Hippotizer To Drive LDI 2026 Battle Of The Busk

Green Hippo's Hippotizer Media Servers will run all video elements for the Battle of the Busk at LDI 2026 on Monday 7 December, a high-energy, timecode-free showdown played out across seven LED screens and decided by audience vote. The event brings together seasoned pros and first-time competitors, with no safety net and only the music to follow.

Teams of up-and-coming programmers, mentored by leading figures from the live entertainment world, will perform live to tracks in real time on Hippotizer — with reputations on the line and potential careers launched on the night.

Behind the scenes, two Hippotizer MEUSE MX Series Media Servers will operate in an A/B configuration, allowing the next team to load and prepare while the current act performs, keeping changeovers tight. The pair will handle multiple inputs and live camera feeds for IMAG across all seven high-resolution LED displays — effectively a stress test in party mode.

LDI also marks the first public outing of Green Hippo's core message, Built for Performance, highlighting a human-centred design philosophy intended to keep pace with performers and help operators shine.

"Busking is about the most honest test there is," says Bob Bonniol, Chief Innovation Officer at ACT Entertainment. "No timecode, no safety net… just a person, the music and a room deciding in real time whether this is a night they'll remember. That's who we build for. I spent a lot of years at front of house wishing the video gear would keep up with me. 'Built for Performance' is the bar we're setting for 2027: the machine should feel like an instrument you play, not a science project you babysit. The performing is yours. Our job is to make it JOYFUL."

Green Hippo's new Estuary Series media controller and event switcher is now shipping, offering straightforward, intuitive control of expansive screen canvases with extensive I/O. With native DMX and sACN support, screens can be programmed from the same lighting console as the rest of the show, reducing headcount and cutting late-night cross-department handoffs.

Hippotizer will also bring additional surprises to Las Vegas focused on new freedoms in show design and operation, with details to follow.

Those keen to get hands-on before the expo can join Green Hippo: Hippotizer Media Server Essentials, a full-day course on Saturday 5 December, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., in Room W229. Aimed at beginners and intermediate users, it covers setup, configuration, media management, visualisation, encoding, output and playback through practical exercises. The course costs $669 with lunch included; registration is via the LDI website.

The LDI 2026 expo runs from 6–8 December at the Las Vegas Convention Center, West Hall. The Green Hippo team will be on the ACT Entertainment booth (#1111) throughout. Visitors are encouraged to bring questions or live show challenges — and to catch Monday's Battle of the Busk to cast their vote.