Los Angeles - Litepanels, Inc. announces today it has signed an agreement to be acquired by The Vitec Group plc. Litepanels is the market leader in light emitting diode (“LED”) lighting systems for the television, broadcast, video and film industries. Its groundbreaking lighting products are a complementary addition to the Vitec Group Broadcast Systems Division, which includes such brands as Sachtler®, Vinten®, Autoscript, and Anton/Bauer®.

Litepanels has developed an innovative range of LED on-camera and stand-mounted lighting systems, which have gained broad acceptance with lighting and broadcast professionals. Backed by a strong patent portfolio, the company is known as a leader in the professional lighting industry. The products created by Litepanels, which have won various awards, are used both on-location and in studio environments, including installations at the White House press briefing room and on CNN’s mobile broadcast studio. Additionally, Litepanels has recently delivered lighting systems to NASA for use in the International Space Station. more

The new Litepanels Micro is the first fully professional compact LED light made for production that runs off standard AA batteries.

Created in response to the overwhelming popularity of the MiniPlus, now a staple of television, broadcast news and cinema production worldwide, the Micro harnesses the company’s ultra-efficient LED technology in an extremely lightweight and cost-effective package. Ideal for DV camcorder users, it mounts unobtrusively on top of the camera to provide soft, directional lighting. This compact, daylight-balanced camera light also functions as an exceptional eyelight, filling in the shadows on a subject’s face and bringing the eyes to life. more

K-Tek, maker of professional boom poles, microphone support products and windscreens, introduces a new accessory for DV cameras — the Universal Camera Clamp Adapter Kit (K-CA).

Converting the existing camera microphone clamp to a standard 3/8”-16 thread, the K-CA is a simple and cost effective way to mount accessories like a shock mount or microphone suspension system to popular DV cameras. When added to the clamp, the adapter allows a user to better position the microphone away from the camera in order to better isolate it from the camera’s sounds or vibrations. more

K-Tek expands its full line of professional boom poles with new versions to accommodate stereo microphones.

Now almost every K-Tek Klassic and Avalon boom pole can be ordered either unwired, with a standard internal coiled cable, or prewired with the new coiled stereo cable with standard options. The stereo models feature the same high quality custom made coil cable as the company’s original factory-wired poles. more

Petrol, a Vitec Group brand, introduces the Dr. Petrol camera carrier. Inspired by the traditional doctor’s bag, this new semi-hard equipment bag is uniquely designed to hold a camera and accessories comfortably and securely and offer fast and easy access to its contents. more

Petrol, a Vitec Group brand, introduces the new and improved Eargonizer. Now transporting sound equipment and keeping it safe, organized and accessible on the job has never been easier. more

December 13, 2007 is the date for Band Pro’s Annual “One World on HD ‘07” Open House dedicated to showcasing the newest in HD technology. Band Pro is inviting leading artists, technicians and innovators to share ideas and check out the latest in High Definition technology in a casual atmosphere. more

Introducing I6×9 Inc.’s EX 0.7X Wide Converter for the Sony HVR-V1U and other compact HD camcorders. This professional optic easily attaches to the 62mm threads on the front of the camcorder’s 3.9-78mm lens for 30% more wide-angle coverage than the lens alone affords.

Weighing only 13.75 oz. (390 grams) the EX 0.7X Wide Converter has been elegantly engineered and crafted with no sacrifice in quality. The sleek 3-element design utilizes state-of-the-art coated glass for clean high definition pictures. more

ALAMEDA, CA and CAMBRIDGE, UK –Clear-Com®, a Vitec Group brand, announces the release of two new AES-6 interface cards to its Eclipse Digital Matrix intercom system. The two interface cards are designed to provide connection to either the AES-3 digital audio, or to coax video cable from digital intercom panels. The AES-6 cards complement Clear-Com’s existing range of IMF interfaces for Eclipse intercom matrices, including the 1RU Eclipse-PiCo system, and supporting the company’s existing 4000 system panels. more

Vinten Radamec, worldwide leader in high quality robotic camera support systems for the broadcasting industry, launches the Fusion FCS16, the first ultra-compact control system of its kind to provide full touch screen control for up to 16 cameras, compared to the standard 9, from one single panel unit. The user interface is a Windows based 10.4” touch-screen that allows a single controller to be configured to operate up to 16 cameras and/or full x-y pedestals from any number of locations, whether the operator is in the next room or on the other side of the world. Multiple controllers can be added to the network allowing further operational flexibility. While much more functional, the system is just as compact as its closest predecessor, the Shot Control Panel from Radamec plus it can store up to 64,000 shots. The Fusion FCS16 Control more