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UK - AE Live, provider of graphics and data solutions, and Pixotope are partnering to deliver a turnkey virtual production solution for broadcast, sports and live entertainment.
The integrated system combines AE Live’s expertise in on-screen graphics, data and augmented reality with Pixotope Camera Tracking technology.
“This end-to-end solution removes many of the challenges of traditional production,” said David Dowling, chief revenue officer at Pixotope. “It provides a full-service platform for delivering unique and immersive viewing experiences that are a perfect fit for the way audiences consume data and entertainment today.”
The joint AE Live and Pixotope technology solution has been deployed successfully on several events across Europe including football, horse racing and rugby, with plans to expand its use on sports and events in the United Sta

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Freelance Survey - More than half of theatre freelancers feel insecure about their jobs as a result of the pandemic and cost-of-living crisis, a major survey has found. According to the Big Freelancer Survey, almost a third (27%) of respondents also said their debt levels had increased since the pandemic. In addition, it found that in the past 12 months, half of all respondents had witnessed at least one form of harassment and/or discrimination – totalling 1,701 incidents.
The survey of 1,497 freelancers was conducted in February 2022. It is the second in a planned series of five Big Freelancer Surveys until 2025, following the publication of the results of the first survey in 2020 of more than 8,000 participants. In its second iteration, the survey aims to provide insight into the impact of the pandemic and ongoing pre-pandemic issues on freelancers, alongside the insecu
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France - HH Electronics, UK-based manufacturer of audio systems for the pro, MI and installed markets, has announced the appointment of Musique Industrie Développement (MID) as its exclusive distributor for France. A presence in the French market for many years, MID represents a broad range of industry-leading brands, and has built its success on a combination of close customer relationships and the expertise and passion of its highly successful team.
James Baker, business development manager, UK and Europe, for HH Electronics, comments: "We're delighted to be partnering with MID in what is a very important market. They run an extremely well-organised and dynamic operation, placing great emphasis on meeting the precise needs of their customers by ensuring that their team is carefully trained on every product and system they represent. I recently conducted some HH training

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UK - Get your carving kits out and let your Halloween creativity run wild in the Backup Pumpkin Challenge, which is back for some spooky fun and fundraising this October.
Supported by Collaborative Creations, and now in its fourth year, the competition is open to anyone from the technical entertainment and creative industries. Entrants can use their in-house skills and equipment to enhance their carved pumpkin.
"We’re delighted the industry has got behind it every year.” says Tom Wilkes of Collaborative Creations “We’ve been amazed at what people have come up with over the years and it’s a great way for the industry to raise money for a fantastic charity."
The pumpkins will be judged in the following four categories: Best Overall Design (judged by panel), Best Use of Tech (judged by panel) Most Overall Likes (on Instagram).
Entries have to be post

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France - Ayrton is hosting the first in-person Entertainment Lighting Sessions for Women in Lighting at the Ayrton head offices in Paris on 20 October 2022. The full-day event promises to be one of inspiration, motivation, networking, personal and professional development and community for women.
Ayrton is an active sponsor of the Women In Lighting (WIL) project which aims to promote the work of women lighting designers, and all women who work in lighting, across the entertainment industry by showcasing the skills and capabilities of these talented women, celebrating their achievements and encouraging others to become involved.
Ayrton invites you to come along and enjoy the company of this growing community of women who are all about connecting, collaborating and empowering each other.
As part of a wide-ranging programme, four keynote speakers from France, UK,

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USA - At the 74th Engineering, Science & Technology Emmy Awards ceremony on 28 September in Los Angeles, ARRI was honoured with the Philo T. Farnsworth Corporate Achievement Award.
With this prestigious accolade, the Television Academy recognises the company for its more than a century of designing and manufacturing camera and lighting systems as well as its development of systemic technological solutions and service networks for a worldwide complex of film, broadcast, and media industries.
Accepting this prize, named after the American inventor and television technician Philo Farnsworth and presented since 2003, was Dr. Matthias Erb, chairman of the ARRI Executive Board. “On behalf of all ARRI employees, I thank the Television Academy for this tremendous honour,” said Erb. “The Philo T. Farnsworth Corporate Achievement Award is a very special accolade since

