Following a period of significant growth and strategic restructuring, immersive technology specialist Pufferfish has introduced a new integrated business structure spanning creative, technical and live event delivery. Ahead of InfoComm 2026, AV News spoke with CEO Stephen Patterson about the evolution of the business, the future of immersive experiences and the launch of the next-generation PufferSphere. AVN: Pufferfish has evolved significantly over the past year. What’s changed within the business? SP: A lot has changed, although in many ways this is a formalisation of how we’ve already been operating behind the scenes. Over the last few years, we’ve seen immersive…
Author: AV News
Retail media networks (RMNs) have rapidly become one of the most influential forces in modern commerce, reshaping how brands reach consumers and how retailers monetise their digital ecosystems. Whilst the impact of RMNs in online retail is well documented, the next wave of growth is happening where it matters most: inside the store, at the exact moment shoppers make purchasing decisions. In this article, Pierre Gillet, vice president of International Sales at BrightSign discusses that through strategic placement and at the edge AI-enabled solutions, digital signage players will close the loop between intent, engagement and measurement, enabling RMNs to be…
In the New Republic, the workers are underground and the revolution is coming. The Rise, the new large-scale production from choreographer, composer and director Romain Rachline Borgeaud and his RB Dance Company, plunges 34 dancer-vocalists into that world – a post-apocalyptic musical staged in English, with a kinetic multi-level set of trapdoors and moving platforms and a score that ranges from industrial percussion to symphonic orchestration to blues-rock. The production is designed specifically for Zénith-format venues seating 4,000 to 6,000 and premiered at the Dôme de Paris in April 2026, selling ten dates. It returns for a full Paris season…
In the New Republic, the workers are underground and the revolution is coming. The Rise, the new large-scale production from choreographer, composer and director Romain Rachline Borgeaud and his RB Dance Company, plunges 34 dancer-vocalists into that world – a post-apocalyptic musical staged in English, with a kinetic multi-level set of trapdoors and moving platforms and a score that ranges from industrial percussion to symphonic orchestration to blues-rock. The production is designed specifically for Zénith-format venues seating 4,000 to 6,000 and premiered at the Dôme de Paris in April 2026, selling ten dates. It returns for a full Paris season…
As the official audio supplier to the host broadcaster ORF for the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) 2026, Sennheiser deployed its biggest Spectera set-up to date at Vienna’s Stadthalle, including manufacturing samples of the yet to be launched Spectera handheld transmitter. A total of four active Base Stations handled about 150 live streams for wireless mics, in-ear monitoring and control data in what is widely judged to have been the best live sound for the ESC ever, created by technical production company Agorà. Sennheiser’s technical application engineering (TAE) team, headed by Jonas Næsby and Volker Schmitt, were on site to provide…
Located beneath the world’s most visited museum, Les Salles du Carrousel is one of Paris’ most distinctive event venues. Operated by Viparis, the leading holder of congress and exhibition venues in Paris, the site combines historic architecture with contemporary event facilities, offering 6,635 square metres of modular interior space capable of hosting conferences, product launches, exhibitions and gala evenings. The three primary spaces, the LeNôtre Suite, the Soufflot Suite and the Foyer, recently underwent a comprehensive technical FOH revitalisation delivered by Magnum, a Groupe Novelty company, the official technical operator of the venue. The FOH of the last two venue…
Leyard Europe has announced the launch of the Planar Mantis Series, a new line of indoor LED video walls purpose-built for rental and staging environments where speed, reliability and ease of use are critical. Designed for tool-less, one-handed setup and teardown, the Mantis Series enables crews of all experience levels to quickly deploy and redeploy LED video walls. The product is available to order in Europe from June via Leyard Europe and will be debuted at InfoComm 2026 on the Planar Booth #C7258. As a purpose-built rental and staging LED video wall solution, the Mantis Series introduces the most focused LED product for rental and…
In the northern suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia, the Episcopal Cathedral of St. Philip stands as a symbol of community and faith on Peachtree Road, otherwise known as “Jesus Junction”. The cathedral first opened in 1962 and has since become one of the largest Episcopal congregations in the United States. Its Gothic Revival architecture stands out against the modern city backdrop and creates an inspiring acoustic setting for the choir and pipe organ. However, the same could not be said for the cathedral’s ageing audio technology. In need of an upgraded sound system to support weekly services, the cathedral turned to…
Panasonic Projector & Display Corporation (‘Panasonic’) has announced that it has acquired 100% of the issued shares of UK-based media technology company Hive Media Control Ltd. (‘HIVE’), strengthening its capabilities in media playback and control for immersive and fixed-installation environments. The acquisition marks a further step in Panasonic’s evolution from a hardware-led manufacturer into a broader visual solutions ecosystem provider, expanding its proposition beyond projection and display into software, workflow and integrated media-delivery solutions. At the same time, HIVE will continue to operate as a standalone business with a vendor-neutral market approach. Panasonic will support HIVE’s continued growth while preserving…
PPDS has confirmed a new strategic partnership with leading Italian AV distributor, Prase – a Midwich Group company. Reinforcing PPDS’ unparalleled commitment to delivering near universal access to its portfolio of multi award winning solutions, together with best-in-class support and service, the strategic partnership with Prase will bring extended choice, value, and opportunities – including around sustainability and energy savings – for businesses in Italy. Founded in 1993, and a Midwich Group Company since 2019, Noventa di Piave (Venice) based Prase has an unrivalled reputation in the Italian market, distributing an extensive range of AV and IT solutions with corporate, education, and…