Howdy folks, and welcome to the week in Playback. It’s funny: the editors here at CE Pro figured the display category would be making headlines what with the new RGB models rolling out, but we never quite envisioned something like this.
In case you aren’t aware of it, Panasonic handed off its TV business to its competitor SKYWORTH this week in a move that is impossible not to see mirrored in Sony’s deal with TCL earlier in the year. Both prominent Japanese TV manufacturers, both handing off most of the production and sales duties to Chinese competitors in the market.
On the consumer side, concerns over changes in quality have arisen—though those haven’t been substantiated just yet—and while those pose as risks to integrators staking their names on some of these products, one thing I’ve seen mentioned only smatteringly in all this is: who owns the support role in this partnership?
Panasonic has directly addressed this question: All TVs sold after the deal with SKYWORTH goes into effect (April 1st, 2026 (no that humor is not lost on us)) will be fully supported by Panasonic’s own support teams. The status of support following Sony’s deal has been left more up in the air based on the information we’ve received so far.
While these partnerships are understandably designed to allow for greater growth and stability in what are very challenging markets and categories, it’s important to recognize how dealers can potentially get lost in the shuffle. After all, manufacturer support has become a foundational pillar for success in this channel.
It’s the main reason CE Pro runs programs like Quest for Quality, and it’s something integrators should be paying attention to as deals like this shake out.
Now, let’s see what we have on the Playback this week.
1. Welcome to Nashville, L-Acoustics
Source: CE Pro
After a long wait, L-Acoustics opened its dedicated American headquarters in Nashville, Tennessee earlier this week. The opening establishes a hub where the company’s regional team, industry partners and the world’s top creative artists can collaborate using L-Acoustic’s audio technology.
It also establishes the first HYRISS showroom to be opened in America and the second globally.
“This showroom lets our partners walk in with a developer or yacht owner and demonstrate how one space can transform from a morning meditation room to an evening cinema to a late-night listening lounge—all without changing a single piece of furniture,” said Bryan Bradley, CEO Americas at L-Acoustics.
Following the opening of its HQ, the company said it is establishing a 3PL-managed warehouse in the greater Nashville area in 2026 to improve logistics and service delivery across the Eastern United States.
2. Kim Parker Returns to Shading with Keder Screens
Source: CE Pro
Keder Screens announced its official launch into the residential custom installation (CI) channel on Wednesday with a purpose-built motorized outdoor screen platform known as V-Screen.
Founded by Justin Collins in 2022, the company’s entry into the CI channel is now being led by Kim Parker formerly of Screen Innovations (SI) and Control4, who is serving as the Head of Business Development and Partner/Owner of Keder Screens.
Collins himself brings over 25 years of working in the screen and shade industry to the company and is the inventor of Keder’s V-Screen retention platform.
Per the company’s PR announcing its entry into the CI channel, a large focus of the system is to address many of the issues that have led to outdoor screens being labeled a “high-risk” scope item.
3. Putting a Bow on Lightapalooza 2026
Source: CE Pro
Lightapalooza 2026 officially wrapped up last week and while the show had quite a few noteworthy product announcements, the real meat lies in smaller developments glimpsed throughout the show floor and inside the classrooms and discussion halls.
CE Pro Senior Editor Nick Boever digs into the comprehensive post-show coverage analyzing keynote messages alongside show trends to try and gleam where the industry might be heading down the road.
Emphasis on interoperability among exhibitors and emerging design services highlighted the consistent value the industry is placing on manufacturer support to help keep integrators flexible in project scope and roles.
In the opening keynote of the show, David Warfel of Light Can Help You stressed that business owners should be leaning into their strengths and building teams around that, with events like Lightapalooza serving as integral parts of the growth process.
4. More Like AI-DT
Source: CE Pro
ADT made headlines on Tuesday with the acquisition of Origin AI to add camera-free AO sensing to its smart home platform.
The $170 million all-cash acquisition brings Origin AI’s sensing platform and intellectual property into ADT Inc., positioning the technology as a foundational layer for future security, safety and automation services.
Rather than using traditional cameras or sensors, Origin AI detects human presence through disruption of Wi-Fi waves throughout a home environment, using wireless devices as virtual sensors to run the measurements.
ADT says the addition of AI sensing reflects a broader shift toward continuous, context-aware home intelligence rather than purely reactive security alerts.
5. It’s Starting to Look Like a Relay Race
Source: CE Pro
Panasonic announced that it has entered a strategic partnership with SKYWORTH on Wednesday, confirming speculation that the company would be offloading its struggling TV business.
Under the agreement—confirmed at Panasonic Experience 2026 in Munich by Chuángwéi RGB’s (SKYWORTH’s parent company) CEO Peter Zhang—SKYWORTH will take over for the production, research, development and sales of the Panasonic TV line.
Panasonic will continue to provide input in development, using its years of experience in the AV industry to ensure SKYWORTH continues to produce sets under the company’s name.
The news from Panasonic mirrors recent developments from Sony, who, in January 2026, confirmed it would be handing over its TV business to the likes of TCL under very similar a very similar agreement with TCL handling production, while Sony will continue to contribute technology, branding and guidance on the company’s TV lines.