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UK - Shirtmaker Frangipani and loudspeaker manufacturer Funktion-One have joined forces to launch a limited-edition collection of shirts, with all profits going to Music Support, the charity that helps those who work in music and live events affected by mental ill-health and/or addiction. The shirts, which are available in two colourways, feature a design based on a 3D blueprint of Funktion-One Evolution loudspeakers.
Frangipani co-founders Clem and Ben Wilmot have been long admirers and friends of Funktion-One, having spent a lot of time in fields and clubs dancing to Funktion-One sound systems.
Ben explains: “Nothing beats being in front of a stack of Funktion-One speakers with like-minded individuals, having the times of our lives and dancing the night away. Our ethos at Frangipani is to make shirts that people want to live in and to bring some colour and happine

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China - Unified communications (UC) solution provider Yealink and Harman Professional Solutions have announced the integration of Yealink and AMX by Harman control systems that brings a convenient connection and simple control when users are meeting and presenting in meeting rooms.
With the combination of Yealink’s Microsoft Teams Rooms system and AMX’s devices including central controllers, video switchers and HydraPort connectivity solutions, meeting attendees can enjoy a simple switch between table inputs to determine which laptop will be shared in the Teams meetings. Additionally, the integration of Yealink and AMX allows users to control not only the camera on the Yealink MTouch II, but also the lighting and room temperature.
“The partnership between Yealink and AMX brings users a simpler and more friendly meeting experience,” said Alvin Liao, vice preside

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South Africa - DWR Distribution is welcoming Ian Staddon, vice president of sales for DiGiCo, back to South Africa for a roadshow taking place in Johannesburg (6 October), Durban (10 October) and Cape Town (12 October). This is an opportunity to meet with friends and get acquainted with the DiGiCo Quantum mixing console.
“I’m looking forward to the roadshow and the launch of the Quantum series,” said Ian Staddon. “It has been way too long since I’ve been down and I’m looking forward to visiting everyone and seeing the backend of Covid-19 with a much busier industry.”
The DWR team are as happy to be out on the road again. “From my side, it’s actually so nice to have Ian back in the country,” said Kyle Robson, DiGiCo brand manager at DWR. “The last time he was with us was pre-Covid and it will be good for him to meet up with the people again. We wi

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Germany - This year, HOF celebrates its 25th anniversary. What began in 1997 with five employees has grown over the past 25 years into a team of over 50 people.
The areas of special construction made of aluminium and steel as well as trusses for event technology still represent HOF's core business. In parallel, HOF has established itself over the past two and a half decades as a reliable partner for industry clients from the food, automotive and agricultural sectors when it comes to special constructions and contract welding work.
From day one, the motto of company founder Hans-Wilhelm Flegel has been: "The crazier the idea, the better. There is no idea that cannot be implemented." HOF has remained true to this motto over all these years and still lives by it: "We don't do things by halves. What we do, we do it right!"
One of HOF's first major projects was the to

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Budget Reaction - The theatre sector’s challenges, including the impact of increased energy bills, have not been addressed by the government’s ‘mini-budget’, industry bodies have warned. The mini-budget was the first delivered with Liz Truss as prime minister and Kwasi Kwarteng as chancellor of the exchequer. Points outlined in brief included an energy package costing £60bn for the six months from October this year, VAT-free shopping for tourists, and duty rates for beer, cider, wine, and spirits axed.
The theatre sector had been hoping that the current rates of Theatre Tax Relief - 50% for touring productions and 45% for non-touring shows - would be maintained for at least another year. However, an official statement from the Society of London Theatre and UK Theatre said it was concerned that "specific challenges" had been overlooked.
It said: "The UK’s wor

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Europe - Showlight reminds you that there is still time to submit your suggestions for papers for the Showlight quadrennial next May.
Showlight takes place from 20-23 May 2023 in Fontainebleau, France, and its papers committee is engaged in the process of considering and selecting topics for the papers programme.
Says Showlight, “We are looking for the latest news on lighting projects and technology in our second call for papers focusing on recent projects. Have you worked on an incredible installation or a fantastic festival this summer? Has your project achieved its peak? Did your event engage the latest technology? Did your broadcast bowl its audience over?
“We want to hear from you! We aim for variety across topics relevant to all aspects of the lighting industry today. We want to hear about your experiences, your ambitions, your inspirations, your concer

