOR cameras for shooting, the preamps on which he says were surprisingly effective. “The amount of dust the camera managed to handle was incredible,” he recalls. “We filmed during Kenya’s worst drought, with rangers driving heavy vehicles that kicked up dust, which got into the cameras, audio equipment, and microphones. We used a Rycote Softie and Super-Blimp system for the double MS stereo rig, and they did an amazing job protecting everything. Then, when the drought ended, we got torrential rain and mud. Despite all that, the gear held up.

I’ve taken these mics to places like Resolute Bay in Canada and Mount Everest at -35°C, and they’ve never let me down. We haven’t had a single issue because all the mics we used are RF condensers, so they’re built for

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harsh conditions.”

One of the standout features of the ‘Rhino’ documentary is its Dolby Atmos sound mix, which was mixed using 70 speakers to create a rich, immersive experience. “We wanted to push the boundaries of documentary filmmaking,” says Martienssen. “With Dolby Atmos, the audience is no longer just watching the film — they’re experiencing it. You can hear the rhinos moving behind you, feel the wind whipping through the trees, and become enveloped in the environment. It takes the documentary to a whole new level. While this level of sound design is rare for documentaries — typically reserved for high-end productions — we committed to it because we wanted the quality of the recording to match the final experience. Our sound mixer Nas, who works at Molinare, is a genius. He’s the best sound professional I’ve worked with. I gave him the guidelines, and he truly elevated the mix. I heard the final mix in Molinare’s Dolby Atmos cinema, and it was incredible.”

Martienssen’s background as a BBC journalist and director of photography has shown him how powerful visuals can be in making the audience feel part of the story. But he believes audio can do even more: “With headphone technology improving, it’s possible to create a highly immersive experience, even for those viewing on a laptop. They can truly be in the moment, which feels more practical than large-scale setups. While only a few hundred people might experience that kind of immersion in person, millions can enjoy it at home with good headphones. Cassandra Roberts, the editor, was absolutely incredible,” Martienssen adds. “Towards the end of the film, I brought her to Kenya to experience the environment and get a feel for the characters and the reality of the story. She spent three months there, editing on location. I believe this had the biggest impact on the sound of the film. The sounds of the Borana Conservancy, especially, struck her deeply — sometimes

more than the visuals. This helped her create an authentic atmosphere when working with Nas on the sound to ensure it captured the true essence of the place. We’ve also had a lot of support from various companies including Fujifilm, RED Digital Cinema and P+S TECHNIK, especially since we didn’t have the backing of a studio.”

Looking ahead, Martienssen hopes to continue blending high-end cinematic techniques with real-world environmental stories. “We want to create eco-thrillers,” he says. “Films that tell real, unscripted stories but with the same level of excitement and narrative drive as bigbudget blockbusters. The next project will take that further, with an even bigger budget and more advanced sound and production techniques. “It was a fantastic opportunity to use the MKH series in various setups in the film and push its boundaries,” he says. “One of the biggest challenges in documentaries is getting people to connect with the characters and the environment, so they care and become fully immersed. Documentaries often struggle with introducing characters or bringing them into the story in a way that engages the audience.

Anything that helps the audience feel more involved in the story is invaluable.”

“Collaborating with Dustoff Films on the ‘Rhino’ documentary was an incredibly rewarding experience,” concludes Constable. “At Sennheiser, we’re always striving to push the boundaries of sound, and it was inspiring to see how our microphones helped to bring such a powerful story to life. The opportunity to equip Tom and his team with our high-end MKH series allowed them to capture the nuances of this important documentary with exceptional detail. It was a true partnership, and we’re proud to have been part of telling this crucial story of conservation and the majestic rhino.” The ‘Rhino’ documentary is now screening nationwide in the UK, with plans to screen globally. With its commitment to high-quality sound, immersive storytelling, and a message of hope for endangered wildlife, the film promises to be a standout example of how sound can elevate the documentary genre.

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Gastropub upgrades to AtlasIED Atmosphere AZM8P Set in the rolling Pennine countryside at Roydhouse near Huddersfield, the Three Acres has been a family run inn since 1968. Having built an enviable reputation as a destination gastropub, the building suffered a catastrophic fire in late 2023 which saw it close for an extended period of time, during which it was completely refurbished. After overcoming this significant challenge to its existence, the pub has returned stronger than ever with a brand-new layout, much to the delight of customers new and old. As well as its excellent culinary offer, the pub also hosts weddings, private events, and live entertainment.

Recognising the importance of having a good audio system throughout the venue, the Three Acres Team engaged regular provider and AV integrator Posynergi of Huddersfield, to supply and install a high quality, flexible, zoned sound system, which could cater seamlessly for the varying demands of the pub’s offer. At its heart was an AtlasIED Atmosphere 8-zone signal processor supplied by AtlasIED’s UK distributor POLAR, who supported the project with design assistance and commissioning. Mark Bracken continues: “The installation was carefully coordinated to fit in with the overall refurbish-

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ment, and whilst the design evolved as the refit took shape, Posynergi worked with great flexibility to adapt the system on the fly, coordinating with the venue’s requirements to complete a modern audio infrastructure.”

Steve Cartlidge of Posynergi adds: “The Three Acres Inn now boasts a state-of-the-art distributed audio system which enhances ambience, simplifies operations, and supports every facet of its hospitality offer. We worked closely with POLAR’s Mark Bracken to design and commission the system. The Atmosphere’s webbased configuration allowed seamless commissioning and remote tuning, ensuring optimal sound balance through the venue.”

With a new audio system delivering clear, even sound across its seven zones, the staff at the Three Acres are easily able to tailor music levels and content in real time to suit the required atmosphere, covering every base from relaxed dining in the restaurant to lively events in the function room, with visiting musicians, DJs, and private parties all expressing their appreciation of convenient connectivity and reliable sound quality. Three Acres owner Tom Truelove sums up: “The new AtlasIED system has transformed how we manage music and events at the venue. Every area of the inn now sounds incredible, and our staff can control it all effortlessly. It’s flexible, reliable, and perfect for our day-to-day operations and private events.”

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IoT in the control tower The IoT is, at its core, a quiet network of objects that constantly observe, measure and communicate. It connects everyday devices, from thermostats to traffic lights, allowing them to share information in real-time. A smart meter reporting energy usage is a classic example of how IoT is used on a smaller scale, bigger scale use cases include the use of a sensor on a bridge monitoring structural strain are all part of this wider digital conversation. Individually, IoT enabled devices seem simple. Collectively, they form an invisible web of data that helps operators make better decisions, often before a problem has even appeared. It is technology designed not to shout for attention, but to provide clarity.

In the world of aviation, that clarity becomes essential.

The same principles that allow a home to warm itself or a city to manage its traffic underpin the systems that keep aircraft moving safely through tightly controlled airspace. IoT provides the continuous, reliable flow of information that modern air traffic management depends on. Working within an air traffic control tower is a little like playing three-dimensional chess, except with hundreds of thousands of aircraft every single day. Each plane continuously transmits complex data that must be accessed, analysed, and acted upon in real time.

Just as on a chessboard where players must think several moves ahead, air traffic controllers must anticipate multiple possible scenarios and plan or pre-empt accordingly. Add the need to think vertically as well as horizontally, and it becomes clear why spatial awareness and rapid perception are essential skills for anyone in the tower.

Taking Heathrow as an example: the UK’s busiest airport sees around 1,350 aircraft movements per day, take-offs plus landings (Airport Info, 2025). With its two runways subject to an annual cap of about 480,000

movements, the airport operates at around 98% of usable capacity, leaving very little margin for error in schedule or air-space management (Frontier Economics, 2025). In practice, there’s an aircraft taking off or landing approximately every forty-five seconds, which is about the same amount of time you’ve spent reading this blog. Imagine the quantity of live data entering the control tower at any given moment: radar readings, flight paths, weather reports, and ground communications all converging in real time.

The secret behind a well-functioning air traffic control tower lies in clarity and composure – of both mind and environment. Operators need focus, calm and complete confidence in the information they see. Towers, despite the enormous responsibility they carry, are famously quiet and composed spaces. Noise and panic would only undermine precision. Technology plays a huge part in sustaining that calm. The Internet of Things (IoT) now underpins virtually every aspect of flight operations.

While in a smart city the IoT connects entire infrastructures, in the control tower it delivers continuous, accurate data streams that help operators maintain order in one of the world’s most complex environments.

Air traffic control ultimately relies on human judgment.

But those highly trained, highly focused teams must be confident that what they see on their screens is a precise, up-to-date reflection of the skies above and that their colleagues see the exact same picture. That shared, synchronised understanding keeps the skies safe and ensures aviation remains one of the safest ways to travel. IoT delivers the data, while KVM ensures it can be seen, shared, and acted upon. Together, they create the clarity and composure that keeps flights flying.

