Pharos - Leaderboard - May 2024

Business

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Croatia - Modern and sophisticated technology was the priority for Nova TV when it appointed Omnivor to design video walls for its new production studio. Three high-impact curved LED walls from Leyard Europe are now integral to the Croatian broadcaster’s award-winning news studio at its HQ.
The move to new premises in the heart of Zagreb presented Nova TV with the opportunity to create a state-of-the-art TV studio, equipped with the latest video wall solutions that would “deliver an extraordinary result”.
To realise its ambitious goal, the broadcaster approached trusted partners, Zagreb-based systems integrator, Omnivor, which had worked with previously on software solutions for presenting election polls and social media analysis, and Ominvor’s partner company, Kapetanović sistemi.
“It was clear from the start that LED was the ideal display technolog

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Italy - Mods Art, the 1 Sound distributor in Italy, recently worked with Andrea Bocelli’s audio team to provide audio support for a private event in Italy. David Barbagli, who is a FOH/monitor engineer, currently working with Andrea Bocelli, Placido Domingo, and José Carreras, chose 1 Sound’s new Cannon C8 loudspeaker as Bocelli’s floor monitors for this live performance.
After hearing the Cannon C8 during sound check, Andrea Bocelli said: "Wow, such a big sound is coming out from such a small cube? I love it!", as he held the speaker in his hands. 1 Sound released the Cannon C8 last year, as the final loudspeaker to complete the Cannon Series of high-fidelity, pro-audio loudspeakers with extended low-end.
For this Andrea Bocelli performance, the Cannon C8s acted as floor monitors for pianist Carlo Bernini, flutist Andrea Griminelli, and singers, Ilaria Della

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USA - This year’s Time For Music concert supporting the 37th annual Camp HASC for Jewish youth was held at the New Jersey Performing Arts Centre in Newark. Supporting the artists on stage and engaging the audience was an evocative lighting design by Ofir Ben-Haim that featured 34 Chauvet Professional COLORado PXL Curve 12 motorized battens supplied by Dynamic Vision.
Ben-Haim positioned fully pixel mappable RGBW fixtures around the main video screen. His goal was to “create a dynamic and immersive experience” for the audience by illuminating the artists and the stage from different angles and flanking them with bold displays to accentuate the mood and tone of their performance.
“I was inspired by the fixture’s pixel mapping, as well as its ability to create seamless symmetry and intense volumetric looks,” he explained. “I saw the fixture in videos promot

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China - System integrator TR Audio System Solutions has installed APG’s workhorse APG4000 Matrix Array system at two of China’s new nightspots.
Super Gaga, in Maoming, and Win Party, in Yunfu (both cities in TR Audio’s home province of Guangdong), are the latest additions to China’s fast-moving nightlife scene, where new clubs spring up seemingly by the day.
According to Huang Zhao, general manager of Guangzhou-based TR Audio, APG’s distributor in China, the majority of APG products are well suited to nightclub installations, given their powerful SPL output and enviable evenness of coverage.
For mid-sized clubs like Super Gaga and Win Party (both of which occupy an area of around 500m²), Zhao typically relies on the APG4000 - an evergreen choice for TR Audio, having been installed previously in similar nightlife venues in Guigang (Open Pie), Baise (Pin

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Denmark - For production and rental company Soundwise, choosing to carry Elation lighting products in a market with more traditional preferences is a strategic move aimed at providing special offerings.
“Denmark has traditionally been quite conservative when it comes to entertainment lighting equipment,” shares Lars Thorsager, founder and sales director at Soundwise. He says however that the trend is beginning to turn, albeit slowly. “As the market here begins to realise that there are other innovative products out there that can set them apart, it’s getting a bit easier to specify other gear.”
Lars founded Soundwise in 2001 in Denmark’s second largest city, Aarhus, and first invested in Elation lighting in 2014. “Elation offered something unique that other companies didn’t have,” he said, “something that looked different, and that’s still the ca

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South Africa - ULTRA Events recently supported the much-anticipated return of the pop-folk band Milky Chance to the stage in South Africa. The creative technical supplier provided a complete package including a full d&b audiotechnik sound system.
The performance at Green Point A-Track Stadium, Cape Town, and part of a three-leg tour of South Africa, was produced in collaboration with Break Out Events and Rogue Entertainment.
The show, part of the album tour for Living in a Haze, was supported by Neon Dreams and Sean Koch in Cape Town and was a long-awaited reunion of the band and their South African fan base. The duo shared: “It’s been way too long since we were over in South Africa. Back then it was so special for so many reasons and we felt welcomed by the people.”
Having recently expanded their d&b stock with the purchase of a set of AL

