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The AV industry’s leading association has welcomed Peter Schädel to AVIXA (Audiovisual and Integrated Experience Association) as their new European Marketing Manager, outlining its course of expansion into the EMEA region.

Peter Schädel is something of a marketing and industry expert, having previously worked for Meyer Sound Germany for over ten years as Marketing Manager. With his sound expertise, he will be in charge of establishing and expanding the marketing activities of AVIXA in Europe.

The professional AV industry is a multi-faceted, dynamic and growing market. AVIXA offers manufacturers, distributors, dealers and systems integrators support to help them stay on the ball all the time. From continued education and Certified Technology Specialist ™ (CTS®) certification to events, market studies and standards development.

RMG Networks has announced that its Korbyt platform has been selected as a webOS Signage partner by global electronics giant, LG. Korbyt is RMG Networks’ (new) state-of-the-art content management system for digital signage. It was launched last year, with the aim of reinventing visual content creation, management and publishing across the widest possible range of digital end points. Featuring an intuitive user interface, including drag and drop content creator, this cloud-based CMS engine enables companies to create immersive interactive visual communication applications which are re-shaping customer, and employee, experiences for forward-thinking brands and companies.

webOS Signage is of course LG’s Linux kernel-based multitasking operating system for smart devices, such as smart TVs, acting as a media player for digital signage applications. When combined, Korbyt and LG webOS Signage form a complete digital signage solution, turning LG displays into clever multi-functional displays without the need for an additional external device.

Ben Johnston, vice president of product management at RMG Networks told us “We are excited to be extending the reach of our Korbyt digital signage platform to LG webOS powered displays, and to be working with a huge company like LG. We recognise the quality, convenience, and performance that LG webOS provides to customers.

“Combined with our industry-leading data integration and content creation features, customers now have access to a powerful digital signage solution without the need for an external media player. This is a game-changing development for the digital signage industry.”

Offering a rich feature-set, webOS Signage enhances visual communications across a wide range of verticals and markets. RMG Networks’ Korbyt platform now fully supports webOS powered displays, allowing content managed within the Korbyt platform to be displayed directly on to webOS powered LG screens of all sizes, even mobile phones, thanks to the platform’s mobile app extension.

Combining LG webOS Signage and Korbyt provides a vast range of benefits. LG’s clients already using webOS Signage can now choose to use the Korbyt platform for all their enterprise visual communications. Furthermore, Korbyt clients with a preference for LG webOS Signage can now stay true to their choice of display hardware.

WebOS Signage leverages key capabilities of the Korbyt platform, providing users with access to a wealth of options for segmented real-time data and content visualisation around the globe. It can all be managed efficiently from one central, or multiple locations via an intuitive web-based portal.

For further information click here.

One in every 10 people in the UK has some level of dyslexia, affecting their memory, personal organisation or literacy, but not their capability to succeed. To encourage a more dyslexic-friendly society, Leo Burnett London and The British Dyslexia Association are using facial detection technology on Ocean’s digital out of home screens to give everyone an idea what it’s like to live with dyslexia.

Created by Leo Burnett London for the Association, A Moment of Dyslexia was awarded the Charity first prize in Ocean’s annual digital creative competition which celebrates bold ideas which push the boundaries of digital out of home.

The campaign ran for two days on July 16 and 17 on The Loop in Birmingham and on Ocean’s Eat Street screen at Westfield London.

Leo Burnett London has created dynamic long form copy for the screens which is triggered by Look Out, Ocean’s audience detection technology. This can measure audience attention time as people stop to read the text.

The longer people look at the screens, the more jumbled the words and letters become, reflecting what it can be like to be dyslexic.

Lewis Beaton, creative at Leo Burnett told us “The BDA and Ocean have both been fantastic to work with. We’re excited to see the work go live and hopeful that we can make people think differently, and nudge employers to find ways to make their workplaces more dyslexia friendly.”