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Christie laser projectors deliver ‘Enchanted Christmas’ Christie projectors are helping to power an immersive, interactive holiday experience at Planet Ice, Bristol. At “Enchanted Christmas,” Christie partner Attraktion! installed 10 Captiva DWU500S 1DLP ultra short throw projectors to power vibrant, interactive content across the exhibit, mapping onto floors, ceilings, and scenic elements to immerse visitors in the spirit of the season.

The hour-long family attraction begins with guests checking in and receiving an elf alter ego, where they are briefed on their mission to save Christmas at the North Pole. The journey features interactive stations and games, opportunities to explore global festive traditions, songs from around the world, and encounters with a host of seasonal characters.

In the ‘Gift Express’ room, Christie Captiva projectors transform three walls into a lively canvas where children can help catch flying gifts and wrap them, immersing participants in the festive mission. Meanwhile, in the ‘Twinkle Studio’, the projectors bring children’s creativity to life by displaying their decorated presents and ornaments as interactive projections around the cosy living room that respond to touch. The experience also features a snowball fight with Jack Frost, a sleigh ride with Santa, and concludes with a brief VR segment.

Attraktion! completed the technical build on the first floor above the venue’s main ice pad, re using the footprint from its prior “Jurassic Immersive Experience” and redesigning and recalibrating content for the Christmas storyline. The projectors are mounted unobtrusively above exhibits, projecting onto floors, scenic surfaces, and set pieces. Media servers handle playback, with Unity and Unreal Engine powering interactive elements alongside motion tracking sensors. “We selected Christie projectors for their compact design, modularity, very short throw, and dependable performance, which are essential for our immersive installation,” says Markus Beyr, CEO, Attraktion! “The response in Bristol has been overwhelmingly positive, as this type of attraction is unique in England, and we’re excited to see the response to ‘Enchanted Christmas.’ The technology has enabled us to deliver a seamless experience.” .

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Christie projectors are helping to power an immersive, interactive h

“Salut Salon” on tour with Sennheiser Spectera For more than two decades, chamber music quartet Salut Salon has been challenging the sometimes-rigid conventions of classical concert formats with their unique blend of creativity, charm and wit. Their soundscapes are a fusion of classical music, folk, jazz, pop, tango nuevo, film soundtracks and their own compositions, creating an unmistakable cosmos full of sophistication, vitality and humour while making it all seem incredibly effortless. On Salut Salon’s current tour, excellent sound is ensured by Sennheiser’s Spectera wideband wireless ecosystem.

The Sennheiser Spectera wideband ecosystem has been used by Salut Salon since early summer 2025.

The components are owned by Florian Hinz from Hinz Audio, who alternates with Thorsten Seeliger as the sound engineer for Salut Salon and was able to take delivery of the components via Sennheiser’s sales partner NORDLITE very soon after the system’s launch.

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holiday experience at Planet Ice Bristol, England.

During the performance at the Konzerthaus Dortmund concert hall on 8 November 2025, Seeliger set up the Spectera Base Station in the concealed side area of the stage together with an L 6000 charging station. Two PoE-powered Spectera DAD antennas were installed close by on stands and were directed towards the performance area.

Angelika Bachmann, Salut Salon’s founder and first violinist, Alvina Lahyani (violin), Maria Well (cello) and Kristiina Rokashevich (piano) used bidirectional Spectera SEK bodypacks for their personal in-ear monitoring and vocals. Four other SEK bodypacks were used for the cello, accordion and grand piano. “I always used to set up wired microphones at the grand piano, but the transmission quality of the Sennheiser Spectera is excellent and I’m really pleased that I don’t have to lay – and see – any cables on the stage anymore,” says Seeliger, who has been Salut Salon’s sound engineer for almost two decades and is a Spectera expert at NORDLITE Event Solutions GmbH. In Dortmund, Seeliger used an 8 MHz wide UHF frequency band with a centre frequency of 554 MHz for the wireless audio transmission of Salut Salon. He selected the “Live” audio link mode for both microphone

and IEM channels. The “Live” mode makes use of Sennheiser’s proprietary SeDAC audio codec with a latency of a mere 1.6 milliseconds. “Other digital IEM systems have a latency of at least 2.7 milliseconds, and they don’t offer any bidirectional functionality either,” Seeliger points out. “In my opinion, the audio quality in ‘Live’ mode is already so fantastically good that I don’t even need to use the PCM mode, which is completely lossless in operation but quite resource intensive. In addition, if I used PCM, I would have to employ the second available 8 MHz band of the Spectera system, and I prefer to keep this free as part of my backup plan if something goes wrong.” Depending on the configuration, the Sennheiser Spectera Base Station controls up to 64 audio links (32 inputs and 32 outputs) and uses up to two independent RF wideband channels instead of a large number of narrowband RF carriers.

The Spectera Base Station was connected to the digital audio console via MADI to keep the latency as low as possible. “Excessive latency in their in-ear monitors would definitely be a problem for the classically trained musicians of Salut Salon, particularly because Angelika Bachmann, for example, uses a single monitoring earpiece in her right ear and hears her violin directly in her left ear without an earpiece,” Seeliger explains. “In this case, an audible time delay would be unacceptable.”

Salut Salon’s transition to the new wideband wireless system was seamless. Seeliger reports that, initially, cellist Maria Well was taken aback by the sound of the digital in-ear channel, as she had never experienced sound quality like that before, but soon was highly impressed.

“She quickly noticed that everything now sounded like an unamplified instrument – only a little louder. There can hardly be a greater compliment for the sound of an in-ear channel,” says Seeliger, adding: “I clearly remember what it was like the first time I directly compared Spectera with other state-of-the-art in-ear wireless solutions I had frequently worked with. At first, I could hardly believe the sound could be so much clearer, more dynamic and better overall compared to analogue systems.” According to Seeliger, the Salut Salon musicians have no problems at all using the infinitely rotatable volume buttons on their SEK bodypacks. The sound engineer only uses the remote-control function for the listening volume if the musicians ask him to.

“The fact that only one bodypack is required for both the microphone and in-ear monitoring channels instead of two devices is a huge step forward for Salut Salon, especially because of their various costume changes,” he adds. “I’ve always wanted something like that.”

Seeliger is completely satisfied with the capacity of the SEK bodypack’s BA 70 lithium-ion batteries: “I always use the batteries from the previous day’s performance for soundcheck and then use fully charged BA 70s for the show itself. Depending on the in-ear monitoring volume and other parameters, I can achieve five to six hours of operating time. That’s more than enough.”

Frequency management, which used to be a complex procedure, can now be done in next to no time using Spectera, much to Seeliger’s delight: “It’s really become very easy. I carry out a scan at the venue, select a free

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space, enter the data and after a workflow that takes about 15 seconds, everything is ‘set and done’. Even the bodypacks are automatically set at the correct frequency without any input from me. That means, with this system, I’m ready to start much faster than before, and I also don’t have to bother with the tedious task of sticking tape on the bodypacks to mark the user’s name.

The performers also appreciate seeing their own name appear on the continuously visible e-ink displays. It’s a nice feature. And if there’s a new performer, I simply use the software to change the name on the display.”

A further benefit of Spectera that helps ensure a fast set-up is its small space requirements: “Our old wireless system used to occupy a large 19-inch cabinet that was actually pretty heavy,” Seeliger recalls. “The current solution is much more convenient, particularly because we, as the production team, travel to the venue in a small van rather than a full-size truck.” The fact that the two Spectera DAD antennas for Salut Salon only need to be placed on one side of the stage and not on both left and right also helps to simplify the set-up procedure. According to the Seeliger, this does not have any negative impact on coverage of the performance area: “I’ve had a lot of very good experience with this arrangement – it’s absolutely reliable! At the end of the concert, the four musicians move through the auditorium and leave at the back while still playing their instruments. Even here, there have never been any problems with range. I’ve never once seen the ‘Link Quality Indicator’ drop during a show, even in pretty challenging RF environments.”

Seeliger is highly impressed by the sound quality of the Sennheiser Spectera ecosystem: “In-ear monitoring no longer has any noise whatsoever and I haven’t noticed an artifact or experienced a dropout on tour. As far as the sound is concerned, there really is nothing that you could criticise when using Spectera. Particularly with a sampling rate of 96 kHz, the sound is absolutely fantastic! Salut Salon will definitely be using Sennheiser’s wideband system for their concerts in the future – there’s no going back!” Seeliger’s contact at Sennheiser is Jörg Langel, Business Development Manager, Touring & Rental. Langel says: “The new Sennheiser Spectera ecosystem is successfully proving itself in everyday life on tour. All the feedback I’ve received so far has been positive, particularly with regard to the sound quality, reliability and user-friendliness. Spectera uses the possibilities provided by WMAS in a unique manner.

With its faultless performance, the system offers impressive results even in critical RF environments. The trust that early adopters such as Florian Hinz and Thorsten Seeliger have placed in the system has definitely not been misplaced. Spectera represents a quantum leap forward for professional wireless applications and is a genuine game changer!”

