“Do it! Improving the experience for this sector of our audience is a no-brainer and should be prioritised.”
Dale Henderson, Technical & Operations Manager
Venue: Baycourt Community & Arts Centre, Tauranga, New Zealand
For more than four decades, Baycourt Community & Arts Centre has served as a vibrant cultural cornerstone in Tauranga. Its mission is grounded in creativity, discovery, and self‑expression—values that guide the venue’s commitment to delivering inclusive and accessible performing arts experiences for its community.
Home to the renowned 582‑seat Addison Theatre, along with the flexible X Space and multiple function and backstage facilities, Baycourt supports a diverse range of events, from international tours to local schools, choirs, and dance productions. Guided by the principles of manaakitanga and kaitiakitanga, Baycourt holds a strong focus on ensuring all patrons feel valued and included.
The Challenge
Before implementing Auracast™ broadcast audio, Baycourt experienced ongoing limitations with its traditional assistive listening technology. The venue relied on an induction loop (T‑coil) system, which had become increasingly inconsistent in coverage and reliability.
Patrons who depended on hearing assistance reported frustration with dropouts, variable performance, and difficulties achieving clear audio. This feedback highlighted a growing accessibility gap—especially as audience expectations around modern, seamless assistive listening continued to rise.
Identifying the Need
Baycourt was introduced to the potential of Auracast™ during an onsite demonstration conducted by NSL Group, the New Zealand distributor of Williams AV solutions. The demonstration offered a first‑hand experience of the audio clarity, instant connectivity, and future‑focused capabilities of Auracast™ .
As Dale Henderson recalls, several factors stood out:
- Industry adoption and momentum
- Ease of connection via personal devices
- Superior audio quality compared with legacy systems
- These elements made Auracast™ a compelling upgrade path for the venue’s long‑term accessibility strategy
The Solution: Williams AV Infinium Auracast™
Baycourt selected the Williams AV Infinium Auracast™ solution—an advanced broadcast audio platform designed to support the next generation of assistive listening experiences.
Why Infinium Auracast™?
- Simple, modern connectivity
- Clear, reliable digital audio
- Smooth integration into existing AV workflows
- Future‑proof technology aligned with emerging hearing‑aid and device capabilities
- DANTE® networking support, which exceeded expectations and simplified deployment
Deployment Experience
The installation process was described as “relatively straightforward,” with particular appreciation for the Infinium system’s DANTE integration, allowing seamless routing within Baycourt’s existing audio infrastructure.
Though the deployment had only been in place for a few days at the time of the interview—too early for measurable impact or patron feedback—the technical team expressed strong confidence in its performance and future benefits.
Baycourt has chosen to retain its existing T‑coil system for the time being to ensure accessibility for patrons whose hearing devices do not yet support Auracast™.
Expected Impact
While early in the implementation timeline, Baycourt anticipates several key benefits:
- Improved accessibility for hearing‑impaired patrons
- Improved experience for those who don’t wear hearing aids but can use their own Auracast enabled consumables
- More reliable and consistent audio delivery
- Reduced maintenance requirements compared with traditional induction loops
- A future‑ready infrastructure aligned with global trends in assistive listening technology
