The SMPTE board of governors is “suspending the activities” of its Russian chapter until further notice in protest over the Ukraine invasion, said the society Tuesday. The board issued a resolution “condemning the unprovoked invasion by Russia of the sovereign country of Ukraine, the slaughter of innocent Ukrainian citizens, the destruction of Ukrainian infrastructure, and the suppression of individual rights of Russian citizens to speak and associate freely.” It urged Moscow to “immediately cease its invasion, withdraw all its troops from Ukrainian territory, and restore the rights of Ukrainian and Russian citizens.” The board also asked SMPTE’s “partner associations” in the TV, movie, social media and related industries “to join us in our resolve against the actions of the Russian government.”
Seven organizations joined the Z-Wave Alliance and 12 withdrew, the association told DOJ and the FTC in simultaneous “written notifications” Dec. 28, says a notice for Friday’s Federal Register. The change-of-membership notifications are required to extend members of the alliance antitrust protections under the 1993 National Cooperative Research and Production Act, said Suzanne Morris, chief-premerger and division statistics in DOJ’s Antitrust Division. New Z-Wave members are bluesalve partners, Ashburn, Virginia; Shipshape, Austin; Octo Telematics, Rome; SoftAtHome, Colombes, France; ZWaveProducts.com, Randolph, New Jersey; Simon Holding, Barcelona; and KWSM Group, Bridgeman Downs, Australia. Withdrawals from the alliance are for Base2 Managed IT, Sydney; HAB Home Intelligence, North Richland Hills, Texas; Telecom Italia, Milano, Italy; 3Mantech, South Haven, Mississippi; Automate Asia, Singapore; Aware Care Network, Plano, Texas; Clare Controls, Sarasota, Florida; Intermatic, Libertyville, Illinois; Plexus Solutions, Brighton, Australia; Shenzhen Kaadas Intelligent Technology, Shenzhen, China; Smart Lifestyle Solutions, Pagewood, Australia; and WeBeHome, Bromma, Sweden.
SMPTE opened its call for proposed papers for its Oct. 24-27 annual technical conference, newly rebranded as the SMPTE Media Technology Summit, said the society Tuesday. SMPTE’s first in-person conference since fall 2019 will return to the Loews Hollywood Hotel in Los Angeles after a brief run at the Westin Bonaventure. "There have been great advancements in technology during a time where we have had limited opportunity to discuss what we've been doing, so this opportunity to discuss cutting-edge research, insight, and technology will be welcomed by many,” said SMPTE Education Director Polly Hickling. Paper proposals are due April 30 on a range of “general topic areas,” including digital cinema, streaming, AI in content creation and broadcast advancements,” said the society.
Distributor Pioneer Music opened a new self-shopping location in Bloomington, Minnesota, it announced Tuesday. The facility provides local integrators logistics support and same-day product availability in an open shopping format where customers can browse aisles for audio, video, surveillance, networking and remote management products. It has a 24-hour will-call room and indoor loading area, it said. The company also has a self-service app, communications service and live-inventory website with bill payment, it said.
Former FCC Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein is leaving the Wireless Infrastructure Association after the Connect (X) conference in May, the group said Wednesday. Adelstein joined WIA as president in 2012, and will join DigitalBridge Group as managing director and head-global policy and public investment June 1. “A candidate search is being launched to identify his replacement,” WIA said. “WIA tripled in size and expanded its reach to all corners of the wireless industry” under Adelstein, said WIA Chairman Jeffrey Stoops, CEO of SBA Communications: “Under his leadership, WIA has become an advocacy juggernaut, racking up federal policy victories and establishing a state program that guided legislation in over 30 states to a successful conclusion.”
CTA “fully supports tough sanctions on Russia” due to its “tragic and illegal assault” on Ukraine, said President Gary Shapiro in a statement dated Friday. “We will inform our members to comply with the new export controls issued in response to Russia’s actions. CTA is committed to serving as a resource for the administration during implementation.”
LG Ad Solutions will do a fireside chat with Dave Bolger, NFL vice president-consumer media, as part of Brand Innovators Sports Marketing Upfronts taking place virtually and in person at the Porsche Experience Center in Los Angeles Tuesday-Thursday, it emailed Monday. Topics will include how the NFL keeps a steady fan base and how it determines its media buying and marketing strategy, said LG. More information can be found here. Other tech industry chats are with Pat LaCroix, Bose head of brand marketing and activation; Michael Schneider, Hulu vice president-live and licensed marketing; Yvette Martinez-Rea, Verizon vice president-sponsorships and partnership; and Kimberly Wilson, SiriusXM senior vice president-brand and consumer marketing.
The Audio Engineering Society opened registration for its AES Europe convention as an in-person event May 7-8 in The Hague and for a “robust online technical program” set for May 16-19, said the society Friday. “There will be a focused in-person technical program, but the majority of workshops & tutorials will be included in the online program,” it said. Feb. 15 is the deadline for technical papers and workshop proposals, it said.
Comcast’s FreeWheel launched a partner program to certify TV and premium video buyers and sellers, plus data and technology companies, to create “a more efficient and effective media supply chain for the TV ecosystem,” it said Wednesday. The goal is to “provide another tool to make TV simpler and more efficient to plan and transact upon, while continuing our commitment to interoperability,” said FreeWheel General Manager Mark McKee. Partners will be listed on FreeWheel’s online portal.
Parks Associates rescheduled its virtual Connections conference to Feb. 16, due to winter storms forecast Thursday for its native Dallas and in other areas of the U.S. The decision was best "for the experience for our audience -- rather than manage through potential power shutdowns and safety issues for our team," emailed Vice President-Marketing Mindi Sue Sternblitz-Rubenstein Wednesday.