Angelika Bachmann, the founder of Salut Salon, is a highly talented musician who gave her first concerts when she was only four years old. At the age of five, she began to compose her own music and performed as a

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Salut Salon at the Konzerthaus Dortmund concert hall - From left to and Maria Well. (Photo courtesy of Salut Salon and the Konzerthau

soloist with renowned orchestras from the age of seven.

After leaving high school, she studied philosophy, education and German language and literature at the University of Hamburg, as well as music and speech training at Hamburg University of Music and Drama. She completed a master’s degree in psychology at the University of Wuppertal. In 2011, she was awarded the German Federal Cross of Merit for her volunteering work. Together with Salut Salon, she performs concerts on all continents.“The members of Salut Salon are always those who are not currently having a baby, taking their kids to nursery or taking a break to help their husbands at home…” says Bachmann with her usual cheeky sense of humour. She describes Salut Salon as “a quartet of ten musicians” who “do rock’n’roll as a part-time job” to enable them to combine work and family life. “Salut Salon is made up of three cellists, three pianists and four violinists,” she explains. “We are close friends and before each section of the tour we always discuss how the performance dates work best for each one of us and therefore for all of us.”

On stage, the musicians of Salut Salon are continuous-

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the sound. Everything that used to sound a bit unclear sometimes and somehow not quite natural is now much better. With Spectera, my in-ear sound is better that ever before, and I’m really happy with it. I have the advantage of having perfect pitch, and for me it is important to have a clean reproduction of overtones, which are no longer cut off at the top with Spectera, unlike in analogue IEM wireless systems. The sound is now much closer to that of a real instrument. It makes a world of difference!”

Whether they are presenting Vivaldi or vocal acrobatics, Gershwin or Gulda, rap or Ravel – the musicians from Salut Salon transcend national and cultural boundaries with their concerts, inspiring audiences with their sensationally virtuoso and highly entertaining musical skills. With apparent ease, they cross the borders between classical and popular music and win hearts throughout the world with their playfulness and exceptional talents. Their current programme called “heimat” (homeland), which the musicians are taking on tour from 2025 to 2027, comes across as a commitment to curiosity, an openness to the cultures of the world and a desire to leave the beaten track. But what is most surprising is that they make it all seem so effortless – something that is rarely found in established classical music performances. Music by Dvořák, Fauré, Piazzolla and Prokofiev is played in arrangements by Angelika Bachmann that condense the pieces to their essentials, embellished by elements of folk music from Estonia, Bulgaria and Argentina. In addition, there are their own compositions such as their piece called “Flucht” (flight).

o right: Angelika Bachmann, Alvina Lahyani, Kristiina Rokashevich us Dortmund).

ly in motion, and even the pianist often leaves her usual place at the piano, for example to start singing while playing the accordion. For that reason, a wireless sound system is absolutely essential for the concerts. “A conventional set-up with fixed microphones just wouldn’t work for me and the others,” says Bachmann. “I can’t imagine not being able to move around on stage – that’s simply unthinkable for me.” As far as in-ear monitoring is concerned, Bachmann attaches great importance to having a sound that is as unadulterated as possible.

During the performances, she wears a standard open earpiece in her right ear and no earpiece in her left ear, allowing her to hear her instrument directly as well as the other musicians and the surroundings. “I don’t need two earpieces. I can’t split myself in two,” she says with a grin.

When asked about Spectera, Bachmann explains: “The fact that we are using Spectera on our current tour is down to Thorsten Seeliger, who has been working with us as our sound engineering expert for almost 20 years now. What I immediately noticed as a positive aspect of Spectera is the incredible brilliance and clarity of

Transforming the conservation experience at the Cleveland Museum of Art Today’s cultural institutions are embracing emerging digital innovation and technology initiatives to combine the tactile with the virtual, setting new standards in audience engagement and immersive storytelling. The Cleveland Museum of Art (CMA) in Ohio is an exemplary institution in its use of innovative dvLED technology to bring artifacts to life through physical interaction. In its new Renaissance exhibition, showcasing a masterpiece from the fifteenth and sixteenth century Italian painter “Pintoricchio”, visitors can get ‘up close’ to the “Virgin and Child” and explore the intricate details of the painting’s restoration as if under a microscope – enabled by fine pixel pitch dvLED displays from Planar and a universal dvLED mounting system from Peerless-AV. Systems integrator Zenith Systems facilitated the project, which started with a lobby installation in 2025 and progressed to a second installation for this captivating, temporary exhibition, running from August 10, 2025, to August 23, 2026. Both installations are supported by Peerless-AV’s SEAMLESS Connect Universal dvLED Mounting System. The video wall in the Horrace Kelly Art Foundation Lobby uses the previous generation uni-

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versal mounting system and was installed in March 2025, while the second video wall integrates the latest generation system, launched at InfoComm Orlando 2025.

Previously, Zenith Systems had used a method involving Unistrut with shims to flatten irregular wall surfaces in preparation for video wall installations. While this approach was effective, it was time-consuming, cost and labour-intensive, and lacked the visual appeal necessary for a public-facing museum environment. The team had experience with installing Peerless-AV mounts in the past, but never for dvLED displays The company’s universal mounting system was highly recommended; hence, it was chosen for the initial installation in the Horrace Kelly Art Foundation Lobby. This was more about solving a particular challenge. The video wall was to be installed on a hammered concrete wall, which required a high level of flexibility and adjustability.

Similarly, for the second installation in the “Pintoricchio” exhibition, there were specific objectives that needed to be met – the video wall was to be an integral part of the exhibition, working in parallel with the showcased “Virgin and Child” painting to expose minute layers of the painting on a large scale. Zenith Systems was considering various mounting options when they attended InfoComm 2025. “We had a plan, but we weren’t crazy about it. Then, when we saw Peerless-AV’s new dvLED mount in action at InfoComm, it felt like the solution to our problem landed right in our lap,” said Doug Fortney, CTO at Zenith Systems. “We immediately recognized what we wanted to use it for. We’d finally found a solution that elegantly addressed both aesthetic and functional concerns while saving on labor and cost.

We are so happy to have had the help of Peerless-AV to bring the museum’s conservation vision to life.”

The goal of this installation was to create a video wall so seamless that it looked like another piece of art in the gallery, with the technology playing its part in the background and going completely unnoticed. Additionally, as a temporary exhibition, the video wall would need to have inherent flexibility, allowing for relocation to showcase different artifacts inside the museum in the future.

Zenith Systems brought in Peerless-AV as the experts in achieving precision positioning of pixels with flawless results. The two teams worked closely to ensure the installation was executed to exact measurements with minimal disruption.

Peerless-AV’s SEAMLESS Connect Universal dvLED Mounting System delivers a perfectly flat mounting surface, even on uneven walls, eliminating one of the biggest challenges for installers and saving valuable time and costs on site. This precision is especially crucial in a museum environment, where even minor pixel gaps from non-plumb walls could distort the artwork’s reproduction. The mount’s built-in adjustability was a major draw, allowing the video walls to be mounted cleanly without extensive prep work or wall modification. Unlike alternative options, SEAMLESS Connect is a truly universal mounting system, compatible with the majority of latching dvLED displays. Its slim-to-wall, lightweight,

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modular structure simplifies setup and reduces the number of drilled holes required for minimal wall damage.

The video wall in the museum’s main lobby measures 20’ wide x 6.7’ high, featuring Planar DLPro 1.5mm dvLED Displays with a resolution of 3840x1296. Configured with a specialized software package, the museum’s content department can deliver dynamic, regularly refreshed digital signage for visitors passing through, including welcome messaging, timetables, and information on exhibits. This space sees 80% of the museum’s total foot traffic; therefore, it was critical that the installation be both functional and visually appealing. Content can also be tailored for special events and functions outside of public opening hours.

The video wall in the temporary Pintoricchio exhibition measures 10’ x 10’, featuring Planar DL Pro 1.8 mm LED Displays with a resolution of 1600x1620 and is mounted on a specially designed black cladding/structure in a slim wall recess, which gives the appearance of a piece of art within the gallery. There are six cameras mounted to the gallery’s ceiling and positioned around the ‘Virgin and Child’ painting inside its protective cabinet. This enchanting exhibit works by monitoring visitor movements so that, as they get closer to viewing the

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painting, the image on the video wall magnifies hidden details of the restoration. In this way, it is a magical alternative to traditional museum touch-enabled applications. Here, interaction is conducted through people’s movement around the space.

Installation of both video walls was smooth and efficient, taking place within a two-week timeframe and working around gallery construction and fixing work.

Once the space was dust-free, the meticulous mounting of each Planar cabinet could be completed with power and cabling. The process was overseen and supported directly by Peerless-AV’s SEAMLESS dvLED team, who worked on-site with the Zenith Systems team and museum architects to ensure the accuracy and quality of the installation – and within a tight window to ensure completion for the extra special exhibition’s opening day. Having never worked with Peerless-AV dvLED mounting systems, but with decades of partnership between both parties, Zenith Systems recognized the importance of detailed design consultation to ensure a first time-right installation, taking away any pain and potential delays in this uncharted territory.

