News

TV Switches On To Custom Install (27/7/2004)

Custom install continues to generate a higher profile amongst consumers, thanks to exposure in two recent prime-time TV shows.

First up, and one of the top highlights to come out of CEDIA Expo 2004 was undoubtedly a visit from Channel 5's "The Gadget Show". For those that were at the show, it escaped the notice of very few that Suzi Perry, the connected man's favourite eye candy, and her film crew spent all of Day Two filming material at various Expo Stands.

The result was a slot on the 19th July programme, which featured everything from integral towel rail TV's and the latest DLP projectors to rock speakers and SMS text control of home heating and lighting systems. Companies featured on the show included Future Automation, Sim2, Aquavision, Marata Vision, The Max Company, smartkontrols and Philips. A web link to these companies and CEDIA now features on the programme's micro-site within the main www.five.tv/gadgetshow site. With over 1 million viewers, the programme gave CEDIA and much of the technology that members install, fantastic exposure amongst consumers.

BBC2's new "Superhomes" series also makes interesting viewing for anyone in custom install. These six documentaries are examining the buying and selling of the world's most expensive homes with the help of exclusive access to Sotheby's International Realty. The first show, broadcast on 7th July, focussed on the London market and looked inside properties ranging from a £25 million mansion in Kensington to a £14million townhouse in Belgravia.

The show was broadly positive in the views it expressed on home technology. The Sotheby's people name-checked "home cinema" as one of the must-haves in this type of property, and there were creditable mentions for CEDIA members, Lutron and Crestron. A demonstration of a Crestron touchscreen panel even drew the on-air remark from the agent that "this is so easy, even I could use it." More information on the series, which took in a number of US property hotspots together with visits to Barbados and Moscow, is available from www.flashbacktv.co.uk. "Building awareness and value of the CEDIA brand is a critical part of our marketing strategy" says CEDIA operations Director, Wendy Griffith. "As such, any TV exposure is a huge boost - it was a fantastic coup to get "The Gadget Show" people along to Expo 2004, and the Superhomes show has also helped in getting key custom install messages across to a wider audience."

www.five.tv/gadgetshow
www.flashbacktv.co.uk