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USA - Most of us know someone who is affected by substance use and abuse. This can include concerns about our own use – or the usage of a co-worker, family member or friend. Join Behind the Scenes for an online webinar as they introduce new resources for recognizing and discussing substance use and abuse in the workplace and beyond. Members of the BTS task group introduce these new tools and share personal experiences in this concise online event. Advance registration is required to receive the link to the webinar.
Substance use and abuse in the workplace affects everyone in our industry. Learn more about recognizing the signs and how to help yourself or a colleague. Taking just one hour to learn more can save lives by allowing you to say the right thing – or point someone to the right resources.
In a 2019 survey of entertainment industry workers, over 40% of resp

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UK - Architectural and entertainment LED lighting brand Anolis enjoyed a busy and successful PLASA Show in the Grand Hall of Olympia London earlier this month, where Anolis showed its new Calumma product series for the first time at a UK expo, also highlighting its Eminere and Ambiane products.
Being located on Stand E15, right at the entrance to the busy Robe lighting booth, proved a prominent and highly visible position, ideal for getting attention from those who amassed to watch the daily Robe live performance shows, and also easy for its own visitors to find.
Anolis’s business development manager for London and the South East, Ashley Popple commented, “The show generally was very good, and the Calumma range in particular received lots of interest, with some people specifically coming to see it. They were impressed with the features and benefits of Calumma, and

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USA - ACT Entertainment, manufacturer and distributor of live performance equipment, has acquired Ultimate Support Systems, manufacturer of support solutions widely used throughout the music and live performance industries. The official announcement was made in Windsor, Colorado at the home office of Ultimate Support Systems on 15 September.
“We are very excited to add the Ultimate Support Systems product line and their team to the ACT Entertainment family,” says Ben Saltzman, CEO of ACT Entertainment. “Like ACT, Ultimate has a passion for innovation at its core. The ability to design, develop and engineer state-of-the-art products while providing value and quality is unique in the category. The more I got to know Mike and the amazing team at Ultimate, the more excited I became at the opportunity to work together.”
By purchasing Ultimate Support Systems, ACT no

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Spain - Elation Professional has announced that AdagioPRO, a division of Holmusic, has been appointed the exclusive distributor for Elation Professional products in Spain. The distribution partnership goes into immediate effect and covers the distribution of Elation Lighting, Obsidian Control Systems and Magmatic atmospheric effects products.
Holmusic is a family-run business with more than 50 years of experience distributing musical instruments and professional audio and lighting systems in Spain and other European countries. AdagioPRO serves as Holmusic’s professional sound and lighting division and distributes professional stage lighting systems to a broad range of market sectors including concerts, rental, touring, installations and broadcasting. The lighting division is based at the Holmusic Group corporate headquarters and warehouse facility in Barcelona.
Aft

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Europe - PlugFest, the technical event for entertainment lighting interoperability, returns to Lille in France from 7-9 March 2023. The popular event welcomes manufacturers, developers and technicians from across Europe to test their products and learn about the latest protocols.
PlugFest is an opportunity for participants to collectively test and demonstrate device and system interoperability with the aim of improving reliability, resolving compatibility issues and ultimately improving connectivity between all entertainment lighting and related technologies.
The event’s hosts, Hamish Dumbreck (JESE), Peter Willis (Howard Eaton Lighting) and Wayne Howell (Artistic Licence) are experts in entertainment lighting control protocols. They will host a full educational programme, diving deep into interoperability challenges affecting the live events industry. Plus, they wi

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Germany - Around 100 guests, including a large number of distribution partners from all over the world as well as business friends, network partners and suppliers from the region, came together to congratulate the founder of Pan Acoustics, Udo Borgmann and his team.
Well-known presenters, including guest speakers from the manufacturers Audinate, AFMG and Mundorf, informed the interested professional audience about current trends in AV technology. In practical presentations, audio engineers and acoustic consultants passed on valuable know-how to the audience on topics such as sound design or sound reinforcement solutions for challenging acoustic environments. The seminar programme climaxed in a string concert during an impressive demonstration of the ACS Acoustic Control System installed on site, for electronic adjustment of room acoustics.
"In order to successfully ex