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Denmark - Lighting designer Mikael Kratt was among the first visiting creatives to use the Royal Danish Opera’s new Robe Forte moving lights in a recent production at the Copenhagen Opera House.
This was for Som I Himlen (As It Is in Heaven) a lively and heartwarming musical adaptation directed by Edward af Sillén of a 2004 Swedish movie telling the story of a famous conductor who returns to his small Swedish hometown in the North of the country to retire and is asked to help with mentoring the school choir.
It was Mikael’s first time using Fortes, 80 of which arrived at the Copenhagen Opera House in summer via Robe’s Danish distributor Light Partner. The package features 32 x Forte Profiles, 34 x Forte Fresnels, four Forte FSs (follow spots) and 10 x iFortes, all part of a technical upgrade that was installed just in time for the restart of the h

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UK - Located in Northampton, Old House bar and restaurant, a popular destination pub in the town for more than a decade, recently underwent a complete refurbishment. The venue comprises a ground-floor bar and spacious courtyard garden, where patrons can enjoy resident DJs, live performers and televised sport, whilst upstairs, its restaurant offers gastro-pub favourites in beautifully designed surroundings.
To complement his investment in the Old House’s Timothy Oulton-designed interior, owner Sunny Kooner opted to upgrade its audio system to better meet the requirements of this multi-faceted venue.
Sunny contacted experienced AV specialist Cosmic Electronics of Harlow with a brief to design and supply a competitively-priced system that could deliver premium audio throughout the venue, whilst blending in with its carefully designed aesthetic. Cosmic recommended an Op

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Canada/Europe - Long standing North America distributors (and fibre network specialists) Optocore NA have been accoladed by the German parent company, who have presented them with this year’s Best Distributor Award.
The presentation to Bill and Brandon Coons was made by Optocore founder, Marc Brunke, during the ISE2024 expo in Barcelona recently.
Optocore sales manager, RadhaMohan Rajani, said: “From their base in Canada, Bill and Brandon have been our longest serving partners, educating and serving the whole of North America. And having enjoyed a record year, they are showing that they are still introducing new customers to the Optocore family.”
Bill Coons started to represent Optocore as far back as 2007 under his Contact Distribution business model before incorporating Optocore North America the following year.
Among the high-profile projects that

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UK - Christie has announced this year’s National Film and Television School (NFTS) Most Promising Student Award, an award Christie has sponsored for 19 years. The winner of this year’s award is Creative Business MA student, Cody Updegrave, who was praised for his hard work, commitment, and leadership qualities.
Previous award winners have gone on to make stellar introductions to their careers, gracing the global stage at international film festivals and winning further awards for their work. “Cody has poured his heart and soul into the life of the school, leaving an indelible mark as student representative and through supporting the expansive spectrum of VFX productions across the NFTS,” comments Ian Haig, head of the NFTS Creative Business MA.
“Not only is Cody extraordinarily kind, he also effortlessly tackles any challenges that come his way. Cody is a g

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Norway - Outdoor mapping specialist ProjektorPøblene has invested in eight Tempest Typhoon projector enclosures to expand its outdoor events capabilities. The enclosures enable the AV and rental production company to use its fleet of Epson 20,000 lumen projectors to support a range of clients at impactful outdoor projection mapping events, as well as power its own productions.
“Being a small company specialising in outdoor projection, we need to be flexible, mobile and have a low footprint. We need to be able to get into places that other companies don’t want to do,” says Mads Faste Liang Nilsen, founder, ProjektorPøblene.
“Whenever we invest in equipment, we must be very careful to ensure it fits into our workflow. The combination of having the lightest enclosures, the ability to use them in portrait mode and the M12 mounting points meant that Tempest was t

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Italy - Raffa in the Sky is a tribute opera to Raffaella Carrà, a prominent Italian TV personality. It is the story of an artistic career that not only evolved with the changes in Italian society over the last half a century but occasionally inspired them. Through Carrà's extraordinary experience, the work also aims to reflect on the artist's role in society, the value and use of art, and the role of television and other media, not forgetting the songs she performed.
Show lighting designer Alessandro Anderoli comments: "The Fondazione del Teatro Donizetti has been working with Claypaky for over a year, and there was a mutual desire for a Bergamo-based partnership. Moreover, the Claypaky technical team have always solved our problems promptly when needed. This is an absolute linchpin for me.”
Alessandro Andreoli elaborates on the role of the Claypaky Sinfony

