What does it take to transform one of the world’s most famous sports venues into a technology-driven destination? Gary Kayye and I welcome Crestron’s Brad Hintze to discuss the massive Espai Barça project, the future of smart venues and the role AV technology plays in creating connected fan experiences. Plus, industry news, a Best of […]

As part of our pre-InfoComm 2026 coverage, I spoke with Nick Harauz about the new Pro Video Summit at the show and the growing overlap between AV, broadcast, content creation and AI-driven production workflows. During our conversation, Nick discussed how production expectations are changing across corporate and enterprise environments, why smaller teams are being asked […]

Gary and I dive into the latest AV news this week, including CEDIA CEO Daryl Friedman’s retirement plans, Panasonic’s acquisition of Hive Media Control and a new glasses-free 3D display from Magnetic 3D. The episode also features a pre-recorded interview with Neat CEO Javed Khan, who discusses useful AI in the meeting room, edge-based intelligence […]

CEDIA announced that Global President and CEO Daryl Friedman plans to retire in 2027 following six years leading the association for smart home professionals. Friedman joined CEDIA in 2021 and oversaw several initiatives aimed at workforce development, advocacy and industry growth. Under his leadership, the association launched CEDIA NextGen and the CEDIA Foundation to support […]

In our latest pre-InfoComm 2026 episode of Rants & rAVes, I spoke with Shawn O’Connell, executive vice president of sales – Americas at Uniguest, about how the company is approaching digital engagement across hospitality, healthcare, education, retail and corporate environments. During our conversation, Shawn explained why more organizations are looking for unified platforms to manage […]

In this pre-InfoComm 2026 episode of Rants & rAVes, I spoke with Sean Driscoll from GPO Display. During our conversation, Sean explained how power-over-Ethernet displays can simplify installations, expand placement flexibility and help reduce failure points by eliminating the need for traditional power infrastructure in certain environments. We also discussed the growing role displays are […]

In this latest episode of Rants & rAVes, I spoke with UCLA’s Chi Hang Lo about his upcoming InfoComm 2026 session, “From Cloud to Classroom: UCLA’s Smart AV Platform Transformation.” During our conversation, Chi explained how UCLA moved away from siloed AV systems and toward a centralized, cloud-first AV/IT strategy designed to make spaces more […]

Ahead of InfoComm 2026, I spoke with Tim Allen from SNA Displays about how large-format LED displays are changing the way organizations think about physical spaces. We discussed the growing role of dvLED in corporate, retail and hospitality environments, why displays are increasingly being treated as part of the architecture itself and how conversations around […]

On this end-user-focused episode of rAVe [TV], Tim Albright and I discuss several of the industry’s biggest recent developments — from AVIXA’s acquisition of Lightapalooza to Apollo’s acquisition of Questex and what both moves could mean for the future of the industry. We also explore why some experts believe the future of technology may actually […]

Ahead of InfoComm 2026, I spoke with AVIXA’s Joseph Valerio about workforce development, career pipelines and the work the AVIXA Foundation is doing to bring more people into the AV industry. We discussed the growing need for skilled talent across ProAV, why local schools and workforce organizations are becoming increasingly important to the industry and […]

Almo Pro AV and Hall Research announced an expanded distribution partnership that brings Hall Research’s full portfolio of AV-focused brands to Almo Pro AV customers across North America. Under the agreement, Almo Pro AV customers now have access to Hall Technologies, Atlona, Captivate, Javelin and Gain Audio products through a single distribution channel. The companies […]

Audio Advice announced that Audio Advice Live will return to the Sheraton Raleigh Hotel Aug. 7–9, marking the fifth year of the consumer-focused home audio and home theater event. The annual showcase brings together home entertainment brands, industry experts and consumers for hands-on demonstrations of high-end audio and video technologies. Organizers said this year’s event […]

Most people know Daktronics from sports venues and giant outdoor displays — but in this episode of Rants & rAVes, I talked with Jim Vasgaard about why the company is making a bigger push into the ProAV market. We talked about the evolution of indoor dvLED, where microLED technology is headed and why more organizations […]

Everybody wants better cameras in their meeting rooms — but what happens when the video looks great and nobody can actually understand the conversation? In this episode of Rants & rAVes, I sat down with HP Poly‘s Jim Smith to talk about why audio is still one of the biggest pain points in collaboration spaces […]

In this pre-InfoComm episode of Rants & rAVes, I speak with Megan Martin from M Squared Dynamics about contingency planning for live and hybrid events — especially from the AV side. We cover why AV teams are usually the first people everyone looks at when something breaks five minutes before showtime, how hybrid events changed […]

Apollo-managed funds announced plans to acquire Emerald Holding and combine it with Questex, the company behind Digital Signage Experience (DSE), in a move that would create a larger North American B2B events and media platform spanning trade shows, conferences and digital media properties. The combined company would operate approximately 160 events across a range of […]

