The market for digital signage is set to grow rapidly over the next few years. A recent report by iSuppli predicts that global shipments of digital retail signs are set to rise to 2.5 million units by 2013. This figure represents a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 26.8% since 2008. The technologies, solutions and content that are driving this revolution in communication will form the focus for the Digital Signage Zone at IBC2010.

IT Europa, the leading European IT publisher and market intelligence organisation, has announced the winners of the European IT Excellence Awards 2010 - the first pan-European awards event for IT and Telecoms channels. The finalists were honoured at a celebration dinner at The Tower Hotel, London.

Megahertz (MHz) has continued to build on its strong links with the Middle East by forming partnerships with ETACO in Egypt, Ghali Electronics in Syria and Maritronics in Bahrain.

GlobeCast America has appointed Jeff Casey as vice president of media management, based in the company's US headquarters in New York and reporting directly to the CEO of GlobeCast America, David Justin.

Systems integrator IVC Media has strengthened its management team with the appointment of John Smith to the board. Smith's remit will be to focus the company on converged market sectors and coincides with a renewed direction for the organisation.

Front Porch Digital has announced that the company's 2009 sales bookings were the best in its 11-year history, representing a gain of more than 30% over 2008. Moreover, the company closed more than 85% of the deals it competed for worldwide. Mike Knaisch, Front Porch Digital's president and CEO, said the company's success was keyed by a surge in the third and fourth quarters - with fourth quarter sales alone increasing by nearly 100% over the company's previous best quarter ever.

Last week's BVE exhibition at Earls Court in London offered positive signs to the broadcast industry in general. After a tough year, BVE 2010 opened with 10% more space than last year, as well as 60 new exhibitors. The show's final results were even more encouraging. Visitor numbers were up 13% (12,614), while VIPs increased from 1358 to 1827, a 35% growth. On the back of these figures, stand bookings for the 2011 show have surged by a third compared with 2010.

According to a poll carried out among visitors at the BVE exhibition by test and measurement specialist, Hamlet - 50% of people expect to work in a stereoscopic 3D production in the coming year. A further 14% had already worked in 3D. And almost two-thirds of visitors said that finding out about 3D equipment and production techniques was the main reason or an important part of their visit.

The demand for IPTV has shown explosive growth over the last 12 months. Recent research by MRG Inc predicts that the number of IPTV subscribers worldwide will continue to grow at 31% per year to reach 83 million by 2013, creating a $38 billion marketplace for services alone.

The 2010 NAB Show will debut Destination Broadband, a dynamic new exhibit area focusing on advances and applications for broadband technology, 12-15 April in Las Vegas. Destination Broadband, featuring more than 50 companies and a presentation theatre, will examine the entire online video experience within the broadband ecosystem from back end infrastructure to revolutionary technologies for the home.