We speak with Olaf Sperwer, responsible for Business Development in Virtual Production at ROE Visual, to explore his market vision, the company’s strategic goals, and the latest innovations in this technology.

*This is included in the April issue of TM BROADCAST. You can access the full magazine here.

LED displays have become a cornerstone of the audiovisual industry. A quick walk through the latest edition of the ISE trade show was enough to grasp the leading role these solutions now play across every vertical of the market—including the broadcast sector, which is rapidly adopting this technology.

“LED screens are increasingly used in newsrooms, talk shows, and sports studios for dynamic backdrops, branded storytelling, and live data visualization. The broadcast becomes reliant on more immersive storytelling, incorporating aspects like real-time data visualisation to remain attractive for a younger audience,” Olaf Sperwer, responsible for Business Development in Virtual Production at ROE Visual, tells TM BROADCAST. This manufacturer has positioned itself at the forefront of the development and implementation of this technology.

Among the various applications for LED, virtual production deserves special mention. This area is currently experiencing a golden age, with LED displays playing a critical role. In this interview, Olaf Sperwer shares insights into the specific challenges of these installations, as well as his market outlook and ROE’s strategic priorities for the year ahead.

Company evolution & objectives

How has ROE evolved in recent years, and what are its main recent milestones as a company?

ROE Visual has continued to push the boundaries of LED technology, solidifying its position as a market leader in the AV, broadcast, and live events industries. Our evolution has been marked by the development of advanced LED display solutions tailored to the needs of high-end productions.

Key milestones include introducing new LED-based technologies, such as Full Spectrum LED panels, MIP technology, and a range of products tailored to our markets.

We have moved our production to a new factory – updating and enhancing our production- and test lines.

We have also strengthened our global footprint by enhancing our service and support network, ensuring our clients receive the highest expertise and reliability. Adding strongholds in Japan, Dubai, Australia, and the UK to our global offices.

“LED display technology has rapidly improved, with higher pixel density, enhanced contrast ratios, and better color reproduction becoming key factors”

What are your main objectives for this year?

Our main objectives this year focus on innovation, expansion, and sustainability. We aim to introduce new LED solutions that cater to the evolving needs of broadcast, live events, and fixed installations. Advancing Micro LED (Micro LED in Package) technology remains a priority to offer higher contrast, superior color accuracy, and increased efficiency. Additionally, we are committed to expanding our reach in emerging markets, strengthening relationships with industry partners, and ensuring our production and supply chains remain resilient and sustainable.

Technical advancements & differentiation

LED screens have become essential in the AV and Broadcast industries and have seen significant improvements in recent years. What key technical advancements have you incorporated into your LED solutions in this regard?

ROE Visual continuously integrates the latest advancements in LED technology to meet the increasing demands of the AV and broadcast industries. We have incorporated:

• True Micro LED (MIP) Technologyfor improved contrast, durability, and efficiency.
• High refresh rate and low latencyfor seamless camera performance in broadcast and virtual production.
• Advanced HDR capabilities, ensuring superior color accuracy and depth.
• High-performance LED driver ICs, reducing scan lines and improving image quality.
• Improved mechanical design, ensuring quick setup, durability, and modular scalability for different production environments. Resulting in a flawless LED canvas without visible seams.

Overall, what do you think differentiates ROE from other manufacturers?

ROE Visual stands out due to its uncompromising commitment to quality, innovation, and customer support. Our LED solutions are built to meet the rigorous demands of high-profile productions, ensuring reliability in the most challenging environments. Hereby we focus on:

• Precision engineering; offering industry-leading color uniformity, a wide color gamut, contrast, and reliability.
• Using best-of-class parts for our LED panels translates back into an LED panel with the extra headroom to operate stable and durable – also under rugged circumstances.
• Strong partnerships with top industry players, making ROE Visual the go-to choice for major film studios, broadcasters, and live event companies. Building an eco-sysmtem of suppliers that work together and can ensure the customer of flawless integration.
• Comprehensive support and service, with a global presence to assist clients wherever they operate.

