UK/USA - disguise has acquired broadcast data and content visualisation solutions platform, Polygon Labs. This marks a move towards cloud-based production for disguise, which the company believes will enhance its workflow to better address user needs in media production and broadcast.
Polygon Labs offers a cloud-native platform and turnkey services that have been trusted by broadcasters such as CNN, Univision, The Weather Channel and TV Globo. Its technologies dynamically control and deliver high-end Unreal Engine graphics with realtime data visualisation via cloud or on-prem solutions.
By adding Polygon Labs to its workflow, disguise will build integrations that enable xR studios to have access to a wider range of broadcast workflows which empower remote production and cloud-based collaboration. Users of both disguise and Polygon Labs will be able to benefit from eas

Namibia - Financial services specialists Capricorn Group observed continued growth and sustainability during 2021. The company made a consolidated effort to look after their employees’ well-being by providing PPE, as well as counselling services.
Additionally, the Capricorn Group recently inaugurated new furnished offices located in Windhoek, aptly named Capricorn Corner. The unveiling of the site was officiated by Mr Koos Brandt, one of the key founders of Bank Windhoek, the flagship brand of the Capricorn Group.
The building, covering 3,258sq,m of space, will house Capricorn Group’s data centre, in-house training facility, as well as the various departments of Bank Windhoek. Stage Audio Works (SAW) Namibia were called upon to deliver a comprehensive system specification and design. They also oversaw the subsequent integration, commissioning, and support, bringin

Spain - Follow-Me has announced a partnership with SeeSound for marketing and sales distribution of the Follow-Me systems in the Spanish market.
The two companies first came in contact when Isaías (Sasi) García, product manager for lighting, video and rigging at SeeSound was searching for the right auto tracking solution for a customer’s project.
Follow-Me’s Zoë Castle comments: “We are excited to be partnering with SeeSound especially recognising their extensive knowledge, capabilities and product range, which is enhanced by the addition of Follow-Me tracking solutions.”
Nacho Alberdi, SeeSound director general, adds: “With Follow-Me we are bringing a wonderful solution for our customers’ projects where manual and auto tracking is required. My team and I are looking forward to working with the Follow-Me team. A product range like Follow-Me unites,

France - Audio equipment manufacturer Digigram has launched a new website and a redesigned logo, along with a new corporate identity. Effective today, the new website will enable online visitors to enjoy a refreshed graphic design for the company’s identity, as well as improved functions for customers.
This global redesign operation, encompassing the company’s graphic identity and operational website, is the outcome of a company-wide work that has been carried out in the past years with the purpose of reaffirming Digigram’s values and message to the public. A redesigned logo that puts forward the company spirit the new company logo has been designed along the lines of the cochlea-shaped Digigram signature, featuring light lines that are flexible to morph and evoke sound waves.
“The iconic cochlea has been Digigram’s signature for over 35 years, and we love

USA - TransAudio Group has announced that it has signed on Sound Anchors. For 38 years, Sound Anchors has been designing and building professional-grade speaker stands for recording studios. More recently, they’ve added DAW stands to the product line and are currently designing new products for Dolby ATMOS applications.
“Sound Anchors is focused exclusively on providing the very best stands and mounts available anywhere,” says Brad Lunde, founder and president of TransAudio Group. “They have an excellent reputation in the industry. Bernie Mara purchased the company from its founder, Bob Worzalla, three years ago. He has been making improvements in the production process, maintaining Bob’s build quality while making the overall operation more responsive to customer’s needs and increasing profitability for Sound Anchor dealers.”
“We’re thrilled to brin

USA - tvONE is launching a series of educational AV and live events-focused sessions called CONECT. The initiative will initially take place online, with the first livestreamed CONECT Technology Summit taking place next month.
The free-to-attend event will include virtual demos, training, and panel discussion with industry leaders, also covering products and solutions from Green Hippo, and tvONE and Magenta Research.
Parent company Spitfire Creative Technologies has said that during the CONECT Technology Summit, participants will discover how tvONE, Magenta and Green Hippo can help reimagine the AV landscape.
“We’re inviting the industry to discover, learn, and interact with our latest products, solutions and strategies that enable complete end-to-end solutions, as well as understanding successful integration with other manufacturers,” says Mark Trevena, c

