TVC Technology Solutions Completes Major AV Installation

Hospitality and entertainment AV integrator TVC Technology Solutions has completed a major audiovisual installation at Hollywood Bowl Cardiff XL, creating a flexible AV infrastructure across the new entertainment venue.

The project builds on TVC's longstanding relationship with Hollywood Bowl Group and represents the integrator’s most ambitious AV project for the group to date.

The new Cardiff venue combines bowling, karting, lounge, dining and social spaces across two levels, requiring an AV system capable of supporting different activities and content throughout the customer journey, from arrival and reception through to the main entertainment areas.

The brief included the distribution of live sport, marketing content, prize and leaderboard information, karting promotions and pre-race briefings, with different content required in different areas simultaneously.

The system also needed to provide consistent audio coverage and simple employee control while remaining discreetly integrated and practical to operate during busy trading periods.

At the centre of the visual installation are 26 Philips commercial displays, with individual screen groups assigned to specific functions.

Four 49-inch landscape displays at the main bar provide live sport and marketing content, while four portrait screens at reception deliver customer-facing digital signage.

Further portrait displays provide prize and leaderboard information, while four 50-inch Philips displays positioned around the lounge column show live sport, marketing content and the live karting feed.

A four-screen 49-inch video wall beside the pool tables provides a larger visual canvas, while a second four-screen sports wall has been installed in the basement party and karting area.

The karting briefing area features a dedicated 65-inch display, with employees able to select health and safety videos using a simple two-button control.

TVC has also installed a 55-inch high-brightness, dual-sided digital poster in the venue window facing Hills Street. The display provides a platform for promotions and customer information that can be viewed both inside and outside the venue.

A separate 55-inch digital totem provides a dynamic leaderboard.

The displays are supported by a WyreStorm NetworkHD AV over IP platform comprising nine encoders, 12 decoders, a NetworkHD Pro Controller and managed Netgear switching.

Four Sky boxes, four marketing sources and the karting computer feed are distributed across the network. This allows employees to select live sport, branded promotions or karting content for individual display groups rather than distributing a single source throughout the venue.

TVC also created 12 independently managed audio zones to support the venue’s different entertainment spaces.

Across the 20 bowling lanes, Audac Vexo 110 loudspeakers provide the output and headroom needed for music, live-sport audio and announcements to be heard above the noise of bowling and customer activity.

Vexo and Alti loudspeakers provide more controlled coverage across the lounge, dining, pool, darts and party areas.

The karting area uses additional Vexo loudspeakers across reception, waiting areas and the track, with compact Vexo 106 models dedicated to the briefing screen to prioritise speech intelligibility.

Audio control is provided by Optimal Audio Z8 and Z4 DSP controllers, Audac amplification, PAD4 wall controllers and two iPads. These give employees straightforward control over sources and volume, including background music, Sky, karting content and wireless microphones.

B-Tech mounting solutions were used throughout the venue to provide secure, discreet and serviceable support for the various display configurations.

The mounting systems accommodate the larger video walls, portrait displays and the central lounge screen arrangement, helping TVC integrate the technology into the venue while maintaining practical access for servicing and maintenance.