German audio technology and solutions company d&b has announced an acquisition of UK-based audiovisual, lighting and media firm White Light that specializes in extended reality technology.
According to a press release, d&b solutions is the service-based part of d&b’s business, which includes the manufacturing arm, d&b audiotechnik. The service business offers end-to-end expertise in project development, manufacturing, system planning, installation and maintenance.
According to the Backnang, Germany company, the acquisition of White Light, a supplier of lighting and production solutions primarily for live events, bolsters the new services business and expands the offerings.
The press release describes White Light, founded in 1971, as a complete production solution specialist that operates in a range of markets, including theatre, corporate, broadcast, concerts, education and more.
The deal is for 100% of White Light shares, and the company will become part of the d&b group upon closing next month. All existing staff will make the move to d&b.
However, the deal is centered around WhiteLight’s SmartStage technology, in development since 2017, that uses extended reality (XR) technology to replace the traditional green screen element of a virtual studio.
XR technology has burst onto the production scene in recent years, largely made popular by the popular Disney+ show “The Mandalorian” and Industrial Light and Magic, the Lucasfilm-owned visual effects company. In addition to replacing a green screen, the technology allows on-site talent to see the visuals around them in real time while acting a realistic source of light.
The hope is for d&b to combine that XR technology with its immersive audio platform Soundscape to create new experiences and open new market potential for immersive AV solutions.
In a statement, Amnon Harman, d&b Group CEO, called the acquisition strategic.
“(White Light’s) technology and expertise significantly increases d&b solutions’ capabilities to offer complete and flexible audio, video, lighting and XR solutions,” Harman said. “Driven by accelerated market trends during the pandemic, this is another step forward in d&b’s strategic transition. d&b solutions will become a premium one-stop-shop for the AVLM needs of our customers in the UK.”