I caught up with Clear-Com’s Dave MacKinnon after NAB Show 2026 to talk about what the company heard from customers and partners on the show floor and what those conversations revealed about the future of broadcast workflows. We talked about the growing pressure on content creators to do more with less, the industry’s cautious approach […]

It’s been a minute since NAB Show 2026 wrapped, but I feel compelled to include my thoughts here anyway. (Sometimes it takes me a minute to get myself together, OK!?) I mentioned some of these thoughts on LinkedIn, but I needed more space to fully write about what I saw and what I thought of […]

Post-NAB Show 2026, I sat down with Telos Alliance’s Costa Nikols to talk about the technologies and workflow trends beginning to reshape both broadcast and ProAV. We discussed how AI-powered tools are helping simplify complex audio environments, why IP-based infrastructure continues to gain momentum and what integrators should realistically be preparing for as cloud, virtualization […]

This survey is now closed. Keep an eye out for next month’s Temperature Check survey! We’re halfway through 2026, and it’s a good time to check in on how the year is actually shaping up. Which trends are gaining traction, which ones are falling flat, and what’s really driving AV projects right now? This month’s […]

Custom Channels and Thanx announced a partnership designed to connect in-store audio campaigns with restaurant loyalty and guest engagement platforms, giving operators a way to measure how audio messaging influences customer behavior and repeat visits. The integration combines Custom Channels’ commercial music and audio messaging platform with Thanx’s loyalty and guest engagement technology. Restaurant operators […]

THIS IS A PROMOTED POST You remember InFocus. Founded in 1986 by two former Tektronix employees, the company made a name for itself through its DLP and LCD projectors and video calling tech. You may also remember that in 2011, InFocus expanded into the smartphone, tablet and LED TV market, with its primary product, Mondopad. […]

Gary and I catch up as pre-InfoComm news ramps up across the AV industry. This episode covers the latest from AVer, Airtame, Q-SYS, Barco and more, along with new dvLED data from PMA  Research and a look at where collaboration, signage and experience-driven AV are heading next. We also preview upcoming LAVNCH events and remind […]

I caught up with Eric Lookenott to talk about how InFocus is evolving its approach to the ProAV market — and where it’s putting real focus right now. We got into the shift toward dvLED, projection and collaboration, what partners are actually asking for and how the company is thinking about engagement. We also talked […]

I join from Arizona this week! Gary and I catch up before taking a closer look at higher ed AV. With Crestron’s Matthew Malone, we discuss budgets, staffing and whether flexible learning spaces are delivering on their promise — or creating more challenges than they solve. The episode also includes an interview with ViewSonic’s Haley […]

MYRTLE BEACH, SC (Apr. 23, 2026) – Fans of the Myrtle Beach Pelicans were treated to a dramatically enhanced game-day experience when the team returned to Pelicans Ballpark for Opening Day on April 14. More than 4,100 square feet of state-of-the-art LED video displays were installed throughout the venue, giving Pelicans Ballpark one of the […]

Recognition for incredible advances in broadcast and enterprise control Bitfocus, the specialist in media control and monitoring, is celebrating the news that Buttons Enterprise, the latest release of its popular software, has been recognized as an industry leader. NAB named it product of the year in the asset management and playout category at its 2026 […]

After NAB, Gary Kayye and I break down what stood out — from broadcast and AV convergence to the tech trends showing up across both industries. Plus, the latest AV news and a preview of upcoming LAVNCH sessions, including a deeper look at modern meeting room systems and the shift toward system-level design. View the […]

I sat down with Christina De Bono of SAVe to talk about the growing impact of e-waste and what the AV industry can actually do about it. We covered SAVe’s “Save a Second Life” initiative, which helps extend the life of AV equipment through reuse and redistribution, reducing landfill waste while supporting communities that can […]

Ahead of InfoComm, I sat down with Kurt DeYoung of Nanolumens to talk about the continued shift from LCD to LED and how the company’s NanoPanel 55 is designed to serve as a more direct replacement for traditional displays. We also discussed Nanolumens’ 20th anniversary, updates to the Aurora platform, including Active Directory compatibility and […]

On this end-user-focused episode of rAVe [TV], Tim Albright and I cover the latest in AV-over-IP adoption, display tech and meeting room trends — plus Gary’s latest all about the moon. Also in this episode: a look at the latest Temperature Check survey on AV/broadcast convergence and a preview of an upcoming LAVNCH & LEARN […]

This survey is now closed. Keep an eye out for the results and for next month’s survey! As organizations expand their focus on content creation, streaming and hybrid experiences, broadcast-style workflows are beginning to appear in more traditional AV environments. While this shift isn’t happening everywhere, many AV teams, integrators and manufacturers are seeing increased […]