Audio Industry Breaking Sound Barriers At The 2006 International CES

Arlington, Virginia, The global audio industry will once again place its latest products and technologies at center stage as more than 130,000 industry professionals travel to the 2006 International CES(r) to see the most recent advancements in high-performance audio, portable entertainment devices, satellite radio, home studio products, HD-radio and more. The 2006 International CES, the world’s largest consumer technology tradeshow, will return to Las Vegas, January 5-8, 2006.

“As the world of audio reaches new heights, attendees at the 2006 International CES will experience first-hand the wave of hot, new audio products and technologies emerging on the market,” said Karen Chupka, vice president of events and conferences for the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA(r)), the producer of the International CES. “Whether it’s audio education through CES conference sessions, experiencing the latest technologies through TechZones such as Portable Audio and Connected Home Entertainment, or catching the high-end audio displays at the Alexis Park, attendees at this year’s International CES will experience the latest cutting-edge technology and highest performing products in the audio industry.”

Showcasing two-channel audio and multi-channel audio, the International CES is home to the world’s largest high-performance audio tradeshow, with more than 275 exhibitors at the Alexis Park Resort alone. Shuttle buses between the Alexis Park, the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) and the Sands will run every 10 minutes. The CEA High-Performance Audio Subdivision will hold a special “Welcome to CES” reception by invitation only on Thursday, January 5, 2006, 7-9:30 p.m. at the Alexis Park Hotel. Rock and Roll Hall of Famer John Sebastian (The Lovin’ Spoonful) will take the stage at 8 p.m.

With 199 conferences and SuperSessions scheduled for the 2006 International CES, attendees will hear from top industry professionals on the latest cutting-edge developments in the audio world. Sessions such as “Entertainment on the Go” and “Getting the Right Audio Mix for Digital Video” will educate attendees on the latest trends and products making way their way onto the audio market.

“The Return of Radio” conference session on Thursday, January 5, in the LVCC North Hall, will focus on the revitalization of the once fading radio market through the innovation of satellite and HD-radio. Moderator Susan Kevorkian, program manager, Consumer Markets: Audio, IDC, along with panelists Bob Struble, president and CEO, iBiquity Digital; Hugh Panero, president and CEO, XM Satellite Radio; John Gardner, product manager, Digital Radio, Digital Radio and Infotainment Business, Texas Instruments and Jeff Littlejohn, executive vice president, Distribution Development, Clear Channel Radio, will provide insight into the growing industry and discuss emerging technologies that may affect the landscape of satellite radio.

Individual TechZones at the LVCC and Innovations Plus at the Sands will highlight achievements made in the audio industry, focusing on segments such as portable audio, mobile audio, accessories, speakers and components, Internet audio and digital content storage.

The Connected Home Entertainment TechZone, located in the South Hall at the LVCC, will showcase the latest in media servers and whole-house audio and video. Homebuilders, installers, manufacturers and distributors alike won’t want to miss the latest innovations in multi-room networked entertainment.

The Studio@Home TechZone, part of the Innovations Plus at the Sands, features home studio capabilities of the future. Attendees will see the latest in home recording and editing products, electronic music creation software, pro-sumer recording and editing products, video editing and production tools.

For more news on CES before, during and after the show, including individual conference sessions and TechZones, visit www.CESweb.org, the interactive source for CES information.

Note to Journalists: Press and analyst registration is available at CESweb.org. Detailed press conference information also is available in the Press Room section of CESweb.org. Journalists are encouraged to arrive in Las Vegas by Tuesday, January 3, 2006 to take advantage of all the CES press conferences and events, including CES Unveiled on January 3 at 4 p.m. in the Bellini Ballroom of Innovations Plus at the Sands.

About CEA: The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) is the preeminent trade association promoting growth in the consumer technology industry through technology policy, events, research, promotion and the fostering of business and strategic relationships. CEA represents more than 2,000 corporate members involved in the design, development, manufacturing, distribution and integration of audio, video, mobile electronics, wireless and landline communications, information technology, home networking, multimedia and accessory products, as well as related services that are sold through consumer channels. Combined, CEA’s members account for more than $122 billion in annual sales. CEA’s resources are available online at www.CE.org, the definitive source for information about the consumer electronics industry.

CEA also sponsors and manages the International CES - Defining Tomorrow’s Technology. All profits from CES are reinvested into industry services, including technical training and education, industry promotion, engineering standards development, market research and legislative advocacy.

Contact Information

Tara Dunion

Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)

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