Mike Blackman sees ISE audiovisual trade show outgrowing Mobile World Congress as 'realistic' 

The Integrated Systems Europe (ISE), the world’s largest audiovisual trade show, will return to Barcelona for the fourth consecutive year from January 30 to February 2.  

In an interview with the Catalan News Agency (ACN), ISE’s managing director, Mike Blackman, said, that he believes it is “realistic” and “absolutely possible” for the ISE to outgrow the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in a few years, as both the trade show and the audiovisual sector and industry “are growing.”  

However, Blackman stresses that the two trade shows, both held in Barcelona, are “complementary.” 

“The Mobile World [Congress] covers a sector that we do not cover, and we cover a sector that they do not cover,” said Blackman, adding that large companies such as Samsung and LG attend both trade shows but with different divisions.

“When you see those companies at Mobile World they present mobile phones, when you see them at ISE they present displays and solutions for the AV industry,” he pointed out. 

According to the managing director, more than 80,000 attendees have already registered for this year’s edition, and even if not all of them show up, it “will be the biggest show, on all parameters”, with an expected 15% increase in turnover over last year’s edition, which generated €386 million.

Before coming to Barcelona, the trade show was held in Amsterdam for 16 years, making this year the 20th edition.

Some 1,340 exhibitors will take part in the exhibition at the Fira Barcelona Gran Via site, across an 82,000-square-meter space, 30% bigger than last year. 

Of all the companies attending, 200 will be first-time exhibitors. Up to 150 are from China, while some 80 are Catalonia-based companies. 

Projection mapping on Casa Battló, a "gift to Barcelona" 

The trade show will feature an "exclusive" projection mapping work called ‘Structures of Being’ on the façade of Gaudí-designed Casa Battló, located on Barcelona’s Passeig de Gràcia, created by Argentine audiovisual artist Sofia Crespo. 

According to Blackman, the work is a “gift to Barcelona” in appreciation of the city’s reception of the ISE. 

The projection mapping will take place on Saturday evening starting at 8:45pm and will be repeated on Sunday at 7:00pm.