While content is indisputably king, the equipment on which it is displayed must be at least as regal in order to do it justice. Those in the business of making content look as good as it can – event organisers and venues, prompter manufacturers, post facilities, AV hire companies among others – need the best quality screens and projectors that are able to cope with a range of formats. LED is the latest screen technology, still evolving but already capable of providing superior brightness, higher contrast levels, improved reliability and energy efficiency.
While companies in the broadcast industry have always required high quality screens and projectors, events companies may have been relying on hiring in equipment as required. However, corporate and event communications and content are becoming infinitely more sophisticated than the ubiquitous Powerpoint slides, and it may become more cost-effective to purchase screening equipment.
Fineline has 20 years' experience in the AV and broadcast industries and we appreciate your requirements better than your average high street bank. Our relationships with manufacturers such as Panasonic, displayLED, Toshiba, Mitsubishi, Lighthouse, and our understanding of their screen solutions means that we can tailor a finance package to suit your budgets and schedules to ensure that your clients view their content, and your facilities, to best advantage.
Examples
-
The world's biggest plasma
'Jaw dropping' is one way of describing the Panasonic 152" Plasma, 'stunning' is another, and in the UK it is now available to rent or buy from Reading based company PSCo.
First unveiled in 2010 as Panasonic's preferred partner for their Large Format Display range, PSCo is the only company in the country to have the £549,999 screen for both sale and hire, and the decision to invest was made easy with the financial support of Fineline.
Launched in the UK in June 2011, the 152" Panasonic Plasma is a Full HD display boasting 4K by 2K resolution and Active 3D technology. It is the jewel in the crown of the Panasonic professional display range. Unsurprisingly the screen has already been booked out for a certain sporting event in 2012, as well as worldwide motor shows, air shows and major corporate events.
PSCo is in a unique position, as the only company in the UK with a 152" Plasma available both for rent for events and exhibitions, as well as offering the screen for sale. The screen occupies pride of place in the demo area, allowing people to view its size and picture quality first hand.
Stuart Holmes, CEO of PSCo comments; "We really wanted to bring this screen to the UK and knew we would need a go-to-market strategy based on technical knowledge. We are working closely with Panasonic and our integrators to devise specialist lifting equipment and stands for the screen, as well as providing the necessary site surveys and planning for its installation."
Holmes continues that having been inspired by the screen and the creative opportunities it could bring, they then needed to find the money for it, "in our current guise we are a relatively new company, however we spoke to John Bartlett at Fineline and worked closely with him to enable us to buy the 152" Plasma and bring it to the UK market."
The screen will also offer high-quality 3D images and as Panasonic says "when characters in the screen approach the viewers in life size, the new panel creates an overwhelmingly immersive experience."
-
GETTING ON THE ScoreBOARD
Two miles from the centre of Leeds, the Headingley Carnegie Cricket Ground is home to Yorkshire County Cricket Club, and is one of the most famous cricket grounds in the world.
It was here in 1977 that Geoff Boycott scored his hundredth first class hundred, it was here in 1999 that Australia tied against South Africa in what is widely regarded as the best one day match in World Cup history, and it was here in 1981 that Ian Botham and Bob Willis famously staged one of the most dramatic comebacks in all sport, never mind cricket, to overcome 500/1 odds, beat Australia and go on to win the Ashes.
It is a ground not only steeped in history, but also one, in common with many cricket stadia, looking firmly towards the future. As part of its recent £21m redevelopment and construction of the Carnegie Pavilion, it has installed the largest professional sport replay screen in the UK. "It's 102 square metres and essentially the largest widescreen television in the country," comments Yorkshire County Cricket Club Chief Executive, Stewart Regan.
The screen was bought, along with a new state of the art PA system, via Fineline, who were introduced to Yorkshire CCC by screen manufacturer, displayLED. Total investment was around £500k, which is a substantial amount of money, but one that Regan says was absolutely crucial to the Club. "It's important on two fronts," he says. "On one hand, it's a requirement from the regulatory body, the ECB, for us to maintain our Category A Test Ground Status. On the other, screens such as this showing instant replays are expected nowadays from both a commercial and a customer experience perspective."
The screen will next be on the international stage when England play Pakistan in a One Day International on September 12, but Regan doesn't expect Headingley Carnegie's investment in new technology to end there. "Sponsors and advertisers are constantly looking for better quality delivery opportunities being made possible by all the new developments with Digital Signage, such as the giant screen, perimeter advertising, text message interaction and so on," he says.
And the next time an historic event happens in a cricket match at Headingley Carnegie, it will be available for instant replay up on the big screen – all 102 square metres of it. You get the feeling that even Fred Trueman, the fiery and irascible Yorkshire pace bowler who once famously said that black and white film made it seem as if he was bowling slower, might approve.
-
First seamless plasma DB Systems improves visibility
In the last year alone Worcestershire based DB Systems supplied equipment to over 300 Exhibitions, Conferences and Live Events across UK and Europe, including the biggest ever Farnborough Air Show.
Managing Director, David Bulley says, "Exhibitions and Conferences are sales showcases for our clients. Creating the right impression and providing the right presentation vehicle is vitally important in terms of attracting visitors and prospects to the stand. Last year we worked in over 35 countries, and in the UK alone we supplied equipment into over 200 exhibitions at every UK exhibition venue. Our success is based on being part of the team and supplying the best and latest equipment."
As part of that strategy DB Systems is the first rental company in the UK to acquire the new Infinite M-PDP 42" modular seamless plasma panels.
David continues, "We first made contact with Fineline after receiving a previous copy of the Preview newsletter. We operate in a competitive marketplace and we need competitive pricing to be profitable. It was therefore worth approaching Fineline to see what kind of deal they could come up with and compare with our previous finance route of the banks."
Chris Biggs from Fineline adds to the story, "To win the business we had to beat the keen interest rates of the banks and demonstrate the speed and flexibility of our service. We also recommended keeping the banking facilities for working capital, rather than tie them up in the acquisition of equipment."
As an example of their work David mentions the recent Farnborough Air Show, "This has been our biggest ever Farnborough. We installed over 160 plasma screens, 30 LCD projectors, 15 PA systems and over 250 PCs & LCD screens, as well as staff to back it all up. In the meantime, we also had other large jobs in Berlin and Bangkok, so we had to make sure our logistics, equipment levels and crew requirements were right. With such extensive commitments and such demands on our equipment we need fast and reliable access to finance as and when we need it. Fineline provide that service."
