Panasonic announces HIVE Media Control acquisition

Panasonic Projector & Display Corporation has acquired 100% of the issued shares of UK-based Hive Media Control Ltd., adding media playback and control capability to its professional projection and display business. The move is aimed at immersive and fixed-installation environments where content delivery, synchronization and display output are increasingly handled as one workflow.

The acquisition fits Panasonic’s move beyond hardware-led projection and display toward broader visual systems under its MEVIX direction. For integrators and venue operators, the practical point is that media-server and control capability now sits closer to Panasonic’s projector and display portfolio, rather than being treated only as an external system layer.

HIVE will continue to operate as a standalone, vendor-neutral business after the acquisition. That position is relevant for existing HIVE users and partners working with non-Panasonic projectors, direct-view LED systems and professional displays, because the platform is not being described as a closed Panasonic-only ecosystem.

HIVE’s BeeBlade platform is based on the Intel Smart Display Module standard and is designed for direct integration with projectors, direct-view LED systems and professional displays. Panasonic frames the technology as part of a wider media-delivery and workflow offer for museums, themed attractions, cultural venues and permanent immersive installations.

No transaction value was stated. Panasonic’s announcement was published on 19 May 2026, with AV trade coverage the same day.

Sources
- AV Magazine - Panasonic buys Hive Intel SDM-native media server firm
- PLSN - Panasonic Projector & Display Acquires Hive Media Control Ltd.