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SBES To Sell Out Early!

With just under six months to go before this year's Sound Broadcast Equipment Show, more than 85% of stand space has already been sold! After a year in London, SBES is now back at the Birmingham NEC, a popular move with exhibitors and one which has undoubtedly boosted bookings this year. Organiser Dave McVittie at Point Promotions said: "We hit the 75% percent mark back in mid-March, way ahead of expectations and perhaps reflecting the improving state of our industry. What was particularly surprising was that almost all the larger stands have already been booked whereas last year these took much longer to fill."

And it’s not just regular exhibitors that are coming to Birmingham in November. At least two companies, Saras Technology and First Sense, are joining the ranks of SBES exhibitors for the first time, and several companies who took a year out in 2003 have also returned. These include Audio Limited, Sennheiser, IPE Systems, Audio-Technica, Beyer Dynamic and Audio Developments.

In addition, several first time exhibitors at last year's London SBES are making the trip to Birmingham for the first time. These include transmission specialist Broadcast Warehouse, who will be showing a wide range of equipment, including their DSPX audio processor and the TS9000 FM broadcast analyser, as well as their range of low-power FM transmitters and dynamic RDS encoders. Commenting on last year’s show, a company spokesman said: "We were really impressed by the amount of enquiries and business we received as a result of exhibiting in 2003. This year we're looking forward to meeting SBES visitors in Birmingham, and to giving them a chance to get a hands on look at our expanded range of transmission products."

Companies who haven't exhibited at SBES for a while are also returning to SBES for 2004. These include London-based mixer manufacturer, Chilton, and studio automation specialists, Barrcode, who said: "We're delighted to be going back to SBES after a break of three years, and we're looking forward to showing our latest range of broadcast automation software to existing and potential clients alike."

The great strength of SBES is that it manages to combine manageable scale with a very specific radio focus. It's a strength which many in the industry often applaud. For example, when he heard that the show was returning to Birmingham, regular SBES visitor Kim Plaskett, the station engineer at BBC Radio Derby said: "Unlike some vast shows . . . SBES has a large proportion of stands which are relevant to me. As the sole engineer on this radio station, it takes all my efforts to make myself available for one day out at a show, each year. It's a great opportunity to meet most of the main suppliers that I deal with. For people working in Radio, and particularly Local Radio, it's the only show to be seen at!

SBES 2004 also marks arrival of 'Micro Stands' for small companies which might otherwise feel the outlay involved to be too great. Announced back in December, these one-metre-square stands are supplied complete with a mains power supply and company name-board. The Micro Stands are located in the main body of SBES to ensure that they obtain maximum ‘passing traffic’. According to Point Promotions, although primarily targeted at first time exhibitors, some established exhibitors have also expressed an interest in these smaller stands as a way of highlighting specific products and services and a way of maximising their exposure at SBES.

The 29th Sound Broadcasting Equipment Show takes place on Wednesday and Thursday, the 24th and 25th of November in the Pavilion Suite of the National Exhibition Centre adjacent to Birmingham International Airport and rail station, and just a few minutes drive from the M42 motorway.

http://www.sbes.com.

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SBES To Sell Out Early!

1st June 2004

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