Margaret Malpas, MBE, vice president of the British Dyslexia Association was quoted as saying “Providing an experience of visual distraction, which affects many dyslexic people, can transform peoples’ appreciation of what it means to be dyslexic. An awareness of how to make simple adjustments can make a real difference to the workplace. Many dyslexic adults find digital application forms that time out are a real problem, but wouldn’t it be better for everyone if they didn’t do that? With an appreciation of the difficulties 1:10 staff face, it’s fairly easy to provide a dyslexia friendly environment that benefits everyone. I am excited by this event and very much looking forward to being at Westfield to chat and answer questions.”

Ocean’s 2018 digital creative competition is now open for entries.

MCap (formerly Mercury Media Group) are worried that we besmirched them back in July last year, and are insisting that they did not rebrand at that time due to the rumour that they were distancing themselves from an investment that did not go well.

MCap Partner & Chief Executive Officer Leon Cutler, before threatening us with legal action, told us via email that “MCap rebranded to reflect that after a series of successful investments in the OOH, digital and print sectors, it was looking to diversify the business sectors it worked in, develop its business in North America and in particular grow its reputation as a television and film media company”.

He continued “This required MCap to move away from its previous branding, the use of which in the US would have caused MCap to potentially infringe the intellectual property rights of a third party company already established in the US and would as such have been likely to lead to confusion and potential litigation”.

You can find MCap here.

DCC plc (LSE: DCC), a support services business and one of the largest companies in Ireland, has acquired two companies worth a total of €124 million. Before its annual general meeting in Dublin last week it announced that it had acquired Stampede and Kondor.

DCC plc employs 11,000 people in four divisions operating in 17 countries. Stampede however is DCC’s technology division’s first acquisition in North America.

Tim Griffin, managing director, DCC Technology told us “The acquisition of Stampede adds an exciting new brand to our portfolio that complements our Exertis brand in Europe. The combination of Stampede’s expertise in value added distribution and our resources is going to unleash a new wave of opportunity for our partners in pro AV around the world. By establishing a presence in North America, we will be strategically positioned to leverage all of the new opportunities we expect to develop as a result of this acquisition.”

Stampede president and CEO Kevin Kelly called the acquisition a paradigm shift that ushers in an exciting new era for a global pro AV industry. “Overnight, Stampede has become one of the world’s largest pro AV distributors, able to operate at a level certain to create exciting new business opportunities for our partners,” he said. “Supported by the resources and long-term commitment of DCC, we are now able to scale across all pro AV product categories in all vertical markets globally in a way that we simply could not do on our own. For our manufacturer partners this means greater reach and scale. For our resellers, this means more products and new product categories than ever before.”

Stampede founder and CEO Mark Wilkins has decided to retire following the acquisition. He has given nearly 40 years of service to the pro AV industry.

Kondor is a UK distributor of audio and mobile accessory products to e-tailers, retailers and mobile operators.

Rumours of sneaky goings on, once again we should add, at Monster Media (aka Monster Vision). For once it seems they are on the wrong end of a lawsuit (it’s usual they who are doing suiting and threatening) – this time with them on the receving end of lawsuits from Clear Channe Outdoor, Inc.

Clear Channel Outdoor, Inc. v. Monster Vision, LLC

Plaintiff: Clear Channel Outdoor, Inc.
Defendant: Monster Vision, LLC
Case Number: 1:2018cv01608
Filed: February 21, 2018
Court: New York Southern District Court
Office: Foley Square Office
County: NewYork
Presiding Judge: Jed S. Rakoff
Nature of Suit: Other Contract
Cause of Action: 28:1332
Jury Demanded By: None

It seems also that they have tried to setup a new company, namely Monster XP.

There seem to be quite a few good people leaving Atlanta based MaxMedia at the moment. The latest to cross our news desk is Jeff Doud who was MaxMedia’s Executive Creative Director for the last eight years.

Jeff is now Founder at Well & Doud Productions.