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USA - Sphere Entertainment and Hitachi Vantara, the data storage, infrastructure and hybrid cloud management subsidiary of Hitachi, have released new details on how the two companies leverage Hitachi Vantara’s data processing software to help power the LED screens at Sphere in Las Vegas.
Both Sphere’s 160,000sq.ft interior LED display plane and 580,000sq.ft fully programmable LED exterior - the Exosphere - utilise Hitachi Vantara’s software as a key tool to stream high-resolution immersive content.
“Sphere is home to many firsts, one of which is streaming immersive, high-resolution video content on a scale that has never been done before,” said Alex Luthwaite, SVP, show systems technology, Sphere Entertainment. “Hitachi Vantara worked with our team to develop a solution that’s fast, reliable, and efficient. Through their expertise and technology, Sphere

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USA - Clear-Com played a pivotal role in enhancing communication capabilities at the Snapdragon Stadium, which opened in 2022 and is owned by San Diego State University and managed by OVG360.
Snapdragon Stadium, located within SDSU Mission Valley, serves as a year-round sports and entertainment destination and a hub of community engagement. Home to SDSU Aztec Football, San Diego Wave FC of the National Women’s Soccer League, San Diego Legion of Major League Rugby and the newly announced MLS team, San Diego FC, the venue hosts a myriad of events, including concerts, festivals, motocross shows, international sporting events, championships, community events, private and corporate events, and more.
Notably, Snapdragon Stadium has emerged as a favoured venue for the US Women’s National Soccer Team. Since its opening, the facility has hosted multiple 'friendlies' and is

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Estonia - Chin Chin wine bar in Tallinn offers guests the pairing of a crisp glass of wine with a stunning sea view. A solo project of sommelier Karl-Märten Käesel, the bar features a discreet yet powerful Smart IP loudspeaker solution from Genelec.
Estonian audio-visual integrators Progear OÜ designed, supplied and installed the system, with the help of local Genelec distributor msonic Baltic. The solution comprises 10 Genelec 4430 Smart IP loudspeakers that met Chin Chin’s brief of a superior multifunctional and aesthetically pleasing sound system. This project marks the first time that a Genelec Smart IP solution has touched ground in Estonia, so this was a particularly special installation for Progear, msonic Baltic and the Finnish loudspeaker manufacturer.
“Genelec were selected because of their legendary status, and because they offer built-in DSP and Dan

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Ireland - Keith Alexander, a Dublin-based freelance sound recordist, began his career in the music industry managing bands and fostering a lifelong passion for sound and music. His love for studio recording led him to work in Windmill Lane Studio in Dublin. Keith consistently used Rycote's products for his recording sessions, both in the studio and on location. Recently, he faced the wind for a challenging project off the coast of Ireland.
"My early experience in music and managing bands ignited my passion for sound and music," says Alexander. "This enthusiasm led me to discover studio recording, opening up a whole new world."
After transitioning from the music studio to location sound, Alexander then moved into post-production for cinema and TV, and then to animation. His diverse experience in the sound industry has given him a unique perspective and rich expertise i

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Austria - Nestled in the picturesque Alpe-Adria bioregion, encompassing Slovenia, the Austrian states of Kärnten and Steiermark, and two regions in Italy, Stadttheater Klagenfurt (Klagenfurt City Theatre) stands as Carinthia's largest cultural institution. Constructed between 1908 and 1910 by the renowned Viennese architectural firm Fellner & Helmer, this municipal theatre with a seating capacity of 716 hosts over 200 performances each season and is home to the Carinthian Symphony Orchestra.
Offering a diverse performance programme, including theatre productions, grand opera, operetta, and a wide musical repertoire, Stadttheater Klagenfurt recently elevated its sound experience thanks to the integration of KLANG:technologies immersive in-ear monitoring alongside its DiGiCo Quantum 7T mixing console.
Manuel Bundschuh, the theatre’s Head of Audio, highlights that

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On The Campaign Trail - The estate of Sinéad O'Connor has asked Donald Trump to stop using her music at his political rallies. Last month, Trump played O'Connor's best-known song Nothing Compares 2 U at a campaign event in Maryland. The singer's estate told BBC News it was "no exaggeration to say that Sinéad would have been disgusted, hurt, and insulted" by his use of her music.
A joint statement from O'Connor's estate and her longtime label Chrysalis Records said: "Throughout her life, it is well known that Sinéad O'Connor lived by a fierce moral code defined by honesty, kindness, fairness, and decency towards her fellow human beings. It was with outrage therefore that we learned that Donald Trump has been using her iconic performance of Nothing Compares 2 U at his political rallies.
"It is no exaggeration to say that Sinéad would have been di

