South Africa - Following the recent announcement of Mediatech’s return in 2026, organisers have confirmed an important venue and date change. After close consultation with key industry stakeholders, the expo will now take place at the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit and International Convention Centre in Midrand, Johannesburg from 1-3 July 2026.

Mediatech Africa is the continent’s largest and most established trade show dedicated to professional audiovisual, broadcast, media, and live event technology. The show brings together industry professionals, technology providers, creatives, and decision-makers for three days of hands-on demos, networking, and innovation. It serves as a platform for both global brands and regional players to connect, collaborate, and explore the future of the industry.

Previously scheduled at Johannesburg Expo Centre, the move

USA - CEDIA Expo/Commercial Integrator Expo (CIX) returns to the Colorado Convention Centre in Denver, Colorado, from September 3-6, 2025.

With 300+ exhibitors displaying smart home, commercial integration, luxury audio, home theatre, lighting, outdoor living, energy management, security, Work From Home (WFH) and commercial AV technologies and solutions, the combined show promises a broad and compelling showcase of new technologies in addition to keynotes and panels on the most pressing tech-related issues of today. Exhibitors include ADI Global, Crestron, Harman Luxury Audio, Legrand AV, Lutron, Origin Acoustics, Nice, Samsung, Sonance, Sony, and more.

“The lines separating home and work are becoming increasingly blurred, requiring smarter and more flexible systems integration solutions,” said Jason McGraw, group vice-president for CEDIA Expo/CI

South Korea - UK-based 7thSense has announced an official distribution partnership with Dong Hwa AV, who will serve as a reseller and distributor of 7thSense technologies in South Korea.

As part of this new alliance, Dong Hwa will represent 7thSense’s product range across the region, providing sales, support, and consultation services to South Korean customers in markets including themed attractions, museums, immersive installations, and broadcast environments.

The partnership was officially unveiled at the KOBA 2025 trade show in Seoul, taking place this week, where Dong Hwa is exhibiting a selection of 7thSense technologies. Attendees are invited to visit the Dong Hwa booth D302 to see live demonstrations and speak with experts about how 7thSense solutions can elevate visual storytelling.

“We are thrilled to partner with Dong Hwa as our

USA - Powersoft has announced a significant milestone in its longstanding collaboration with Coastal Source, a US-based innovator in high-performance outdoor audio systems.

This strategic OEM agreement marks the next phase of a multi-year partnership focused on developing a purpose-built amplifier platform tailored specifically for Coastal Source. Leveraging Powersoft's advanced technologies, the new amplifier lineup is engineered to deliver exceptional performance in the harshest outdoor environments – combining superior power management, durable construction and seamless AES67 network integration. The collaboration underscores both companies’ commitment to innovation, reliability and premium performance tailored to application-specific needs.

"Powersoft and Coastal Source share the same passion for amazing sound, reliability and efficiency –

India - Pro audio distributor Pink Noise Professionals recently helped arrange for the first EAW Anya ADAPTive sound system to be purchased and deployed in the country.

Durgesh Sound and Lighting Systems, an event management services company that rents equipment for various applications across India, was eager to upgrade its PA inventory and elevate clients’ audio experience.

The Anya system from EAW was chosen. Durgesh Sound and Lighting purchased 16 Anya units and 12 SBX218 subwoofers, laying the groundwork for an audio system that promised sound quality for a wide range of live events. A second phase of this audio upgrade, including additional EAW products, is also in the pipeline.

“The customer has rented this EAW solution for various concerts and has expressed their satisfaction with the system,” said Vijay Sinha, director of sales

Mexico - This spring, the sound:check Xpo trade fair took place in Mexico City. Over three days, numerous international manufacturers and distributors presented their innovations in the fields of audio, lighting, video, stage technology and more at the Mexico World Trade Centre.

For Cameo, the sound:check Xpo was a milestone event: its official market launch in Mexico. To mark this, the Mexican Cameo distributor OHM Distribution presented a broad overview of the latest highlights from the Adam Hall Group’s lighting brand at its stand.

