TV studio lighting and the Martin MAC 500

Since its introduction in 1997, the MAC 500 has made a significant impact on the growing market for studio lighting. Its high light output, two color wheels and two gobo wheels have proved versatile for studios of all sorts, from childrens programs and game shows to awards shows and music programs.

Germany’s most popular TV programs and top stations such as ZDF, SAT 1 and 2, RTL and NDR all use the MAC 500 to provide power, mood and drama to their productions. ZDF has teamed up with Martin for a spectacular range of TV shows. The nationally televised RSH Gold Gala Awards Ceremony was one of the most spectacular incorporating 90 Martin Mac 500 profiles into the show.

Other ZDF shows featuring the MAC 500 include Menschen, a talkshow looking back at world events of the year gone by (12 Martin Mac 500s, 12 Martin Mac 600s); The Patrick Linder Show (24 MAC 500s, 24 MAC 600s; Stars of the Night, a New Year Party Show; Superhitparade der Volksmusik (5 Mac 500s, 20 Mac 600s,); Chart Attack Party (90 Mac 500s, 100 Mac 600s); the game show Wetten Dass (8 Mac 500, 8 Mac 600); and Kinder dieser Welt, a program focusing on children of the world (52 Mac 500s and 4 Mac 600s).

Martin Mac heads also feature highly in a wide range of other German TV programs. Sesamstrasse, the famous daily TV production for children, produced at Studio Hamburg for NDR uses 8 Mac 500 and 12 Mac 600 heads. Stern TV, a chat show produced by RTL at the MMC studios in Cologne features 40 Mac 500 and 24 Mac 600 units.

Martin France works closely with lighting supplier X&Y, a major player in the French Televison business. Martin and X&Y cover approximately 40% of the big event TV programs in France including the Cannes Film Fesitival.

Another popular TV show, Graine de Star, a program whose aim is to find and promote new talent, used no less than 210 MAC 600s and 25 MAC 500s!

The 12th annual "Sept d´Or" Awards Ceremony, an awards ceremony recognizing the best of French televison, incorporated 25 MAC 500s in combination with 150 MAC 600s to provide color and spot light for the show, broadcast nationwide on French channel France 2.

Among the awards received by the MAC 500 are:
LIVE! - Best Product of the Year
ESTA - Best Product of the Year
ENTECH - Innovation in Lighting Product Design
ETA - Club Effect Light of the Year.