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South Africa - ArKaos, the real-time visual processing technology provider for live performance, architectural installations, LED applications and broadcast, has appointed DWR Distribution as a reseller in the South African market.
In October 2020, InMusic announced the acquisition of ArKaos - a company founded in 1996 - and has continued to focus on engineering advancements, design and technology. With an emphasis on customer expectations, DWR Distribution’s appointment includes sales, service and support. After 20 years, the ArKaos development team consists of the same people.
“When ArKaos changed management, it opened the doors for communication, and we are very excited to reinstate DWR as the official distributor in South Africa, said Nils de Laeter, brand manager at ArKaos. “DWR is a strong and well-respected distributor, is familiar with our products, and w

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UK/USA - This month, Theatre Projects celebrates 65 years in business. All month long, Theatre Projects will be sharing memories on social channels and inviting followers to contribute their own stories and photos via an online memory book.
Now an international mainstay in performance design, Theatre Projects came from much humbler origins. The firm began as a lighting rental company in late-‘50s London. Richard Pilbrow and Bryan Kendall started the company by buying up a small bundle of lighting stock for £150, a loan from Richard’s father. Over time, seating and space design, stage and rigging design, AV system design, strategic planning, and other services became part of the Theatre Projects scope, and today the six global offices are all composed of multiple, dynamic teams that love to engage with almost any venue-related issue.
“In the last 65 years, we hav

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USA/Europe - Avnu Alliance has announced expansion of its time sensitive networking (TSN) Test Tool programme by opening the test tool ecosystem to new vendors. As part of this expansion, third party vendor test tools can be verified and validated through Avnu’s rigorous process, which is designed and maintained by experienced certification management professionals and TSN subject matter experts to ensure that it meets the interoperability standards of Avnu’s Global Certification Programme.
During the eighth annual TSN/A Conference, which takes place September 28-29, 2022, in Stuttgart, Germany, Avnu will host demonstrations in its booth of wired and wireless TSN tests for 802.1AS and 802.1Qbv based on test plans from the Avnu Express Testing Suite. These tests will be run on both the Avnu Express Test Tool and Keysight’s new TSN Test Tool, which has now met the requi

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UK - Data Strategy welcomed the many conversations from new and returning customers at this year’s PLASA Show where the company demonstrated the QC-Check workstation, as well as some of the QC-Check’s most popular add-on modules, including VeriCal, Power-Check LOLER inspection and SimplyPATS integration software.
Data Strategy MD, Iain Roche, commented, “What really stood out this year was the number of enquiries about cable and RCD testing with the assumption that the provision of electrical (PAT) testing was a given. The knowledge that a simple solution exists to the time-consuming and impractical task of RCD inspections and cable testing has really captured the imagination of temporary power suppliers, in addition to production rental houses. The stand was consistently busy, QC-Check received a great deal of interest as ever and we had many high-quality conversation

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UK - On Saturday 3 September, a team of entertainment technology industry professionals cycled from SFL in Reading to the Royal Albert Hall in time for PLASA Show in London. The annual BikeFest event raises money for industry charities, while nurturing cross-industry camaraderie in a fun and challenging way.
PLASA’s managing director Peter Heath, comments, “BikeFest is all about the people in our industry, many of which have suffered terribly over the last couple of years – but who are still absolutely committed to the entertainment technology industry. Through BikeFest, we not only raise funds for an increasingly important cause, we build bridges across the industry, which in turn strengthen the entire live sector.”
A team of approximately 20 cyclists braved the journey this time, representing some of the biggest names in the entertainment technology industry.

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USA - Northeast of Gainesville, Georgia, lies Hall County School District, home to 37 public schools providing education for nearly 28,000 students. As education facilities of all sizes have faced a tough few years, technical renovations, specifically audio upgrades, are important to enable students to have positive learning outcomes. To aid this smooth transition into a new era of education, the entirety of Hall County School District is currently undergoing a multi-year, multi-location technical renovation, including installing Renkus-Heinz sound solutions across each campus.
Working with Nisewonger AV, a Lawrenceville-based education-focused AV integration firm, Hall County School District’s solutions architect, Josh Morton, set out to ensure students and teachers alike have high-quality audio on campus.
As part of the renovation, Chicopee Woods Elementary Schoo
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