At the OHM Distribution stand, Cameo models including the Azor S2, Otos W12 and the new P6 LED profile spotlight attracted the attention of visitors. While the first day of the trade fair was primarily reserved for musicians, studio professionals and smaller service providers, on days two and three i

USA - Eagle Production Company of New Jersey has significantly strengthened its rental inventory by acquiring 100 Paragon LED profile moving heads from Elation. This major investment marks a pivotal step in Eagle’s evolution into one of the region’s leading dry hire rental providers for the live event industry.

“We felt the Paragon S hit the mark for small to mid-size profile fixtures,” says Shaya Adler, founder and CEO of Eagle Production Company. “It outperforms everything we’ve tested in terms of output, colour rendering, detail, and weight. It’s simply an exceptional all-around fixture.”

Founded by Adler in 2016, Eagle Production began in audio before evolving into a full-service event production company. Today, the company serves a wide array of clients across sports, corporate, political, and entertainment. Since shifting its fo

South Africa - Cape Town technicians and anyone interested in servicing and troubleshooting lighting fixtures are invited to attend hands-on Robe Fixture Maintenance Training with Tyler Pugin, taking place on 11 June from 9am to 5pm at DWR Distribution, Cape Town.

This workshop will cover ‘everything you need to know about caring for your Robe lighting fixtures – from troubleshooting issues to cleaning techniques and routine maintenance’.

Participants need to bring metric tools, including electrical and 8mm flat blade screwdrivers, no. 1 and no. 2 Philips screwdrivers, 2mm - 8mm Allen keys, long-nose pliers, wire cutters, and a multimeter. The cost is R250 per person and includes a light lunch and refreshments.

The course will be hosted at DWR Distribution, Unit 37B Platinum Junction, 4 School Street, Marconi Beam, Cape Town.

India - tvONE has announced its partnership with Cavitak as a distributor for tvONE and Green Hippo products in India.

Established in 1986 and headquartered in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, Cavitak has built a robust reputation in the ProAV market through its expertise in channel management and the distribution of specialized technology products. With over 36 years of experience, the company boasts a network of more than 4,500 channel partners and dealers across India, supported by six regional offices and 15 warehouses.

Cavitak's value-added distribution model encompasses comprehensive networking, in-depth product understanding, solution design, and post-sales support. This approach ensures that clients receive not only the latest products but also the necessary support to implement and maintain them effectively.

"We are thrilled to partner with Cavit

Australia/UK - Advatek Lighting has announced that White Light has officially joined its global dealer network as an authorised distributor for the UK market. This partnership marks a strategic move to expand Advatek’s footprint across Europe and further strengthen its presence in the entertainment, AV, and architectural lighting sectors.

“White Light’s expertise across live entertainment and performing arts makes them an ideal partner,” said Luke Taylor, managing director at Advatek Lighting. “As demand for advanced pixel lighting continues to grow, we’re excited to work with a team that shares our passion for technical excellence and innovation.”

The partnership gives UK customers direct access to the full range of PixLite Mk3 pixel controllers, including the recently updated Long-Range series, which offers robust differential transmi

UK - 7thSense has announced a strategic partnership with Teq4 Systems Limited. Teq4 is a valued and long-standing collaborator of 7thSense and is known for delivering innovative, experience-led solutions. This strengthened relationship underpins the shared commitment of both 7thSense and Teq4.

As part of the newly established partnership, Matt Barton and Richard Brown, both directors of 7thSense, will take seats on the Teq4 board of directors.

The new partnership between 7thSense and Teq4 is focussed on advancing immersive and interactive technologies in support of the global creative and integration community.

Richard Brown, CTO at 7thSense, said: “Our integrator partners remain at the heart of everything we do. 7thSense’s continued success is built on deep collaboration with the global integrator community, and this focus remains unchan

UK - Polar, supplier of key industry brands to the installation, MI, and professional audio markets has announced that it will demonstrate its full portfolio at the Old Savoy Theatre, Northampton on Wednesday 28 May.

Polar Expo, a day-long event for integrators, AV consultants, rental companies, sound engineers, and everyone passionate about technology, will present an opportunity to see, hear, and explore the full Polar catalogue.