Germany - Sennheiser has completed the transfer of its consumer electronics business to Sonova Holding AG and is set to focus solely on its professional audio solutions.
The deal, which was first announced in May 2021, will see Sonova, a hearing aid specialist, operate its consumer hearing business under the Sennheiser brand umbrella under a long-term licence, taking over the German manufacturer’s consumer division fully.
Daniel Sennheiser, co-CEO of Sennheiser, comments: “In the future, we will focus our resources and financial strength on our Pro Audio, Business Communication, and Neumann business units. Here, we plan to grow at an above-average rate, further expand our position in the global market, and successively extend our business areas.
“We have transformed the company and - despite the pandemic - can look back on a very successful financial year

USA - AV integration professionals can discover the installation and operational benefits of the Calibre LEDFusion Pro series all-in-one LED video wall solutions by attending the upcoming LAVNCH Week 5 online virtual event.
“Exhibiting at LAVNCH Week 5 will accelerate Calibre’s growth and presence, especially in North America. It gives us a unique platform to connect AV professionals with our LEDFusion Pro Series that delivers fine detail, accurate rendering of images, increased efficiencies as well as reduced installation complexities,” said Steve Su, senior director at Calibre.
The Calibre session titled A New Visual Adventure Begins with Calibre LEDFusion Pro Series will be presented by industry veteran Raymond Budd, senior sales manager at Calibre UK. The session starts at 11:20am EST on Day 3 (Thursday, 3 March 2022).
The LEDFusion Pro Series

UK - Peterborough-based technical production company Pearce Hire has received the accolade of Best Power Supplier at the recent Event Production Awards 2022.
The company specialises in temporary power and lighting systems for outdoor events on greenfield sites across the UK, including Royal Parks, stately home gardens and areas of outstanding natural beauty.
During the last two years, founder and managing director Shaun Pearce has campaigned for government support of the sector at local and national level, whilst working tirelessly to safeguard and future-proof the business he has built.
“It really has been one of the most difficult periods of Pearce Hire’s history but this really signifies the light at the end of the tunnel,” says Pearce. “Like the rest of the industry my company has battled to get through the past two years and we couldn’t have done

South Korea - LG Electronics (LG) has entered into a global partnership with the US-based Blackdove to deliver digital art experiences on LG’s advanced digital signage displays. Integrating software and curated art from Blackdove’s digital art gallery and NFT platform, LG’s customisable display solution will provide a convenient way to showcase digital art.
LG LED signage offers flexibility with simple-to-install, modular, scalable designs and premium picture quality with resolutions from full HD to 8K.
Available in markets worldwide starting this quarter, Blackdove curation software can be bundled with LG LED signage products including LG MAGNIT, LG LED Bloc, LED All-in-One and fine-pitch LED signage to deliver the gallery’s vast library of digital art assets. Hand-picked by Blackdove’s curatorial team, the selection of artworks by contemporary artists such

South Africa - Powersoft has expanded its global network with the addition of Proaudio as distributor for South Africa.
Trading under the name Proaudio and Audio Pack since 2001, the South African distributor has established a thriving business within the music industry, working alongside brands such as Pioneer DJ, RCF, Midas Mixers, and Audio-Technica.
Owner and managing director Joss Pack realised the demand for high-quality, branded DJ products in South Africa so drew upon years worth of knowledge and contacts accumulated from working in the pro-audio industry, to form the distribution company.
“We know Powersoft has market-leading products in the professional and commercial areas of our industry,” says Pack. “We are very proud to be an appointed distributor - Powersoft products fit perfectly into our professional line-up.”
More recently, Proaud

Solidarity - All remaining performances of the Russian State Ballet of Siberia in the UK have been cancelled following the ongoing invasion of Ukraine. Over the weekend, venues began to cancel planned performances by the company, with the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, the Royal and Derngate in Northampton and the New Theatre Peterborough, run by Selladoor, all pulling planned appearances by the company. Ambassador Theatre Group also cancelled performances planned at the Edinburgh Playhouse and the Bristol Hippodrome.
Now, Raymond Gubbay, which was producing the tour, has cancelled all remaining dates. “In view of the current shocking circumstances unfolding in Ukraine, the remaining performances by the Russian State Ballet of Siberia of their 2021/2022 tour will not be taking place,” it said.
English National Opera performed the Ukrainian national anthem before its