Big news in the AV world this week was the announcement that Integrated Systems Events, the producers of the Integrated Systems Europe exhibition, have only two more years in Amsterdam before the event relocates permanently to Gran Via, part of the Fira de Barcelona exhibition complex in Spain on February 2-5, 2021.

Barcelona will become the permanent location for the world’s largest AV and systems integration show, ‪something we predicted it would be, back in March 2012, see our post ‪“Will ISE Move To Barcelona?”.

AVIXA stated that the decision to relocate the ISE exhibition comes after 18 months of research into the viability of remaining at the RAI Amsterdam. With annual growth in ISE exhibitors and attendees approaching 10%, and the international AV market forecast to grow by 5% per annum through to 2021, it was concluded that ISE was going to continue to outgrow its Amsterdam location.

#ISE2018 attracted 80,923 attendees, of which 22,000 were visiting the show for the first time while 1,296 exhibitors filled 53,000 net sqm of floor space in 15 halls. ISE 2019 is expected to increase on these record breaking figures.

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AV Jobs provide a highly specialist Recruitment Service for Audio Visual manufacturers, distributors and resellers.

They also work within the broadcast, events and unified communications industries providing quality and experienced staff at all levels – from board members through management, field service and sales, as well as on-site technical and sales people.

Their Consultants have experience within the AV industry and fully understand all areas from sales through system design and installation, hire and events, operations and service.

Here are this week’s selection of #AVjobs from them…

• AV INSTALL & COMMISSIONING ENGINEER
  Job Type Permanent Full Time
  Location M4 Corridor
  Area Berkshire, England
  Sector Engineer Engineer – Audio Visual Engineer – Installer Engineer – Video Conferencing Engineer – Home Cinema Engineer – Home Automation Engineer – Commissioning
  Salary £25000 – £35000 Per Annum £25k-£35k p.a. doe + co.vehicle & benefits
  Currency GBP
  Start Date ASAP
  Advertiser AV Jobs
  Job Ref AV29318
• AV SERVICE ENGINEER
  Job Type Permanent Full Time
  Location London & Home Counties
  Area Middlesex, England Surrey, England City of London, England London South East, England London South West, England
  Sector Engineer Engineer – Audio Visual Engineer – Service Engineer – Video Conferencing
  Salary £30000 – £34000 Per Annum Circa £34k doe + co. vehicle & benefits
  Currency GBP
  Start Date ASAP
  Advertiser AV Jobs
  Job Ref AV29018
• AUDIO VISUAL SERVICE ENGINEER
  Job Type Permanent Full Time
  Location Birmingham
  Area Birmingham, England Warwickshire, England
  Sector Engineer Engineer – Audio Visual Engineer – Service Engineer – Technical Support
  Salary £25000 – £32000 Per Annum £25k-£32k p.a. doe plus company van
  Currency GBP
  Start Date ASAP
  Advertiser AV Jobs
  Job Ref AV27618

DPAA, the leading global organization for everything digital out-of-home, announced this week that Outfront Media Canada has joined the association.

As Canada’s leading full-service out-of-home advertising company, Outfront Media Canada has strong coverage in more than 60 markets across the country, including the 10 largest. Products include digital bulletins, digital posters, street furniture (transit shelters, map stands and kiosks) and high profile, large format “superboards” in key locations in Toronto and Montreal. Included among these superboards is the iconic, fully digital Yonge Eglinton Centre, which launched in 2014 and the recently completed digital installation at the heart of Yonge-Dundas Square. Outfront Media Canada is a division of Outfront Media (NYSE: OUT).

Michele Erskine, CEO Canada, Outfront Media Canada, told us “Joining DPAA is a natural step in our position as a major digital ad supplier to brands looking to reach Canadian consumers. We look forward to being active members and to participating in DPAA’s many events and initiatives.”

DPAA is a global, digital out-of-home marketing association that has created a strong community environment in which members drive and promote their digital capabilities.