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San Francisco's Sutro Tower loomed large in TV's rabbit-ears era.

The Future of Television

In case you haven’t noticed, the world of broadcasting and television is changing fast. Since we’re all part of the change, and in the midst of the evolution itself, it might be difficult to see the forest. I’m not talking about video technology (where change is a given factor), but specifically, I’m referring to the way that television programming is created, distributed and delivered.

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Primus toured with as many as 30,000 pairs of plastic glasses. Photo by Gunnar Curry courtesy of 3D Live.

To 3D, or Not to 3D: That’s the Question

Is 3D a passing fad, or will it become a regular component of the live touring effects arsenal? If you ask ESPN, which launched with much ballyhoo its slate of 3D sports channels in 2010, the most recent answer would be “fad.” The über-sports broadcaster announced in June that it would be pulling the plug on its 3D channels by year’s end. Shooting concerts in 3D for Blu-ray and cinematic release seemed like it was going to become a healthy industry niche, but has instead slowed to the point where just “niche” is all you need to describe it. 

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Programming Very Large Arrays (VLAs)

The Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) is a radio astronomy observatory located in western New Mexico. It consists of 27 large dish type antennas. Astronomers reconfigure the array every few months into new alignments to better explore the universe. This requires intense computer programming to coordinate the movement and alignment of the large receivers. I am sure that programming for this very large array presents a level of complexity to its team of programmers. However, when I find myself programming a very large array of lighting fixtures, I think that their scope must pale in comparison to my task at hand. Programming very large arrays is quite a task for any automated lighting programmer.

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Foster the People's stage at the Firefly Festival had seven towers. Photo by Mat Stovall

Foster the People Towers over Firefly Festival; Rock ‘n’ Roll Reality Tour, Quick Cues…

Foster the People fans at the recent Firefly Festival June 21-23 in Dover, Delaware, were treated to a specially designed one-off production to tie in with the band’s new album in progress. “The show design was based around seven towers, eight to 28 feet high, that all rotated for a constantly evolving environment,” said Trevor Stirlin Burk, the production designer, creative director and show director of Foster the People.“We also collaborated with The Los Angeles Contemporary Dance company. It was super ambitious for the band to want to do a brand new production from scratch, specifically for Firefly. By all accounts it paid off.”

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Illustration by Andy Au

When Did it All Get So BIG?

Earlier this year, one of my clients called me in for a meeting about what he wanted to do for his annual summer shed tour. We were currently playing arenas, but were headed outside for the summer. He wanted to talk about the current trend in arena shows to get some big looks. He looks me right in the eye and asks me, “How high is that front truss flying?” Fifty feet or so, I tell him. “And how wide are all these trusses?” I reckoned they spanned about 90 feet, side-to-side. “Now don’t get me wrong, Nook. It looks frickin’ great, but when did we all decide these shows had to be so big, to be good?”

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PLSN Editor Justin Lang takes a working vacation

Nobody’s Perfect

During the course of the month, I talk with a wide range of folks from the industry. From leaders, manufacturers reps and the guys out there on the front lines — those who make the magic happen on stage night after night. Over the course of just this past month, I have talked with a number of people about what’s going on throughout the industry and their views in general. There were a few comments, questions, and ideas brought up that struck a chord with me, and I want to share them with you to get your opinions as well.

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InfoComm 2013

Show Report: InfoComm 2013

InfoComm 2013 took place at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL, with 937 exhibitors showing off products and services within 470,000 square feet of exhibition space from June 12-14. This year’s event drew a record-setting 35,126 visitors, up 2.5 percent from 2012. Along with the exhibition, InfoComm 2013 offered seminars from June 8-14. Attendees came from 110 countries around the world. Here’s a look at some of the companies and featured products at the show.

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