Australia - Her Majesty’s Theatre in Adelaide has delivered another performance, winning a major award at the Australian Institute of Building (AIB) Professional Excellence in Building Awards at the weekend.
The redeveloped theatre took out the Commercial Construction ($60m+) Award nationally, awarded to Hansen Yuncken in recognition of individual building professionals who have demonstrated leadership and assisted the on-time and on-budget delivery of exceptional construction projects.
Originally opened in 1913, Adelaide’s oldest continually operating theatre was transformed into a larger and more accessible venue with modern facilities - its $66m redevelopment was unveiled in June 2020.
The redevelopment was built by national construction company Hansen Yuncken and designed by Adelaide-based COX Architecture, and managed by the South Australian Department o

UK - Chauvet Professional will kick off its UK Roadshow 2022 in Edinburgh on 7 March (Monday). From there, the event will criss-cross the UK, making nine stops and covering 694 miles to showcase many of the latest products from Chauvet Professional and ChamSys. With the exception of one stop - at the ChamSys headquarters in Southampton - all sessions will take place at live entertainment or broadcast studio venues.
“We elected to stick to the kinds of places that our customers actually work in day to day,” comments Sam Bowden, UK sales manager for Chauvet Professional. “Here we can get a full appreciation of things like the colour mixing, brightness, smooth movement, zooming capabilities and other outstanding merits of our fixtures.”
Among the products that will be highlighted during the UK RoadShow 2022 will be the compact, tour-grade series of Maveri

USA - Mental Health First Aid Training Classes for March and April 2022 are now posted on the Behind the Scenes website at btshelp.org/mhfa.
Those who sign up will learn about the risk factors and warning signs of mental health and substance use problems, the five-step ALGEE action plan to help someone who is developing a problem or is in crisis, and the available professional, peer and self-help resources.
The course is delivered in two parts. The first is a two-hour self-paced online course that must be completed prior to a six-hour virtual live instructor-led session. Clas

USA - The Behind the Scenes Mental Health Initiative is partnering with Hollaback!, a social justice organisation that specialises in education around bullying and harassment, to present a one hour webinar Bystander Intervention in the Entertainment Workplace.
The free webinar will be offered three times to accommodate industry work schedules: Sunday, 20 March at 12pm ET;  Monday, 28 March at 8pm ET; and Sunday, 10 April at 3pm ET. Principal Hollaback! trainer, Dax Valdes, an experienced entertainment industry professional, will lead these interactive sessions that ensure attendee anonymity.
The webinars are free but advance registration is required in order to receive the zoom login. Please visit btshelp.org/bystander to select a registration link for the date of your choice.
BTS’ 2019 survey strongly indicated that bullying, harassment and intimidat

Poland - Setlight, a technical production and rental company based in the north of Poland, continues its commitment to Robe moving lights with a recent investment in Esprite LED moving lights, added to the company’s existing rental stock.
The new Esprites were purchased at the end of 2021 and boost the company’s inventory of Robe fixtures. They were sourced specifically to help facilitate Setlight’s increasing television work. “Esprites were constantly being requested by TV lighting designers and directors, so having them available has immediately made us more competitive and cost-effective in that sector,” stated owner and general manager Przemek Wrembel.
The new luminaires are primarily used for front light in studio scenarios, and Przemek thinks the quality of light and range of colour temperatures is “impressive,” and that Esprites are a compact and

South Africa - Prosound is sponsoring the upcoming Passion for Theatre from a Technical Perspective workshop, hosted by technical theatre specialists Splitbeam. The educational event takes place on Monday, 28 February at the MPW Auditorium in Newtown, Johannesburg.
The full-day workshop has been designed to help people rekindle their passion for theatre and explain some of the opportunities that are available within the sector. The event is aimed at all aspiring theatre crew and anyone interested in working in the technical side of theatrical and stage productions. As such, it will provide the opportunity to gain a better understanding of backstage work and technical theatre thanks to a variety of sessions led by industry specialists.
“We are proud to work with Splitbeam and sponsor their Passion for Theatre from a Technical Perspective workshop,” says Pro

USA - ESTA is planning its Annual General Meeting on 4 March at the Hyatt Regency Inner Harbor in Baltimore. The AGM will be in-person and take place from 9:30am-11am local time. The event will see ESTA honouring the recipients of two of its highest awards.
R. Duncan MacKenzie of Proskenion Design will receive the Lifetime Technical Achievement Award, which recognises individuals who have been a sustaining influence for more than 25 years and whose technical contributions have had a significant impact on the world of entertainment technology. The ESTA Board of Directors and Technical Standards Council have selected MacKenzie for his 50 years of designing control systems for rigging and stage machinery, including projects at the MGM Grand, Radio City Music Hall, the Kennedy Centre, and the Chicago Lyric Opera. Solana Bolton of InterAmerica Stage will present the award.