Last year, Polar staged a series of successful demo days for specific brands, including one at the Old Savoy for Turbosound, which drew plaudits from the wide range of audio professionals in attendance. Convinced by the success of the format, which gives visitors a real-world, hands-on experience of products, Polar sales manager Andy Plunkett will host Polar Expo, the company’s largest demo day to date:

‘Absolute Losers’ - Sir Elton John described the government as "absolute losers" and said he feels "incredibly betrayed" over plans to exempt technology firms from copyright laws. Speaking to the BBC, he said if ministers go ahead with plans to allow AI firms to use artists' content without paying, they would be "committing theft, thievery on a high scale".

Last week the government rejected proposals from the House of Lords to force AI companies to disclose what material they were using to develop their programmes. A government spokesperson said that "no changes" to copyright laws would be "considered unless we are completely satisfied they work for creators". Generative AI programmes mine, or learn, from vast amounts of data like text, images, or music online to generate new content which feels like it has been made by a human.

Sir Elton said th

Middle East - EM Acoustics has announced its partnership with 7Hertz, a prominent supplier of audio technology across the Middle East. This partnership will strengthen EM Acoustics’ reach into new markets and bring the brand’s portfolio of loudspeakers, including point sources, line arrays, subwoofers and related electronics, to new audiences.

“We are thrilled to announce our partnership with 7Hertz, who are truly aligned with our ethos in terms of their expertise and their commitment to quality,” says Roger Harpum, business development manager at EM Acoustics. “We are excited to introduce our product portfolio to this rapidly expanding market with such an outstanding operation, and we trust in Chadi, John, and the expert team at 7Hertz to uphold our high standards.”

Established in 2009, 7Hertz is a leader in the professional audio market

Thailand - Sennheiser participated in the 11th Asia-Pacific Spectrum Management Conference as the official audio partner. Held in Bangkok, Thailand from 13-14 March 2025, this event brought together global policymakers, regulators, and industry leaders to address the most pressing spectrum issues shaping the future of wireless communication and connectivity in the Asia-Pacific region. This event is part of The Global Spectrum Series, the world’s largest collection of regional spectrum policy conferences.

Sennheiser has been an active participant and sponsor of the Asia-Pacific Spectrum Management Conference since 2013, promoting the inclusion of PMSE (Programme Making and Special Events) in spectrum policy dialogues and, more specifically, highlighting the inherent need for allocation of frequency bands to operate wireless microp

South Africa - Founded and headed by the charismatic Kagiso Moima Wa Masimini – KG to those who find the pronunciation a little complex – Blackmotion is a busy, innovative, and well-respected technical production and rental company based in Kew, Johannesburg.

KG’s passion for lighting has driven the company’s successful path since 2005 and there are now over 100 Robe moving lights in its inventory, which has been part of the success, and these fixtures are constantly busy servicing a range of high-end corporate, business, and social events.

Backmotion invested in Robe right from the start. In 2005, and for the next four years, KG was initially focused on lighting design work. The trajectory shifted around 2009 when he started purchasing kit, and the first moving lights – six Robe ColorSpot 250E ATs – joined the company.

KG continu

UK - Essential Event Management (EEM) is a full-service events organiser with a growing client base of faith-based organisations and charities. Peter Purkiss is lead events production co-ordinator at EEM and trialled the UNiKA Pro Series DIs on the recommendation of UK distributors AUX Import.

Purkiss comments: “At EEM our work is varied. Anything from single smaller meetings to tours, roadshows and festivals. I am interested to try new audio solutions, especially when recommended by Mike and Callum at AUX Import, and the UNiKA DIs looked right, felt solid and were reasonably priced. A lot of our stages are acoustic guitars and keyboards oriented, and the UNiKA DIs sound great for this. We now have every Pro Series DI model with a jack input.”

Mick Brophy, business development manager at Mega Audio adds: “It’s great that EEM has adopted the U

Europe - In celebration of Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD), Dante developer Audinate Group has announced a collaboration with the Netherlands’ Het Nationale Theater and XRAI to implement AI-enabled smart glasses with real-time subtitles for theatre-goers. GAAD promotes digital access and inclusion for more than one billion people with disabilities or impairments.

