Looking back at 2020, this has been a year of many ups and downs, with companies undergoing radical transformations from facilitating physical events to adopting pioneering technologies used for remote productions, virtual set ups and generally tapping into the world of virtual production. For Spectre Studios, however, virtual production (VP) is not a new field. The company was already using real-time engines and virtual production technologies for their work on Hollywood blockbusters and, last year, set up ICVFX full-service LED VP studio in conjunction with Big Picture, part of the NEP Worldwide Network, using top-quality equipment at the facility which includes Brompton Tessera LED processing power to drive ROE LED panels.

Video Progetti today announces completion of a full ecosystem installation for leading Italian broadcaster Retecapri, including MAM, newsroom, playout and headend. With twenty years of experience in the field of systems design, architecture and implementation – covering the full spectrum of broadcast and media project management -  Video Progetti were ideally placed to work with Retecapri in establishing their broadcast needs and implementing an appropriate solution.

London welcomed in 2021 with a spectacular city-wide display, sending a message of thanks and hope to the nation and the world.  Jack Morton, the global brand experience agency, helped to develop the original concept and worked in partnership with the Mayor of London’s office and a dedicated team of experts to create the extraordinary experience. 

The Amir Cup Final 2020 Ceremony, the biggest football cup competition in the State of Qatar, and the inauguration Ceremony of Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, the fourth FIFA World Cup™ stadium to open in Qatar following Khalifa International, Al Janoub and Education City was recently performed using 2 x grandMA3 full-size and multiple MA Network Switches. Qatar Vision Company developed, produced and managed the inauguration and final, that took place during Qatar National Day and exactly two years before the country hosts the FIFA World Cup final. Mohammad Assaf and Mark Anton were the lighting designers.

After arguably the toughest year in recent memory, Bayside Church in Granite Bay, California, one of the largest churches in the Sacramento area, wanted to do something special for its congregation this holiday season. As a special holiday gift to the community, Bayside built a Christmas village complete with ice-skating rink, towering Christmas tree and special Christmas light show, a festive holiday experience enhanced using dynamic IP-rated luminaires from Elation Professional.  
 

With governments in the UAE and other Middle East countries taking commendable actions to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, confidence is gradually returning to the market, which in turn is paving the way for live events – which were conspicuously absent for the significant portion of last year – to make a comeback. In line with its #DontStopTheMusic initiative, Sennheiser was quick to extend its support, expertise, and equipment to Breakout DXB, the highly successful two-day live music festival held at the Rove Downtown in Dubai, UAE in the last quarter of 2020.

The buzz around the new Sony PlayStation 5 launch was unmissable in November as Sony HQ buildings worldwide exploded in a spectacular series of co-ordinated lighting and visual shows to herald the new flagship PS5 console. In the Netherlands, Hilversum-based technical production company Smits Light & Sound (SLS) invested in 100 x new Robe LEDBeam 150s to make up the 200+ Robe fixtures –including 172 x LEDBeam 150s – that were needed to complete an ambitious lighting scheme created by brand agency BAAS Amsterdam and SLS for the ADAM Tower in Amsterdam Nord.

Toby Price kept within touching distance of Dakar Rally glory after his makeshift repair – using cable ties to fix his back wheel – held on a marathon stage eight. And in the car class, Nasser Al-Attiyah took a fifth stage victory to close the gap on Stéphane Peterhansel.

Loudspeaker manufacturer KV2 Audio has announced the appointment of Paul Freudenberg to the position of Business Development Director, US, effective immediately. Freudenberg brings a wealth of experience in a career that spans over 25 years with a number of leading pro audio manufacturers including L-Acoustics, AKG, BSS Audio and Aphex Systems.
 

With the entire world ready to bid adieu to 2020, the city of Nashville added its own brand of Music City magic with its annual 'Jack Daniel's Music City Midnight: New Year's Eve in Nashville.’ The live televised concert featured music from Moon Taxi and The Shindellas as well as highlights from previous years’ celebrations. Bandit Lites provided the lighting system for the production which took place at the Steel Mill with no spectators due to COVID restrictions. The show was streamed on visitmusiccity.com and aired locally on NewsChannel 5 Nashville and Lightning 100.

Christ’s Church of the Valley’s annual holiday spectacular spread out across its ten Phoenix-area campuses this December, and Clearwing Productions deployed 210 L-Acoustics loudspeakers with P1 and M1 for maximum consistency across all locations
 

Ayrton is very happy to announce the appointment of Sky Corporation as its new, exclusive distributor for Serbia with immediate effect. Established in 1999, Sky Corporation doo is a first-class company specialising in distribution, retail and systems integration, and a regional leader in event and production technologies and services.

German networked audio and interconnectivity specialist DirectOut announces collaboration with the Italian based team of Vivivaldy to establish a tailored service for uncompressed audio transmission over public WAN connections.

Broadcast Manufactur (BroaMan) and Spiritland OB will co-host a Zoom-based webinar on January 14, at 14.00hr GMT (15.00 CET, 9.00 EST). BroaMan’s point-to-point fiber transport solution, based on the Repeat48WDM platform, was selected by one of the UK's leading OB trucks — Spiritland One — to provide a multi-format stagebox system to run multiple video, audio and data signals between stage and truck.

Stéphane Peterhansel finished second on Sunday's marathon Stage Seven, despite an impact with a rock, to consolidate his 2021 Dakar Rally car lead as American rookie Seth Quintero went second in the Lightweight Vehicle category.