Reconnected - The organisers of the T in the Park and TRNSMT festivals have announced their newest event will be held in Edinburgh. The Connect Music Festival will take place at the Royal Highland Centre near Edinburgh Airport from 26 to 28 August. Promoters DF Concerts said the line-up for the weekend-long event will be announced this Wednesday. There have been two Connect festivals before, in 2007 and 2008, both at Inveraray Castle in Argyll.
Announcing the festival's revival, Geoff Ellis, chief executive of DF Concerts and Events, said: “During initial planning discussions around the relaunch of Connect, we realised that we had to make some changes and to remaster the original festival proposition for today's audiences. One of the biggest considerations we had was around public transport and ensuring the event was accessible to festival goers from across the country. Th

Europe - With less than 18 months to go until the next in-person gathering, Showlight is putting out a call for papers. Now is your chance to share your lighting or terrific technology by presenting a paper at this quadrennial networking event, say the organisers.
The heart of Showlight has always been its varied mix of papers showcasing different disciplines and specialities of lighting. These are delivered by international lighting designers, lighting directors, directors of photography and architectural lighting designers, or associated crafts like programmers and manufacturers. Past subjects have covered designs and achievements in the fields of lighting for ballet, rock ‘n’ roll, opera, theatre, the largest tv spectacular and the smallest student projects, as well as lighting for landscapes, new and fascinating architecture, puppet theatre, animated films, and innov

Spain - Integrated Systems Europe has announced Shure as the conference audio partner for ISE 2022. Taking place at the Fira de Barcelona Gran Via, ISE 2022 will host four days of conference content across a broad range of vertical markets including live events, education and digital signage.
Shure will support event with a full range of audio equipment, including its Axient Digital Wireless System.
“We are honoured to be the conference audio partner for ISE this year,” comments Chris Schyvinck, president and CEO at Shure. “And after such a challenging period for the entire industry, we are looking forward to bringing the AV community back together with a fantastic line-up of live conferences.”
“ISE and Shure have upheld a long-standing relationship, spanning decades,” adds Mike Blackman, managing director, Integrated Systems Events. “With nearly 1

Sweden - Woodlite Sweden AB, a lighting and stage equipment rental company with offices in Karlstad and Stockholm, has been among the first firms to invest in the Claypaky Xtylos. Last year, they took delivery of 200 Claypaky Xtylos fixtures, the Claypaky moving head light with a laser light source.
“For the last several years we have enjoyed a good relationship with Claypaky and their Swedish distributor, Interlite,” says Woodlite CEO, Magnus Jansson. “Niclas Arvidsson, who runs Interlite, is very proactive in introducing us to new fixtures, especially those that have great potential. We considered buying some Xtylos fixtures, but then we were approached by Ampco Flashlight, a significant client of ours in The Netherlands with a request for 200 Xtylos for a major upcoming event in 2020. Everything was paused due to COVID-19 until the beginning of 2021, but at that t

USA - AMPD Lighting and Audio Visual in Spokane, Washington has purchased 24 Ayrton Diablo-S profile luminaires and a grandMA3 light console to add to the company’s rental inventory. AMPD Lighting and Audio Visual offers high-end production, rental, sales and installation services to a wide range of markets in the Pacific Northwest.
The company’s investment in the Diablo fixtures and grandMA3 light has been paying dividends since the products arrived. ACT Entertainment exclusively distributes both brands in the US.
“We saw the Diablos at a trade show and had our eyes on them for a while,” says Justin Haas, owner of AMPD Lighting and Audio Visual. “They checked a lot of boxes for us: a compact and lightweight form factor that can fit in cars; an easy-to-navigate menu; great output; a full feature set, including framing shutters. Plus, they have a low cost of o

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