The Zenith Systems team collaborated closely, leveraging Peerless-AV’s expertise in presales design, project management, customer service, and onsite installation

consultation to ensure all stages of the project ran smoothly. “At Peerless-AV, we understand that no two museums are alike – each has its own structural environment, aesthetic vision, and operational needs”, said Gina Schneider, Regional Sales Manager, Peerless-AV. “Working closely with Zenith Systems, we learned about the museum’s goal to leverage technology to enhance the visitor experience while keeping the art as the true focal point. Early engagement between Peerless-AV and Zenith Systems was key to identifying the right solution from the outset rather than as an afterthought. This collaborative, upfront approach - bookended by our onsite installation consultation services - saved valuable time and mitigated the risk of unforeseen challenges. Together, our two teams delivered a solution that not only preserved the museum’s unique character but also reflected the world-class art experiences the museum strives to provide.”

The installation was a true collaboration, and the museum praised Peerless-AV’s team for being responsive and detail-oriented throughout the process. This handson approach helped alleviate the uncertainties the museum initially had about such a high-profile and technically demanding installation. Since completing the installations, the museum has seen significant operational benefits. Although the improvements are largely back-end, they have had a meaningful impact on the museum’s team. The long-term video wall in the lobby has become an integral part of the visitor experience, captivating guests who pass through the space. Meanwhile, the video wall for the Pintoricchio exhibition is expected to be viewed by about 50% of museum visitors, offering a uniquely engaging way to display digital art.

Most importantly, the museum’s leadership is delighted and confirmed to Zenith Systems that the mounting system will be adopted for future projects - a strong vote of confidence in the product’s reliability and effectiveness. Jane Alexander, Director of Communications at the Cleveland Museum of Art, commented: “Without the mount, we can see that the glamour of the Pintoricchio exhibition wouldn’t be there. It’s wonderful to watch people’s reactions as they interact with this revered painting, which has been so carefully restored. In the latest conservation treatment, original paint layers were revealed, allowing unparalleled access to the artwork’s original composition. And now visitors can see this in full, large-scale glory, but as if viewing under the microscope. It’s magnificent!”

“If you’re mounting a video wall in any kind of non-standard environment, this universal mounting system will solve problems you didn’t even know you had,” said Doug Fortney, CTO of Zenith Systems. “Peerless-AV provided a cleaner, more elegant way to reach our ultimate visual goal, while installation was less time-consuming and costly than we expected. The adjustability was magic – with a laser, you can get the alignment just perfect! And the team was also super responsive with their support throughout. We couldn’t have asked for a better result.”

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Genelec Smart IP Brings Holiday Magic to Life in Lapland Nestled in Finland’s northernmost region, Lapland has become the cultural capital of all things Christmas. Located 180 kilometres north of the Arctic Circle near the Levi ski resort lies the Tonttula Elves Village, where the magic of the festive season is brought to life. At the heart of the village, guests are welcomed into an immersive tour of Santa’s home and workshop — found within Santa’s Visitor Centre — where a Genelec Smart IP sound system surrounds guests with the yuletide spirit of the North Pole.

Finnish entrepreneur, Päivikki Palosaari, has a long-standing history with Genelec, having utilised its loudspeakers across her successful line of hotels and restaurants. “I visited Mrs. Palosaari and her husband, Mika Latva, about a year prior to the project,” says Henri Ulmanen, Genelec Sales Engineer. “Mr. Latva wanted to create an immersive journey through Santa’s magical realm, where audio would be key to unlocking this winter wonderland. Audio plays a crucial role in the sensory experience,” Ulmanen states. “It guides visitors through each moment, so it needed to be completely immersive to establish an atmosphere of magic and wonder.” This required full coverage for background music alongside localised sound effects, dialogue, and narration when needed, without overwhelming the visual spectacle.

Ulmanen designed a Genelec Smart IP system consisting of various loudspeaker models to ensure the immersive experience reached its full potential. “Different models were chosen for each zone to suit the space and audio needs,” he describes. “In the grand café and gift shop, eighteen 4430 loudspeakers provide wide coverage and a cheerful musical backdrop, keeping the hub lively for shopping and dining. We went with the largest Smart IP model to allow sufficient headroom for different uses, such as events or conferences.” In Santa’s House and Gift Laboratory, six discreet 4410 Smart IP loudspeakers enhance the rustic setting with warm, joyful music to strengthen the homely atmosphere. “The compact size of the 4410s is perfect for Santa’s House as the loudspeakers are tucked away and unobtrusive, while delivering clarity and coverage for background music.”

The standout is the Grand Hall, where audio plays a more central role in bringing the magic to life. “Here, four 4420s are positioned above projection screens,” describes Ulmanen. “This space relies heavily on sound effects and dialogue due to the Talking Tree in the centre of the room.” The Talking Tree comes to life with the sound of its rich and powerful voice engulfing visitors in its exciting Christmas tale. A stunning visual display takes place on the screens alongside the audio to captivate children and adults alike. “As the tree is the focal point of the room, the audio needed to be clear and localised. To intensify output, a Genelec 3440 subwoofer

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was positioned behind the tree, ensuring its voice can be heard above all other elements.”

Already involved in the project’s lighting and video, Finnish AV specialists ApplyLight Oy were tasked with integrating the Genelec loudspeakers into the wider system. “The Grand Hall — with its projections, lighting, and layered sound — was our main focus,” explains ApplyLight’s Tommi Puisto. “We used multitrack mixing to blend audio effects with the Talking Tree’s narration, making the story more vibrant.” To ensure smooth operation, ApplyLight designed a simple tablet interface for tour guides, allowing them to activate technology through handheld devices while guests move through the experience.

Q-SYS was implemented to manage all AV elements, pairing effortlessly with Genelec Smart IP via the Dante network. “We also had help from Smart IP Manager, which allowed us to configure each loudspeaker individually, enabling precise delay timing, multitrack setup, and even control of elements such as LED screen dimming,” adds Puisto. “Audio, power, and control are carried through a single CAT6 cable, making the system efficient, cost-effective, and future proof, while remaining practically invisible to visitors. Genelec Smart IP made the installation so much easier than it would be with any other equipment.”

Through the combined expertise of Henri Ulmanen and ApplyLight Oy, the enchanting wonderland of Santa’s North Pole was brought to life with the premium

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audio of Genelec loudspeakers as part of a sophisticated AV system. “There have been absolutely no issues with the sound, and the loudspeakers have guaranteed an atmosphere of joy and merriment,” states Puisto.

“Working with Genelec’s Smart IP series has been both effortless and rewarding, allowing us to deliver a system that is reliable, flexible, and truly magical for visitors.”

“I have heard only positive feedback from Päivikki Palosaari and Mika Latva,” Ulmanen notes. “While they’ve been long-term Genelec users, this was their first time using Smart IP loudspeakers, and they couldn’t have been more impressed.” From the cozy rooms of Santa’s House to the spectacle of the Grand Hall, the Genelec Smart IP system ties each moment together, filling every space with warmth, clarity, and festive spirit.

d&b Soundscape helps bring Paddington to life in the West End In the expert hands of sound designer Gareth Owen, the power of the d&b Soundscape and the remarkable directivity of the new CCL loudspeaker system are playing their part in the heart-warming delivery of ‘Paddington The Musical’ at the Savoy Theatre. This world-premiere production, produced by Sonia Friedman Productions, STUDIOCANAL and Eliza Lumley Productions on behalf of Universal Music UK, directed by Luke Sheppard and with music and lyrics by McFly’s Tom Fletcher and book

by Jessica Swale, is a warm, luxurious, enveloping experience. As WhatsOnStage puts it, it is a show “so emotionally and tonally perfect that the entire audience is enraptured from the moment the bear steps on stage”. The review is testament to all the elements of theatre craft that combine to produce this show – and within this masterful mix, sound plays a key supporting role.

Olivier and Tony Award-winning Owen, widely regarded as the most prolific sound designer in musical theatre today, has been an influential adopter and innovator of d&b Soundscape from its beginning, using it on many notable productions including Starlight Express in Bochum, Germany, Come from Away in the West End and MJ: The Musical on Broadway. Here again, he deftly employs the immersive capabilities of the d&b Soundscape, plus d&b’s new CCL (Compact Cardioid Line Array).

Bringing Paddington to life on stage is the fundamental aim of the show. “Soundscape,” says Owen, “is a key part of creating that reality, in enabling us to give Paddington his voice.” The system uses two DS100s, in main and redundant mode. Positional data is fed to the DS100s from a Zactrack SMART performer tracking system, ensuring accurate, real-time location of the moving cast members. Snapshots and cues were created with d&b En-Snap software, setting the sound ‘object’ locations and levels to deliver reliable repeatability, night after night. The result is the ‘natural’ listening experience typical of Soundscape, contributing to the show’s emotional engagement. With the reinforcement essentially transparent, the mind is able to step further into theatre’s suspension of disbelief.

