11/02/2025
ISE 2025
Connection Restored
Article by Alex Couzins, Founder at Arrow & Zest
After a decade of attending ISE, this year was particularly special – my first with Arrow & Zest. The show has always been a key moment in the AV industry calendar but this year’s theme, ‘Connection Restored’, felt especially fitting. Whether through technology, partnerships or creative storytelling, there was a common thread running through all of our clients’ work at the show. Here are some highlights.
Hive – A Disruptive Force in the Media Server Industry
It was awesome to be part of the Hive stand this year! Hive is a UK-based company that specialises in media control systems and software. What sets them apart is their truly disruptive approach to the media server industry, with an innovative product lineup inspired by the natural workings of a bee colony.
At the core of their offering is the Beeblade, a compact yet powerful media player designed to scale up or down depending on project needs - supporting HD, 4K and 8K video output. Unlike traditional bulky media servers, the Beeblade can be seamlessly integrated into any SDM (Smart Display Module)-compatible display or housed in Hive’s custom enclosures. This means lighter hardware, lower costs and greater flexibility for AV professionals.
Hive’s ‘Chief Pollinator’ Nigel Sadler unveiling the new Beeblade Nexus media player
This year at ISE, Hive unveiled their most advanced solution yet - the Beeblade Nexus. Designed for high-performance 8K60 output, it features optical fibre Ethernet supporting up to 100 Gigabit connectivity, allowing for ultra-high bandwidth uncompressed video streams via SMPTE 2110.
For a real-world showcase, Hive’s Beeblade technology powered the Panasonic "Global Teleport" experience, an immersive installation featuring seven Panasonic 25,000-lumen projectors, each running on a Hive Beeblade media player. This setup eliminates the need for traditional external media servers, streamlining high-resolution content delivery in a way that is both cost-effective and future-ready. Check out the video below!
Hive powering the “Global Teleport” experience on the Panasonic stand
If that all sounds a bit technical, don’t worry – we captured lots more behind-the-scenes footage at ISE, so keep an eye on Hive’s channels for videos that explain the technology from the experts who designed and built it!
And to cap off an incredible show, Hive won the Best Stand Design Award – a well-deserved recognition for a company that truly embodies innovation and sustainability.
EcoVista – Championing Sustainability in Digital Out-of-Home
We’ve been working with specialist LED and digital signage integrator EcoVista, and ISE was the perfect place to explore exciting developments in LED display technology for DOOH (Digital Out-of-Home) advertising applications. Especially interesting were the developments in COB (Chip-on-Board) and flexible LED display technologies for more creative impact.
EcoVista was also in the running for the Sustainable Business Award at the Inavation Awards. While we didn’t take home the prize this year, huge kudos to all the finalists for pushing the sustainability agenda forward in AV.
At the Inavation Awards. Congratulations Absen on winning Manufacturer of the Year!
A big thank you to Absen for hosting me in my EcoVista hat. It was great to reconnect with old colleagues and celebrate as Absen was crowned Manufacturer of the Year! Even more exciting because we have some major Absen projects in the pipeline at EcoVista – stay tuned for upcoming case studies.
Check out our work with EcoVista here.
Entice Studio – Content is King!
Speaking of Absen, I had the pleasure of catching up with Matt Cole, founder of Entice Studio, the specialist LED content creation studio we helped launch last year.
Entice has been making waves, collaborating with Absen and Peerless-AV to design and deliver some truly stunning content for their stands at ISE.
Looking around the show floor, nearly every stand featured LED displays. But having top-tier screen technology without high-quality content is like driving a Ferrari with the handbrake on! If you’re working with LED display content, you should definitely be talking to Entice Studio.
Check out our work with Entice Studio here.
Inception – Lift Off Coming Soon!
On the topic of great stand designs, it was fantastic catching up with my old school friend Mark Hutchinson, Managing Director of Inception. They specialise in tradeshow design and build services, helping brands create immersive experiences that leave a lasting impact.
We’re currently working with Inception on a brand refresh, including a new identity, messaging and website. One of their recent tradeshow stands (pictured below) captures this spirit perfectly. Featuring a physical rocket launch simulation, complete with a space shuttle, LED backdrop and countdown sequence, it delivers an unforgettable experience to capture attention and drive footfall. Just like this bold installation, the countdown to Inception’s rebrand has begun … stay tuned for our upcoming case study!
If you’re looking to elevate your tradeshow presence, Inception is the team to speak to.
Entice Studio provided stunning LED content on the Absen and Peerless-AV stands
Arrow & Zest is working with Inception Worldwide on relaunching their brand
Final Thoughts
If you’ve made it this far, thank you! And we hope you like the new Arrow & Zest website.
We’re busy, but always open to partnering with collaborative, forward-thinking organisations looking to make an impact in the AV industry.
Want to discuss your future marketing needs? Get in touch or check out more of our work in the Insights section.
Until next time, see you at ISE 2026!