Panasonic Projector & Display Acquires HIVEPanasonic Projector & Display Corporation has acquired 100% of the issued shares of UK-based media technology company Hive Media Control Ltd. In a statement, Panasonic says, "The acquisition marks a further step in Panasonic's evolution from a hardware-led manufacturer into a broader visual solutions ecosystem provider, expanding its proposition beyond projection and display into software, workflow, and integrated media-delivery solutions." HIVE will continue to operate as a stand-alone business with a vendor-neutral market approach. Panasonic will reportedly support HIVE's continued growth. This includes continuity for HIVE's existing customers and partners, including those using HIVE alongside projector and LED display brands beyond Panasonic. HIVE's flagship BeeBlade platform is based on the Intel Smart Display Module (SDM) standard, enabling direct integration with projectors, direct-view LED display systems, and professional displays. "This is a strategically important step for Panasonic as we continue to evolve our business beyond a hardware-oriented model toward broader visual solutions and workflow value," says Yousuke Adachi, Panasonic CEO. "Under MEVIX, our visual solutions brand, we have been clearly articulating our commitment to contribute to customers across the total workflow, not just at the hardware endpoint. This acquisition is a major step in that direction and an important step forward in growth guided by the spirit of the MEVIX brand. HIVE brings proven expertise in media playback and control, and when combined with our projector and display portfolio, we believe it can create meaningful customer value through simpler deployment, greater flexibility, and a better end-user experience. At the same time, we fully respect HIVE's position as a standalone business open to working with the wider market, and we look forward to the synergies from HIVE's continued growth also creating value for Panasonic." "We are inspired and honoured by the opportunity to work with Panasonic, while continuing to grow HIVE as an open and independent ecosystem," says Mark Calvert, co-founder and CEO of Hive Media Control Ltd. "In nature, the most powerful systems are interconnected, adaptive, and free to evolve, a philosophy that sits at the heart of HIVE. This partnership gives us the scale to accelerate our vision while preserving the openness and platform-agnostic approach our customers rely on. I would also like to thank my co-founders, Dave Green and Trey Harrison, and our incredible HIVE team, whose belief and dedication mean we move into this next chapter together." Panasonic views the media server market as a growth area, supported by increasing demand for immersive attractions, museums, themed environments, and other permanent visual installations, making HIVE an attractive candidate for purchase. Its media servers are already deployed across major global projects, including the BBC Earth Experience, the National Museum of Qatar, and Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel exhibition. Panasonic adds, "Further details on the companies' collaboration, including customer-facing materials and additional communications, will be shared in due course." 
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