Owen, whose familiarity with d&b Soundscape is clear, says the loudspeaker system is “much as you’d expect – apart from the CCL main arrays.” The main PA includes five unobtrusive arrays of CCL8 across the front of the stage, plus another five arrays on a forward truss for the gallery. Low-end support comes from a flown XSL-SUB array. “The CCL is arguably the most impressive new box I’ve heard since the [d&b] T-Series,” Owen enthuses. “The size of the box versus the amount of power, and the fidelity. And it does everything you expect from d&b. It’s constant directivity, so you walk from left to right, near and far, and there’s no change tonally.

You walk behind it and there’s nothing coming out the back.”

At the Savoy Theatre, it pays dividends. “It’s an extremely challenging acoustic environment,” Owen explains. “The walls are effectively dozens of reflective surfaces, bouncing sound in all directions. And because it’s listed, you can’t treat it. That’s where a speaker system like d&b’s comes into its own: it’s so precise, so directional, that you can tightly focus to keep the sound off the walls and ceiling and put it where you want it.”

He adds, “I know for absolute fact we wouldn’t have achieved the results we did without that constant directivity performance.”

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CASE STUDY

BYD – Innovation in Automotive Retail Introduction Bryan Denyer, editor of AV News introduces a BYD case study featuring ground-breaking change inautomotive retail practice

What do you usually get when you enter a car showroom? A sales rep in a shiny suit? A dispenser stuffed with outdated and tatty brochures? But little, or nothing, that conveys the thrill of the driving experience or the benefits of vehicle ownership!

“AV technology has driven a paradigm shift in automotive showroom design, transforming static spaces into immersive, interactive environments that elevate customer engagement and brand storytelling. The changes have reshaped automotive retail by transforming how cars are sold, owned and maintained. AV integration supports sleek, minimalist showroom layouts, reducing the need for physical inventory while maintaining a premium ambience.”

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Innovative car and van builder BYD entered the market for electric vehicles in 2021. The company wanted its innovative designs and technologies to be reflected in the immersive and impactful customer experience within its state-of-the-art showrooms. Leal Energie Ltd, BYD’s official distributor in Mauritius, turned to ViewSonic to help them create environments that truly captured the sensation of owning and driving its revolutionary products.

CASE STUDY

Revolutionary new products,new showroom Experience To realise the showroom brief, Leal Energie and BYD partnered with ViewSonic, with Leaf communications and informatics (LCI) providing the personnel and professional expertise for the installation to help to fulfil the showroom's ambition's. The brief called for a large-format and high-quality LED display as the focal point of the showroom layout.

“By strategically placing the large-format LED display at the entrance, it becomes a focal point upon entry to shape the customer’s first impression.

Alongside BYD’s branding guideline, we wanted something

more eye-catching that wouldn’t compromise too much valuable floor space. This was made possible by ViewSonic’s All-in-One Direct View LED solutions,” said Loic Serret, Manager at Leal Energie Ltd. To meet showroom requirements, ViewSonic deployed its Customisable Series, combining flexible sizing, easy installation, and integrated features.

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CASE STUDY

Installation efficiency and optimised space The LDC031-250 All-in-One LED Display delivers 600 nits of brightness and consistent high contrast, ensuring vivid performance even under direct showroom lighting and natural daylight conditions—addressing BYD’s visibility needs across various ambient scenarios. The client also requested a clean aesthetic with no additional framing or enclosure work. Traditional LED walls were unsuitable—bulky and installation-heavy, with added structural elements that increase maintenance costs.

Prior to delivery, the All-in-One LED’s key configuration tasks were completed off-site, including controller setup, cabinet layout definition, and signal routing. Brightness calibration was also done in-factory using camera-based measurements to ensure uniform luminance across the wall. On-site, the installation was simplified to physical cabinet alignment, cable connection, and visual performance checks.

The All-in-One solution, with integrated power and control systems, eliminated the need for licensed electrician support, allowing a two-person team to complete setup in just four hours. The selected LDC031-250 display required no extensive wall drilling or separate AV installation. Its ultra-slim 31 mm profile and built-in speakers enables a clean wall-mounted installation with minimal protrusion, reducing the overall installation depth to just 5.3 cm compared to the traditional 20–40 cm required.

durability concerns. The display’s Glue-On-Board (GOB) surface treatment offers enhanced durability against dust, moisture, and physical impact ideal for Mauritius’s humid environment and high-traffic showroom conditions. On site, staff could easily manage and update content via remote control, whether for new model launches, technical features, or marketing campaigns. The display also supports full-front maintenance, allowing individual module replacement without disassembling the entire system minimising downtime and further streamlining operations, resulting in a low Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) solution that aligns with BYD’s expectations.

“This installation demonstrates how ease of setup, operation, and maintenance can encourage Display durability and ease of businesses to embrace advanced display technologies. The process was faster, simpler, and remaintenance quired very few resources,” noted Vidya Dabydoyal, Senior Sales Executive at Leal Communications The display’s longevity is especially important in challenging environments. In high-humidity envi- & Informatics Ltd ronments like Mauritius (around 74–76% humidity), traditional SMD displays are prone to dead pixels from impact and moisture, raising long-term 50

CASE STUDY

Building customer loyalty by conveying brand value

ibility to update content instantly has helped staff respond to customer enquiries more effectively, enhancing engagement and reinforcing BYD’s premium brand image.

The streamlined design preserved showroom openness and comfortably accommodated up to six display vehicles. Visitors could explore the space freely, interact with the vehicles without obstruction, and enjoy wider viewing angles.

ViewSonic’s LED solution not only transforms the physical atmosphere of the showroom but also aligns with its future-focused identity. “We share the same commitment to innovation with Leal and BYD. ViewSonic’s All-in-One LED lineup, from customisable LDC to foldable LDS and pre-configured LDP, LDM, and the new LDE Series, is designed to meet diverse business needs by making large-scale displays more accessible, easier to implement, and setting a new benchmark for the industry,” said Dean Tsai, General Manager of Pro AV Solutions Business Unit at ViewSonic.

This collaboration demonstrates how in-store displays can serve as a strategic brand asset—transforming the showroom into an immersive experience and delivering long-term value through adaptability, engagement, and customer loyalty.

To experience ViewSonic’s innovative All-in-One

The installation has received consistently positive LED solutions firsthand, register to visit ISE feedback from visitors, who frequently comment 2026 for an in-depth demonstration: on the display’s clarity and visual impact. The flex- https://avnewsonline.com/innovation-in-automotive-retail/

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LG organisational changes for the New Year LG Electronics (LG) today announced that Lyu Jae-cheol assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer, effective December 1. Mr. Lyu has successfully led the LG Home Appliance Solution (HS) Company, driving sustainable growth through expanded B2B operations, subscription-based and direct-to-consumer (D2C) business models, and continued competitive leadership based on LG’s core strengths in home appliances. As CEO, Mr. Lyu will focus on expanding LG’s market-leading DNA in home appliances – built on delivering differentiated customer value across the entire organization, further enhancing the company’s fundamental competitiveness and growth potential.

Mr. Lyu joined Goldstar (now LG Electronics) in 1989 as a researcher in the Home Appliance Research Centre and has spent nearly half of his career in home appliance R&D, building deep technical expertise that has shaped his leadership approach. Since 2021, he has served as head of the H&A (now HS) Company, leading LG to become the global No. 1 home appliance brand.

Despite delayed recovery in consumer sentiment and intensifying market competition, he strengthened the leadership of flagship products while laying the groundwork for sustainable growth through continuous R&D. He also expanded HS Company’s business portfolio by advancing appliance subscription services, online channel growth, and B2B business areas such as builtin appliances and component solutions.

William Cho will step down to support a healthy leadership transition after laying a strong foundation for sustainable growth during his four-year tenure as CEO. Mr. Cho, who joined LG in 1987 and has dedicated 37 years to the company, expanded LG’s business beyond home appliances into sectors such as mobility and commercial spaces and established a mid- to long-term vision to transform LG into a Smart Life Solution Company that connects and extends customer experience across diverse spaces. His strategic direction prioritized performance in core businesses; growth in B2B, non-hardware and D2C areas; expansion into high-potential Global South markets; and exploration of new business

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LG Electronics (LG) today announced that Lyu Jae-cheol assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer, effective December 1 2025

domains – each becoming key milestones in LG’s future growth strategy.