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Europe - In addition to supplying microphones for the broadcast of MotoGP race seasons since 2019, Audio-Technica also supports the post-race press conferences with its 3000 Series wireless systems. This key part of the race experience brings riders into viewers’ homes for race analysis from the unique viewpoint of the track itself.
Audio-Technica has recently published a short video featuring Rodrigo Thomaz – the company’s dedicated MotoGP project manager – giving a behind-the-scenes view of the 3000 Series in action. In the video, Tomaz highlights six specific features – including the quick select backup frequency button and interchangeable capsule options – that make the system ideal for use in high-pressure touring environments like the race press conferences.
To view the video and learn more about the Audio-Technica 3000 Series wireless system visit: <

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UK - STS Productions and close collaborators Lightworx recently joined forces to invest in 24 Infinity Raccoon P14/4 professional RGBM PARs.
As a company that specialises in light, sound and image, STS Productions offers a variety of services, including rental equipment, while Lightworx are involved in (theatre) technical production, audiovisual services and light design. As close collaborators, investing in a number of lights that both could use made a lot of sense.
With 14 powerful 4-colour LEDs on board and a light engine that ensures accurate and consistent colours, the Raccoon P14/4 is a versatile light fixture with a lot to offer. Its ability to switch from a high-brightness mode to a high-quality mode offers even more flexibility and its adjustable PWM ensures flicker-free free operation in front of cameras too. What’s more, its IP65 rating means the Raccoon

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Kazakhstan - Sixty82 has announced a strategic partnership with AMEG Group, marking them as the exclusive distributor for Kazakhstan.
"We are delighted to partner with AMEG Group, spearheaded by the seasoned Evgeniy," expressed Fokko Smeding, CEO of SIXTY82. "Their profound market understanding and commitment to quality make them the ideal representative for our brand in Kazakhstan. We look forward to a fruitful collaboration and the mutual growth that lies ahead."
Evgeniy Davydov, sales director at AMEG Group, shared, "Being chosen as the exclusive distributor for SIXTY82 is a great honour and responsibility. Their innovation and quality are unmatched, and we are eager to integrate their solutions into our market. This partnership is a significant milestone for us and the local entertainment industry."
In a move to solidify this new alliance, Sixty82 has appoin

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India - German fibre network specialists, Optocore and BroaMan, have announced the appointment of Comcon Technologies as their new distributor throughout the Indian subcontinent, with immediate effect.
The origins of Comcon date back 40 years, with the company today specialising in the design, supply, commissioning and support of solutions for audio and video applications across a vast range of markets.
Based in New Delhi, the operation also distributes test and measurement products and leading connectivity brands including Neutrik and Belden. “Their specialised fiber optic product range will complement the Optocore and BroaMan products extremely well, and at the same time our existing OEMs will benefit from the unique product offering that these brands bring,” states Comcon director, Gaurav Aggarwal.
Comcon places heavy focus on the Broadcast and pro AV seg

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USA - From the 17,000 spectators at the sold-out festival to a record-breaking 33.5m remote viewers, TikTok’s In the Mix festival showcased the performance, dependability, and application flexibility of Cohesion.
Presented at Sloan Park in the Phoenix suburbs, In the Mix featured an impressive line-up. The team from ATK Audiotek, a Clair Global brand, deployed a Cohesion system to optimise every performance, even as the elaborate design of the production presented intriguing challenges.
Enabling the audience to focus on the 360° stage at the centre of the stadium required no flown visual obstructions. The audio design also needed to manage clearance for video towers and a freewheeling Spidercam meant to capture dynamic live footage for the TikTok livestream. In short, BAFTA Award-winning director Hamish Hamilton and event producers Done+Dusted in collaboration with

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USA - Lighting designer Marc Janowitz from E26 Design loves creative challenges and collaborations, so the current Chronicles of a Diamond world tour by Black Pumas energised his imagination and united the talents of the FOH lighting team as programmer Meagan Metcalf and lighting director Alyssa Milione worked closely with him to create a great look for the band.
The lighting kit had to fit into one truck, a galvanising resource boundary that provokes invention and thinking out of the box, so Marc crafted an aesthetic for the band utilising the smart integration of lighting and a multi-dimensional scenic backdrop to produce truly stunning results with Robe moving lights right at the heart of the visual magic.
Marc opted for a combination of Esprites, Spiider wash beams, MegaPointes, Spikie+s and Tetra2s.
Wanting to formulate a fresh look, Marc’s ideas involved
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