Trade shows and the Olympics have dominated the headlines with the KBIS/International Builders’ Show and Lightapalooza 2026, taking center stage, along with the U.S. Women’s hockey team here at KMB Comm this past week.
However, there has been plenty of other newsworthy items, including some big economic news stories with data that indicates how the government shutdown impact economic growth.
Looking past the newly announced economic figures, here is a roundup of some of the noteworthy items to cross the desk of KMB Comm team members.
Home Audio Ramping Up Acceptance of Active Speakers
At one time not too long ago, there were a handful of companies from the consumer audio market that offered active or powered speakers. Some of those companies include the European brands Meridian, KEF, and Linn Products. Since the rise of streaming services, a select number of affordable products have hit the market such as Audioengine, and consumers have also discovered “prosumer” brands such as KRK and Adam Audio, which are available from retailers such as Guitar Center and Sweetwater.
Based on a story from the audiophile website eCoustics, it appears that luxury manufacturers beyond the trio of Meridian, KEF, and Linn Products are warming to the idea of active speakers in today’s era of streaming media.
Learn more about Kii Audio and its luxury SEVEN wireless speaker here.
Looking at some of the trendier topics that are driving smart home industry growth, Residential Systems just published a column from David Warfel from Light Can Help You.
In the column Warfel offers three suggestions integrators can utilize to help grow their lighting revenues. The well-known lighting designer goes on to emphasize these upgrades can be impactful, especially when clients are reluctant to spend for substantial upgrades.
Taking a quick look at the commercial AV market, Cindy Davis of SCN magazine recently returned home from the Integrated Systems Europe (ISE 2026) and picks her favorites booths from the residential and commercial electronics industries event.
KMB Comm Technology Week in Review National News
LinkedIn is reporting that TV viewership has hit its highest levels in a year, increasing almost 4% from December 2025. Citing data from Nielsen, the report cable viewership increased from 20.2% to 21.2%, while broadcast rose to 21.5%.
The LinkedIn story points out that streaming services continue to lead the way with consumers achieving a figure of 47% led by the season finale of the Netflix show, “Stranger Things.”
Speaking of streaming media, LinkedIn published a report that Warner Bros. Discovery is examining the possibility of restarting negotiations with Paramount Skydance after receiving an offer to buy from the company.
According to the story, which cites Bloomberg, the bid has provisions to cover the $2.8 billion fee that would need to be provided to Netflix if Warner Bros. Discovery walks away from their deal.
Over in the new construction market, Builder Magazine says that based on data it collected, the current employment picture will affect the housing industry in 2026. The story provides much more information, and it forecasts the top three housing markets using numbers collected from Zonda that includes data from the 2024 U.S. Census.
Factors that Zonda utilizes as part of its housing forecast formula include non-farming employment, high-income employment, health care employment, the year-over-year labor force, and statistics such as median household income.
Finally, a non-electronics or housing industry KMB Comm Technology Week in Review item the AV foodie community may find interesting from Yahoo Finance.
Picking up a story from Bloomberg, the Yahoo Finance post points out that while inflation has eased up from pandemic-era peaks, prices at the grocery store continue to soar. Bloomberg states in the post that beef costs have risen faster than many other items within the consumer price index. Citing the figure of 15% over the past year, the number is said to be at its highest since COVID-19.
Conversely, the price of chicken has risen only 1.1% over the past 12 months, while the price of milk has remained relatively stable.
The article goes on to point out the cattle industry runs in cycles and currently the contraction of the market has lasted longer than expected. Another factor impacting the U.S. market is the stoppage of live cattle imports from Mexico due to the presence of the New World screwworm parasite.
KMB Communications hosts a podcast called AV Trade Talk. Listeners can check out the podcast to learn about the latest happenings in the custom installation electronics industry. To listen to the KMB AV Trade Talk Podcast, click here.