To further accelerate growth of LG’s two key B2B pillars – vehicle solutions and heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) – the company has promoted Eun Seok-hyun, head of the Vehicle Solution (VS) Company, and James Lee, head of the Eco Solution (ES) Company, to president. Kwack Do-yeong, who brings extensive experience in sales and strategy at the HS Company and a deep understanding of global markets, has been appointed Region Representative of LG Electronics North America and head of LG Electronics USA. This year’s organizational changes focus on enhancing efficiency to build a more agile decision-making structure capable of responding to rapid external shifts, while reinforcing selective and focused operations to accelerate LG’s mid- to long-term portfolio strategy. LG will maintain its existing four-Company structure, ensuring fast and accountable decision-making at the Company level. Similar and adjacent functions across business organizations will be integrated to streamline operations and improve execution efficiency. With Mr. Lyu’s appointment as CEO, executive vice president Baek Seung-tae, previously head of the Kitchen Solutions Business, will assume leadership of the HS Company. Baek has strengthened global appliance competitiveness

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through roles leading both the Living Solutions and Kitchen Solutions Business and is well positioned to advance global production strategies under changing market conditions. The heads of the Media Entertainment Solution (MS), VS and ES Companies will remain in their roles to ensure continuity and strategic momentum.

In parallel with organisational efficiency, LG is establishing new engines to accelerate high-potential business domains including HVAC, webOS and robotics.

The HS Company will establish the HS B2B Overseas Sales Division to grow global built-in and builder-focused business and elevate the Built-in/Cooking Business Division to a Business. The HS Robotics Lab will be newly created, integrating select functions from the Chief Technology Office’s Advanced Robotics Lab. Research Fellow Lee Jae-wook, who led the Humanoid Robot Task, will head the lab. The MS Company will integrate its TV and IT Businesses into a single Display Business and establish a Display Product Development Group to strengthen product competitiveness. The webOS Advertisement Business Department will be elevated to a Business to strengthen support for the expansion of webOS-based service operations. The ES Company will establish a new Applied Business Division focused on HVAC solutions for data centre cooling, ventilation, refrigeration and nuclear power, while launching the ES M&A Division and ES Overseas Sales Division to support localized, end-to-end overseas operations.

Within the Chief Technology Office a new HS Advanced Research Lab will enhance fundamental technology competitiveness, and a Next-Generation Computing Lab will be established to strengthen leadership in emerging technologies such as quantum and distributed computing and next-generation security. To drive companywide AI transformation, the existing DX Centre and Business Process Innovation Division will be integrated into a new organization, the AX Centre. Under the leadership of senior vice president Cho Jung-bum, former head of the DX Centre, the AX Centre will spearhead efforts to accelerate AI adoption, enhance operational efficiency, advance R&D and strengthen employee capabilities. All appointments and structural changes take effect December 1, 2025, with promotions effective January 1, 2026.

Alfalite has announced the appointment of Mariano Aragón as America Channel Sales Manager.

Alfalite appoints Mariano Aragón as America channel sales manager Alfalite has announced the appointment of Mariano Aragón as America Channel Sales Manager, a new position aimed at expanding the company’s presence in the United States through strategic partnerships with system integrators and technology providers in the broadcast, virtual production (VP XR), workspace, government, and Security Operations Centre (SOC) sectors. Based in the U.S., Aragón will lead Alfalite’s channel development strategy to expand its presence across North America. His mission is to position Alfalite as a trusted partner for studios, television networks, production companies, and corporate clients seeking the highest standards of quality, precision, and reliability in LED display solutions. “Taking on this role represents an exciting opportunity. The U.S. is a global leader in technological innovation and a reference in audiovisual production and virtual environments,” said Mariano Aragón. “Being able to represent Alfalite in this context is a privilege, especially because of the unique value our European engineering and LED technology bring to the market. My goal is to build long-term partnerships

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with specialized integrators and expand Alfalite’s footprint across the country.”

With over two decades of experience in international B2B sales and market development within the broadcast-media and technology services industries, Aragón brings a strong track record in business strategy, partner programs, and brand expansion. Early in his career, he spent more than eight years as International Affiliate Sales Director for RTVE - Spain’s national public broadcaster - where he was based in Miami and responsible for expanding RTVE’s distribution and partnerships across the Americas. After his tenure at RTVE, he worked for several technology services and solutions providers in the broadcast and media industry, including Level 3 and Ateme. For the past 10 years Aragón has worked an independent consultant advising international companies on market-entry and business development strategies in Latin America and the United States, helping technology brands scale their operations and partner ecosystems in competitive markets.

Aragón holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Universidad Autónoma de Madrid and an MBA from Universidad Pontificia Comillas (ICAI-ICADE). Speaking about his priorities in the new role, Aragón highlighted his focus on strengthening Alfalite’s presence in broadcast and virtual production/XR, developing a solid network of partners, and expanding into workspace & SOC and public administration environments. “Our priority is to create long-term alliances and ensure first-class technical and commercial support throughout the U.S.,” he noted. “Alfalite offers a unique combination of technology, R&D investment, and rigorous manufacturing and quality control processes. Our flagship products, such as Modularpix Pro and the exclusive ORIM® (Optical Resin Injection Module), deliver key advantages for broadcast and XR applications — including flawless color uniformity, durability, and outstanding on-camera performance. In addition, our product range combines energy efficiency, mechanical precision, and reliability, making it equally ideal for fixed installations in workspace and Security Operations Centre (SOC) environments, as well as public administration and government, where image quality and sustainability are top priorities.”

“The U.S. market is experiencing rapid growth in the adoption of technologies for virtual production, xR studios, and immersive environments, spanning television, advertising, events, and corporate content,” Aragón added. “This is where Alfalite can bring real value: we are a manufacturer with full control over the design and production process, with a clear commitment to innovation and sustainability. Moreover, the demand for ‘Made in Europe’ LED solutions that ensure precision, reliability, and responsive service is highly appreciated, opening great opportunities for us.”

Alfalite has recently completed several projects in the U.S., including the new Walmart TV Studio in Bentonville, Arkansas, where a curved Alfalite Modularpix Pro 1.5 ORIM LED wall powers the retail giant’s state-of-theart virtual production facility. Alfalite has also supplied

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LED display solutions for several houses of worship across the United States, confirming its growing presence and the versatility of its technology in the North American market. “Mariano’s appointment marks an important step in Alfalite’s international growth strategy,” said Luis Garrido, Executive Director of Alfalite.

“His extensive experience in market development and his deep understanding of the broadcast and virtual production ecosystem make him the ideal professional to lead our expansion in the U.S. market. We are confident that under his leadership, Alfalite will continue to gain recognition for the quality, reliability, and innovation that define our LED solutions.”

d&b group names Dr. Thilo Ittner CTO & operations officer.

Thew d&b group announced the appointment of Dr. Thilo Ittner as Chief Technology & Operations Officer (CTOO), effective January 1, 2026. In this role, Thilo Ittner will drive d&b’s technology strategy and operations,

With the appointment of Dr. Thilo Ittner as CTOO, the d&b group is taking a decisive step toward further expanding its strong market position.

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turning innovation into market success and reinforcing the company’s position as a global leader in professional audio. Thilo will oversee technology, Product Management, R&D, and Operations, shaping the long-term roadmap that anticipates customer needs and market developments. His efforts will advance key innovation fields including future loudspeaker designs, immersive audio, AI-based solutions, enhanced networking, and cloud-enabled platforms as well as the continuous optimization of d&b’s operations and product delivery.

Ittner joins d&b with extensive executive experience in technology-driven industries. Most recently, as Managing Director and CTO at elobau, he led technology, endto-end operations, and strategy, achieving profitable growth and strong quality-cost improvements. Earlier in his career, he held senior technology leadership roles at Voith, overseeing product strategy and successful new product launches, while driving organizational transformation. Dr. Ittner also brings strategy and conceptual design experience from his time at McKinsey, where he specialized in product development improvement and lean manufacturing for the automotive and assembly sector. His career highlights include scaling R&D organizations, implementing advanced development processes, and introducing AI-based methods for complex production control.

“Today’s entertainment technology markets move fast and require cross-disciplinary thinking and acting along the value chain. With his experience of designing integrated solutions including hardware, electronics and software and his ability to lead global teams, Thilo will further strengthen d&b’s position as a technology and thought leader in professional audio. I am welcoming Thilo to complete our Senior Leadership Team ensuring innovation leadership and customer satisfaction,” says Amnon Harman, d&b group CEO. “My focus is about shaping markets and the d&b technology and operations organization through impactful technology, innovation, and leadership,” says Dr. Thilo Ittner, designated Chief Technology & Operations Officer, d&b group. “As music plays an important role in my life, I have experienced myself that sound is more than technical perfection - it’s emotion, connection and inspiration. With this in mind, I very much look forward to joining the successful d&b team helping to further elevate d&b’s market position and ensure that innovative technology reach customers with the reliability, excellence and passion they expect from us.”

Peerless-AV has announced the appointment of Kayla Whitfield as Regional Sales Manager, North. Kayla’s remit will cover the North of England, Scotland and Ireland.

Peerless-AV announces Kayla Whitfield as regional sales manager, (North) Peerless-AV has announced the appointment of Kayla Whitfield as Regional Sales Manager, North. Kayla’s remit will cover the North of England, Scotland and Ireland, where she will leverage her strong contact base and work closely with distributor and reseller accounts to provide support and drive new opportunities for Peerless-AV products to market. Kayla brings a solid foundation of AV knowledge and skills to the UK sales team, supporting Peerless-AV’s expanding EMEA operation.