Industry trends

What would you highlight as the key trends in the industry?

LED screens are increasingly used in newsrooms, talk shows, and sports studios for dynamic backdrops, branded storytelling, and live data visualization. The broadcast becomes reliant on more immersive storytelling, incorporating aspects like real-time data visualisation to remain attractive for a younger audience.

LED technology supports more eco-friendly productions, with reduced need for physical set building and less transportation/logistics. Lower energy consumption and modular setups also appeal to productions aiming for greener practices. LED screens become more power efficient, with common cathode LED types using less power. Also advanced led monitoring can reduce power consumption and can have an effect on the durability of LED screens.

Among all the sectors you operate in, where do you see the highest demand for your solutions?

While ROE Visual serves multiple industries, we see the highest demand in virtual production, live events, and high-end broadcast applications. The need for immersive, high-resolution visuals in virtual studios and LED-based broadcast environments is growing rapidly. Additionally, the demand for rugged, tour-ready LED panels in live events remains strong, with productions seeking high-performance solutions that offer quick deployment and exceptional visual quality.

“We see the highest demand in virtual production, live events, and high-end broadcast applications”

In the broadcast industry, you have worked on projects for major television networks. What improvement goals and requirements do they typically seek when adopting your solutions?

Broadcasters demand high refresh rates, exceptional color accuracy, and minimal moiré effects to ensure a flawless on-screen image. They also look for seamless integration with camera systems, low latency, and reliable performance under various lighting conditions. Our LED solutions meet these needs by providing precise calibration, flexible panel configurations, and robust processing capabilities tailored for the broadcast industry.

Virtual production is certainly one of the most prominent trends in the industry. How do you perceive its evolution in recent years from the perspective of LED displays?

Virtual production has evolved from an emerging technology to an essential tool for film, television, and commercial productions. The demand for LED volumes has surged as filmmakers and studios embrace in-camera visual effects (ICVFX). As a result, LED display technology has rapidly improved, with higher pixel density, enhanced contrast ratios, and better color reproduction becoming key factors. ROE Visual has been at the forefront of this transformation, providing optimized LED solutions that enhance the realism and efficiency of virtual production workflows.

“Broadcasters demand high refresh rates, exceptional color accuracy, and minimal moiré effects to ensure a flawless on-screen image”

What type of clients typically require your solutions for setting up virtual production studios?

Our clients in virtual production range from major film studios and television networks to independent production houses and rental companies specializing in LED-based studio environments. Companies involved in VFX-heavy productions, advertising agencies, and corporate content creators rely on our LED solutions for their virtual production needs.

What specific challenges do these virtual production installations pose from your perspective?

Virtual production installations require precise color calibration, minimal latency, and seamless synchronization with camera systems in order to achieve photorealistic results. Challenges include:

• Managing reflections and unwanted light artifacts, which can affect realism.
• Ensuring accurate color reproduction, especially when shooting with high-end cinema cameras.
• Optimizing LED processing to reduce scan lines and moiré effects.
• Integrating LED panels with real-time rendering engines, such as Unreal Engine, for smooth virtual backgrounds.
• Using AI generated content in 2-2,5D realistic plates

ROE Visual addresses these challenges with high-quality LED panels, dedicated processing solutions, and expert support, ensuring virtual productions achieve the best possible results.

Would you like to add anything else?

ROE Visual remains committed to pushing the boundaries of LED technology for broadcast, live events, and virtual production. As industry demands evolve, we continue to innovate, collaborate, and refine our products to meet the highest standards. Whether it’s through innovative LED solutions, improved processing capabilities, or dedicated support, we strive to empower creators with the best tools available.

We look forward to continuing to shape the future of LED display technology and supporting professionals in achieving their creative vision.

“We have moved our production to a new factory – updating and enhancing our production- and test lines”