Starting this autumn, attendees at select performances by Het Nationale Theater in The Hague and on tour, including those who speak little or no Dutch or have hearing loss, can wear smart glasses for free that display subtitles in different colours to indicate which actor is speaking. Affectionately dubbed ‘LiveText’, the official launch is scheduled to take place at the end of June during the Holland Festival, the largest international performing arts festival in the Nether

UK - The Lifting Equipment Engineers Association (LEEA) has outlined ways industry can raise awareness and find solutions to the skills gap - the primary focus of Global Lifting Awareness Day (GLAD) 2025 on 12 June.

GLAD, upheld by the theme Lifting Careers, Building Futures, is dedicated to tackling the growing skills shortages across the lifting industry and promoting practical tools to attract new talent. The day is a launchpad to inspire the next generation to explore careers in lifting.

LEEA will exclusively reveal the findings of its State of the Lifting Industry survey on GLAD. However, it has urged members and other stakeholders to create their own campaign contributions that can be submitted in advance and promoted via LEEA platforms on the day. LEEA wants to hear directly from the lifting industry about what they’re alre

Germany - Acoustics and media technology consultancy ADA Acoustics & Media Consultants GmbH (ADA-AMC) has officially been renamed WSDG Berlin GmbH, marking the next step in the company’s evolution and deeper integration into the international WSDG network. The change took effect at the end of March 2025.

Founded in 1990 by acoustician Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Ahnert as ADA – Acoustic Design Ahnert – the company has been a pioneer in the fields of electroacoustics, acoustic simulation, and AV system design. Since 2017, WSDG has held a majority stake in the Berlin-based firm and has played a key role in shaping its development. The name change underscores the continued collaboration and alignment with the global WSDG organisation, while preserving the engineering excellence and values established over more than three decades.

“This new name refle

UK - The Theatre nominations for The Profile Awards 2025 have now been published on the TPA website. The Theatre section is judged by eight of the UK’s leading theatre, dance and opera critics chaired by David Benedict (Variety). Every single new production seen is automatically eligible for consideration and, as each judge may see around two hundred shows over the year, that is a significant amount of work that gets covered. (https://profileawards.com/theatre-nominations-2025/)

The Profile Awards Theatre Sponsors are:

@chauvet_pro  - Outstanding Achievement in Theatre Award

@elationlighting - Outstanding Achievement in Dance Award

@elctronictheatrecontrols - Outstanding Achievement in Opera Award

@fix8group - Outstandi

USA - ACT Entertainment has been selected as a US distributor for the live sound portfolio from Avid. ACT and Avid will officially debut this partnership at InfoComm 2025.

ACT Entertainment has a proven track record of building infrastructure and market presence for premium brands, such as Ayrton, MA Lighting and PK Sound. This new partnership represents a significant expansion in Avid’s US strategy and underscores its commitment to serving the professional live sound community with exceptional service and support.

“The partnership with Avid represents another major step forward in our strategic initiative to build the ACT Entertainment portfolio with class-leading solutions across all categories of entertainment technology,” says ACT CEO Ben Saltzman. “We have long admired Avid’s commitment to innovation, and we believe this collaboration

Singapore - For the third successive year, Martin Audio and Generation AV entertained all APAC distributors at their Singapore Experience Centre to celebrate growth and discuss future opportunities.

Attending the recent event, Dom Harter, Martin Audio managing director, shared updates from across the Audio Reproduction division of the Focusrite group, which also includes Linea Research, Optimal Audio and TiMax. Harter confirmed: “More partners are representing multiple brands, and while we want to ensure that each brand continues to flourish in its own right, there are increasing opportunities for convergence and valued-added solutions to customers.”

Addressing the notable interest in spatial audio which naturally leads to the potential sale of additional loudspeakers and electronics, the agenda included dedicated demonstrations of TiMax panLab a

Europe - ARRI has announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its subsidiary Claypaky to new strategic owner, EK Inc, headquartered in Zhongshan City, Guangdong Province, China. Operating one of the most advanced lighting production and development facilities in the industry, EK Inc. offers a strong foundation for Claypaky, which is a world-renowned brand recognised globally as a leading provider in the high-end professional entertainment lighting market.

“This decision is part of our strategic realignment as we focus more strongly on our core business,” says Chris Richter, managing director of ARRI. “Clearly recognising Claypaky’s potential, it was important to us to find a new owner who pursues next level growth based on a deep understanding of the market and a long-term strategic vision - for both Claypaky and its customers.

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