Together, the team will build on the company’s momentum, driving growth into new vertical markets and key accounts across the UK and Ireland.

Commenting on her role, Kayla said: “We have a strong, friendly yet formidable team, and we’re ready to take on the challenges and opportunities in the remainder of 2025 and into 2026 as we prepare for the biggest show of the year, ISE. It’s a great time to start. Peerless-AV is in an exciting phase with its rapidly expanding dvLED mount business, and I look forward to educating and supporting key accounts and prospect bases through training, sales promotions, marketing incentives and networking events.”

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Kayla has held various account manager roles within the AV and professional services industries. For seven years, she was account manager at a European digital workplace transformation company where she was responsible for delivering global meeting room solutions and digital signage. “Kayla is a perfect for our UK sales team, and we can’t wait to see the contribution she’ll make to the continued growth of the business,” said Chalene Chandrasiri, Director of Sales UK & Ireland.

“She brings valuable experience supporting customers both nationally and internationally, along with good knowledge of the AV and digital signage markets, which will help us develop our key partnerships and expand into new areas.”

Parks Associates announces promotions of Jennifer Kent, Kristen Hanich and Michael Goodman Parks Associates today announced three leadership advancements that strengthen the firm’s strategic direction and support its next phase of growth as it moves into its fortieth year in business in 2026. Jennifer Kent, currently vice president of research, has been promoted to senior vice president and principal analyst; Kristen Hanich has been promoted to senior director; and Michael Goodman has been appointed director of entertainment. These promotions elevate experienced leaders who will help drive a more integrated approach across research, consulting, business development, and events.

Kent’s promotion reflects an expanded role that brings greater alignment across the company’s core functions.

As SVP & principal analyst, she will guide cross-department strategy, strengthen client engagement, and ensure cohesive delivery of Parks Associates’ research and advisory services. Jennifer’s industry knowledge and long-standing leadership at Parks Associates will help her to accelerate the firm’s growth and sharpen its market impact. “We are entering a transformative period where artificial intelligence (AI) is challenging long-standing assumptions and creating new opportunities nearly overnight. Parks Associates’ forty-year foundation gives us the historical context and analytical depth needed to help clients understand where the

Parks Associates announces promotions of Jennifer Kent, Kristen Hanich and Michael Goodman

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market is heading,” Kent said. “I look forward to advancing our integrated research strategy to support leaders making critical decisions during this unprecedented shift.”

Hanich’s promotion to senior director recognizes her strong and consistent background in supporting major client initiatives and Parks Associates’ research deliverables. She will take on increased responsibility in managing Parks Associates’ Analyst Inquiry service. She will also build upon her broadband, connected health, and multifamily research. In addition, she will help shape new offerings as the firm broadens its coverage across AI applications and small business, building automation, connected home, broadband, energy, entertainment, and emerging technology markets.

Goodman joins the research team as director of entertainment, bringing extensive experience in digital media, streaming, and content distribution. He will lead Parks Associates’ expanding entertainment research portfolio, including its Streaming Video Tracker service.

This service started over a decade ago and tracks almost 400 North American streaming services, including subscribers, business models, platforms, and more.

Goodman’s expertise helps clients navigate the major disruptions in the media and entertainment space driven by new business models, shifting consumer consumption patterns, and the impact of AI. These promotions support a broader business alignment designed to strengthen client relationships and better connect Parks Associates’ research expertise to its strategic growth plans. “Parks Associates is well positioned for its next chapter,” said Elizabeth Parks, President and CMO, Parks Associates. “Jennifer, Kristen, and Michael each play a critical role in advancing our mission and delivering meaningful value to our clients.

Their leadership will help us move faster, operate more AV Stumpfl has announced the addition of Richard Baldingcohesively, and build on the strong foundation already er as managing director of its US subsidiary with offices in in place.”

Atlanta, Georgia, and Santa Monica, California.

Richard Baldinger joins AV Stumpfl as MD (USA) AV Stumpfl has announced the addition of Richard Baldinger as managing director of its US subsidiary with offices in Atlanta, Georgia, and Santa Monica, California. Richard brings more than 15 years of international leadership experience, with a strong track record of helping companies grow, scale and succeed in the US market. His professional background spans sales, marketing, service and product management, giving him a uniquely comprehensive perspective on building customer-centric organisations. Most recently, Richard served as director of sales and marketing at Fronius USA, where he played a pivotal role in building the US marketing and inside sales teams and led the company’s US solar energy business unit.

While getting his MBA, Richard managed various media projects at the Ars Electronica Centre in Linz, Austria,

and organised dozens of events in various venues. Richard is enthusiastic about the opportunity to further establish and elevate AV Stumpfl’s presence in the US market. “AV Stumpfl has a remarkable legacy of innovation and engineering excellence,” Richard said. “I’m excited to help bring that story to a wider US audience and to work with our partners and customers to make the next phase of growth truly exceptional. With agreat team and innovative products, we have a great foundation for our future success.”

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Creamsource taps industry heavyweight Markus Zeiler as Group MD Creamsource, renowned for its Vortex series of cinematic lighting, is laying the groundwork for its next phase of growth with the addition of Markus Zeiler as Group Managing Director. He joins at a pivotal moment, as the company expands into new markets, deepens its R&D efforts, and develops the next generation of tools shaped by the needs of filmmakers, partners, and production teams. Since 2005, Creamsource has been guided by its founders, Tama Berkeljon and Sasha Marks, whose hands-on engineering, product philosophy, and deep curiosity continue to define the company’s DNA. Their long-term vision centres on innovation, new product lines, and responding to what the community is asking for.

With Markus stepping into operational leadership, Tama and Sasha gain more dedicated space to stay immersed in the pipeline of new technologies and tools. His role stretches across everything required to bring a product from development into the world, giving the founders the freedom to stay focused on future innovation. Markus’ experience spans LED development and lighting leadership at ARRI, as well as business growth and expansion at MBS Europe. He has overseen product and operations teams, led major global initiatives, and helped drive the worldwide adoption of LED lighting in film and television. His combination of operational dis-

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cipline, technical fluency, and industry insight strengthens the foundation around Creamsource’s growing roadmap, enabling the company to scale with intention while staying grounded in the craft. “We’re thrilled to have Markus join the CreamTeam,” said Tama Berkeljon, CEO of Creamsource. “We’re fully aligned on where the company needs to go and how best to support our customers in a changing market. His depth of knowledge and experience strengthens the whole organization and allows me to focus even more on the vision and R&D work that shapes our future.”

“I’m very excited to welcome Markus to the team,” added Sasha Marks, Creamsource CTO. “He brings a tremendous amount of industry and leadership experience, and with him in the hot seat, I’ll be able to dive even further into R&D and new product innovation alongside Tama. After more than twenty successful years, I’m looking forward to this next stage of Creamsource’s evolution. After knowing Tama and Sasha for more than a decade, it’s a great opportunity to finally work together on the same team,” said Markus Zeiler, Group Managing Director. “Creamsource has a strong brand, great products, and an outstanding team spirit.

I’m excited to help support their vision and to help shape what comes next.”

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WyreStorm appoints Paul Lee as VP of the Americas WyreStorm Technologies has announced Paul Lee as the new Vice President of the Americas, marking an exciting step forward in the company’s continued regional growth and forming a key part of WyreStorm’s multi-year global initiative to align the organisation with evolving customer expectations and rapidly advancing technology. Paul brings with him a rich history in the Pro AV industry, with experience spanning sales leadership, business development, post-sales operations, and global partner engagement.

From his early days in Southern California to supporting large-scale AV deployments around the world, Paul has built a reputation for being a thoughtful leader who understands the industry from every angle. In his new role, Paul will lead the charge in shaping a customer-first organization, a core pillar of WyreStorm’s longterm growth strategy for the Americas. He will work closely with teams across Sales, Technical Services, and Marketing Communications to ensure that every interaction with partners, integrators, and end users reflects WyreStorm’s commitment to service, simplicity, and long-term value.

This appointment is part of a broader, multi-year global initiative led by George Lau, CEO of WyreStorm, to keep the company ahead of evolving market expectations and advancing technology trends. “Expanding our leadership in the Americas is a milestone that speaks to how far WyreStorm has come since our early days in a

small town in Tennessee. Our commitment has always been to deliver solutions that are both technologically advanced and accessible to real-world users. Paul’s appointment strengthens that commitment and positions us to accelerate growth, deepen customer engagement, and raise the standard of support across the region,” said George Lau, CEO, WyreStorm Technologies.

“It’s truly an honor to step into this role and work alongside such a passionate and driven team. The Americas represent an incredible opportunity for WyreStorm, and I’m excited to help strengthen our relationships, elevate the customer experience, and build momentum that creates lasting value for our partners,” added Paul Lee, Vice President of the Americas.

WyreStorm Technologies has announced Paul Lee as the new Vice President of the Americas, marking an exciting step forward in the company’s continued regional growth.

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EVENTS

Innovation Park at ISE 2026: the next big idea?

Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) will bring back Innovation Park for the 2026 edition. Building on its success in 2025, the expanded initiative in Congress Square connects investors directly with game-changing startups, maximising investment opportunities. “Innovation Park is a dynamic marketplace where startups, buyers, and investors can come together to explore the future of AV and systems integration,” explains Mike Blackman, Managing Director of Integrated Systems Events.

“Whether you’re looking for high-growth investment opportunities or groundbreaking solutions ready for implementation, Innovation Park is the place where ideas and opportunity meet. At ISE, we’ve always championed innovation and challenged expectations, and Innovation Park is the perfect example of how we continue to push beyond today to find tomorrow’s solutions.”

Alongside startups and first-time ISE exhibitors, Innovation Park criteria will now include companies returning after an absence of 3 years or more. To support this expansion, Innovation Park at ISE 2026 will feature 130 exhibition pods. Centrally located in Congress Square, Innovation Park will once again bring together the Pitching Stage, programmed by startup incubator Plug and Play, the revitalised Matchmaking Area designed for targeted business connections, the Investor Forum taking place on the opening day, and a full programme of startup networking events scheduled throughout the week.

Importantly, Innovation Park extends far beyond its investor-focused offerings. It remains a vital destination for AV buyers, integrators, distributors, and decision makers who are seeking market-ready solutions, emerging technologies, and innovative approaches to real-world project challenges. Following its inaugural success in 2025, the Investor Forum will once again bring together innovators and the global investment community, including venture capitalists, private equity, and corporate investors, for high-level networking, market insights, and investment opportunities. Taking place on the first day of ISE 2026, Tuesday 3 February, the Investor Forum will explore the full company lifecycle, from early-stage startups to late-stage succession planning.

Sean Wargo, Conference Chair and Principal of Apogee Insight LLC, comments, “The Investor Forum at ISE 2026 will spotlight the progressive advancements within pro AV, providing extensive insights for businesses at all stages. A wide range of panels will cover investment types, from angel to corporate and M&A collaboration, as well as industry challenges and practical advice for startups. Additional sessions will explore government funding and highlight experiences from recently funded organisations to support the entire ecosystem.” This half-day conference offers a unique platform for networking, learning, and discovering the next wave of industry opportunities. Innovation Park is not only a launchpad for emerging companies, it is also a valuable resource for AV buyers seeking early access to the most

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advanced tools, platforms, and solutions entering the market. Across the week, attendees can explore readyto-deploy technologies, meet founders and product specialists, and gain insight into the innovations shaping the industry’s future.

ISE’s Connected Classroom will showcase the technologies reshaping education Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) has announced that Connected Classroom, powered by Logitech, is back for its second year at ISE 2026. This engaging 120 sqm immersive showcase in Hall 2 features four interactive zones, each tailored to different educational needs. The debut of Connected Classroom at ISE 2025 attracted considerable attention from visitors who enjoyed getting hands-on with technology within the immersive classroom setting. The idea was sparked by Jason Whitcomb, founder at Kinetic Culture, and product marketing expert, Jeff Boggess. ISE, in partnership with Logitech, then brought the concept to life at ISE. “The Connected Classroom began as a coffee chat with Mike Blackman and a shared belief that the AV community could leave a positive and lasting mark on Barcelona and beyond. From that conversation grew something far

EVENTS

versations we have here provide meaningful insight into how education is changing globally, insights that continue to influence our product development.”

In addition to highlighting emerging EdTech innovations, Connected Classroom demonstrates ISE’s ongoing commitment to social responsibility, with a substantial portion of its featured technology being donated to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and UNICEF’s Giga project, whose goal is to get every classroom in the world online. Following ISE 2025, over 30 pieces of Logitech equipment from the Connected Classroom were donated to Giga’s Connectivity Centre to help stakeholders advance their digital transformation journeys in education. Mike Blackman, Managing Director of Integrated Systems Events, said: “Connected Classroom is far more than a showcase of what’s possible with technology, it’s also a commitment to making a difference. By donating to the Giga programme, we are helping ensure that children everywhere have access to the tools they need to learn, grow and thrive. This legacy is at the heart of what ISE stands for.”

NAB Show 2026 Las Vegas

greater than a showcase at ISE, it became a bridge between industry innovation and classrooms around the world.” commented Jason Whitcomb.

At ISE 2026, the Connected Classroom will demonstrate how integrated AV and collaboration technologies directly benefit both teachers and students. From simplifying lesson delivery and enabling seamless hybrid teaching to fostering active, social learning, the showcase highlights how technology can enhance engagement and accessibility in every type of classroom. Visitors can experience hands-on solutions such as Logitech’s Rally Camera Streamline Kit and Reach for video-enabled learning, Mevo for student content creation, and MX Ink for immersive AR/VR exploration. With collaborative furniture, interactive displays, and streaming tools, the Connected Classroom offers a clear vision of how technology can make learning more dynamic, inclusive, and effective.

As returning headline sponsor, Logitech sees the project as both an innovation platform and an opportunity to understand evolving educational needs. “Education is one of the most exciting growth areas for Logitech,” said Gaurav Bradoo, Head of Product & Portfolio at Logitech. “The Connected Classroom allows us to show how our solutions support teachers and empower students across diverse learning environments. The con-

The NAB Show is the ultimate destination for content creators and broadcasting innovators. It’s where the media and entertainment industry convene to explore new opportunities, harness cutting-edge technology and navigate the ever-evolving business landscape.

From TikTok to TV to the big screen, this is where the industry comes to discover what’s next, connect with peers, and shape the future of storytelling and delivery: Exhibits April 19-22, 2026, in Las Vegas Convention Centre | Central, West and North Halls.

As the premier global event for broadcast, media and entertainment, NAB Show will spotlight transformative trends shaping the industry, including AI and media asset protection, streaming, sports innovation, the creator economy and cloud-based workflows. Bringing together innovators and industry leaders from around the world, NAB Show offers an unparalleled platform to explore cutting-edge technologies and define the next chapter in broadcasting, content creation and distribution.

“NAB Show is where the global media community comes together to shape what’s next,” said Karen Chupka, executive vice president, NAB Global Connections and Events. “The breakthroughs we’re seeing in AI, cloud and new content models are redefining how our industry works, and 2026 will reflect that shift. From the expanded Creator Lab and Sports Summit to the AI Pavilion and Start-Up Pavilion, we’re giving attendees a front-row view of the technologies and ideas that will move the business forward.”

New for 2026, NAB Show will feature an expanded, four-day Sports Summit, “The Future of Sports Rights and Fan Engagement,” presented in the Sports Theatre on the show floor in West Hall. Open to all attendees for the first time, the summit will feature tools and technol-

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ogies that are better engaging fans and conversations on topics like sports rights and athletes who are creating their own media companies. Programming will explore production, rights, distribution, investment and policy while highlighting how teams, broadcasters and technology partners are reshaping fan engagement and reinventing live sports experiences.

In partnership with The Ankler, this three-day program convenes the industry’s top dealmakers, executives and creative leaders for candid conversations on the forces reshaping the business of media and entertainment.

Programming will examine the economic, strategic and structural shifts redefining how content is financed, produced, distributed and monetized across platforms.

New for 2026, the program is open to all attendees and will take place on the exhibit floor in West Hall, creating unprecedented access to high-level discussions on investment, consolidation, rights, talent, technology and the evolving economics of the global media marketplace.

Returning with a dramatically expanded footprint in the newly completed Central Hall, the Creator Lab will serve as the premier destination for creators, studios, broadcasters and brands seeking hands-on learning and next-generation storytelling tools. This year’s Creator Lab features: •A larger theatre and classroom for sessions on AI, creator techniques, business strategy and audience development •A new Networking Lounge designed for one-on-one meetings between creators and brands •A full slate of brand experiences showcasing the tech-

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nologies and partnerships propelling the creator economy toward its projected $500 billion valuation by 2027 With major renovations now complete, the Las Vegas Convention Centre will offer attendees a more modern, connected and intuitive campus experience in 2026.

Across the campus, upgrades include improved lighting, contemporary finishes and clearer sightlines, creating a brighter and more welcoming environment throughout the Show. Noteworthy exhibitors are a who’swho of leading technology innovators including AWS, Blackmagic, Google, Microsoft and Sony. Their presence adds to a dynamic lineup of global brands, showcasing solutions that are advancing the future of media and entertainment. New for 2026, the NAB Show mobile app, launching in March, is designed to help attendees plan ahead, navigate the Show and make meaningful connections on site. The app enables users to build and manage a personalized schedule, bookmark must-see exhibitors and receive tailored recommendations for sessions, exhibitors and connections based on individual interests. The app also introduces enhanced networking tools that allow attendees to securely exchange contact information via QR code while onsite, as well as connect one-to-one with other attendees. Together, these features streamline discovery, improve navigation across the campus and make it easier for attendees to connect with the right people and opportunities before and during the Show.