As the FIFA World Cup kicked off, Lay’s flipped the script on soccer fandom – inviting fans to jump on the ‘bandwagon’ this summer! To celebrate, Lay’s is taking an iconic, bright yellow (and literal) Bandwagon on tour across the U.S., starting with Los Angeles. This past Friday, June 12, between 3 PM and 9 PM, Peacock Place at LA Live in DTLA.
An early look at the Lay’s Bandwagon was provided before its national tour. It was complete with an exclusive tasting of global Lay’s limited edition flavors, unique to the World Cup. Moreover, the brand furnished customizable fan gear, a massive LED screen to view the game or festivities, a digital photo station, and a VIP meet and greet with a sports icon and a Lay’s commercial star, Marshawn Lynch.
This was a massive win for Lay’s as this event was open to the public and gave fans of FIFA an opportunity to savor their chips, which are made from real potatoes.
Fresh off her fourth appearance at the Cannes Film Festival, Priya Jain continues to build a career defined by purpose and intention. At a Cannes Film Festival that spotlighted Indian talent and Bollywood productions, Jain represented a new generation of artists navigating both the global entertainment industry and their cultural roots.
The past year has marked a period of significant momentum for Jain’s Hollywood career, as she served as Executive Producer and starred in director Renny Harlin‘s theatrical thriller Deep Water. She also appears in Not Without Hope opposite Josh Duhamel, director Joe Carnahan’s survival drama based on the true story of Nick Schuyler, the sole survivor of a 2009 boating accident that claimed the lives of three friends, including NFL players Marquis Cooper and Corey Smith. Together, the projects reflect Jain’s growing presence in ambitious productions and her continued momentum across the industry.
Now, Jain is preparing for another major Hollywood moment with her upcoming appearance in One Night Only, the new romantic comedy from director Will Gluck. The ensemble film places Jain alongside a diverse cast of actors, musicians, and cultural figures helping shape today’s entertainment landscape, including Monica Barbaro, Callum Turner, Julia Fox, and King Princess.
While acting remains her primary focus, Jain has also become known for the sense of purpose she brings to her work beyond the screen. A lifelong vegetarian who later adopted a vegan lifestyle, she has spent years supporting animal welfare initiatives through volunteer work, rescue advocacy, and ongoing contributions to organizations in both the United States and India.
Among the causes closest to her heart is Furry Tails, a rescue organization in Prayagraj, India that cares for stray dogs. After years of supporting the organization from abroad, Jain was eventually able to visit in person and witness its impact firsthand. The experience strengthened her commitment to animal welfare and reinforced her connection to the country where her family roots began.
As her career continues to expand across Hollywood and the international stage, Jain remains committed to using her platform thoughtfully. Whether through the stories she helps bring to life on screen or the causes she supports behind the scenes, she continues to build a career guided by both ambition and purpose.
A Global Celebration of Creativity for the BAPE STA 25th Anniversary
A BATHING APE® (BAPE®) and KidSuper reunite to introduce their second collaboration, SUPERBAPE CUP Collection by KidSuper, in celebration of the 25th Anniversary of the BAPE STA, bringing together two distinct creative forces to reimagine an icon through a global lens.
Born in the streets of Ura Harajuku in 2001, the BAPE STA has evolved from a street-born sneaker into a global symbol of fearless self-expression. Defined by its signature STA logo, bold colorways, and premium craftmanship, it has been embraced by generations across music, art and sport, and street culture worldwide.
As the BAPE STA marks its 25th anniversary, the milestone comes to life through a series of collaborations and creative explorations. Among them, SUPERBAPE CUP Collection by KidSuper reflects a shared commitment to pushing cultural boundaries while honoring the silhouette’s enduring legacy. The partnership looks at the legacy of the BAPE STA not as something fixed in the past, but as a silhouette that continues to evolve through the people and cultures that adopt it. The anniversary celebrates a design that has shaped generations and continues to inspire new waves of global creativity.
A Global Concept Rooted in Unity
Inspired by the spirit of football, the collection explores unity through diversity, expressed in 48 unique BAPE STA designs—representing the gathering of 48 nations on a global stage. Every pair adopts the national colors of its respective country, reinterpreted through KidSuper’s artful lens to form a vibrant collective that celebrates global creativity and cultural identity.
Crafted with BAPE®’s signature patent leather, each design features a premium high-gloss finish that accentuates its distinctive palette. Building on their previous collaboration, the collection fuses the iconic BAPE STA silhouette and star motif with KidSuper’s expressive, art-driven approach.
Each pair is finished with dual branding details, including the KidSuper logo at the heel—symbolizing the ongoing creative dialogue between the two brands. From the complete lineup of 48 designs, the collection will be available for online pre-order, while ten selected colorways—Argentina, Brazil, England, France, Ghana, Japan, Mexico, Portugal, Spain, and the United States—will be available in stores.
BAPE® BY KIDSUPER BAPE STA RETAIL PRICE: $325
A Campaign Beyond Expectations
What began as a design concept evolved into a heartfelt exploration of identity and connection. Led by Colm Dillane, the project set out to feature a grandmother from each of the 48 represented countries—a heartfelt tribute to heritage, memory, and the people who carry culture through generations.
Each woman steps into the frame wearing her nation’s pair, not as a model, but as a storyteller. Their presence conveys a quiet strength—the kind shaped by years, families, and traditions. Through their eyes, the collection transforms from a celebration of design into a reflection on belonging, identity, and pride.
“The biggest football tournament in the world brings people together. New York does the same thing every day. Seeing grandmas from all over the world wearing BAPE STAs and hearing their stories felt like a version of that. Different cultures, different histories, different generations, all sharing the same city.
Grandmas have so much wisdom. And they look amazing in BAPE STAs.” — Colm Dillane
“At BAPE®, ‘Fearless Expression’ has always defined who we are and how we shape culture. As the BAPE STA marks its 25th anniversary, this collaboration with KidSuper reflects our commitment to continuously evolve the icon through bold ideas and diverse creative voices. By bringing together perspectives from around the world, we are not just celebrating a legacy—we are building the next chapter of global creativity.” — Mahmoud El Salahy, Global CEO, A BATHING APE®
Together, these portraits go beyond the language of fashion, forming a powerful collective narrative that celebrates humanity in all its forms. In a collection inspired by global competition, these 48 grandmothers truly embody what it means to represent a place, a people, and a shared culture.
Continuing a Legacy of Creative Expression
SUPERBAPE CUP Collection by KidSuper represents an ongoing exchange between fashion, art, and culture—where heritage meets contemporary creativity.
As the BAPE STA enters its next chapter, the collaboration reinforces a shared vision of individuality, cultural exchange, and fearless expression, continuing to shape its position as a lasting icon within global youth culture.
Pre-orders for all 48 designs will be available through superbapecup.com while the collection will officially launch on June 11 at selected BAPE STORE® locations.
Selected BAPE STORE® locations
BAPE STORE® LONDON
24–25 Conduit Street, London, UK
BAPE STORE® SHIBUYA
13–17 Udagawa-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
BAPE STORE® HARAJUKU
4–21–5 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
BAPE STORE® OSAKA
1–19–2 Minami-Horie, Nishi-ku, Osaka-city, Osaka
BAPE STORE® HONG KONG
G/F One Hysan Avenue, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, China
BAPE STORE® SHANGHAI
Building 7, Xintiandi, Huangpu District, Shanghai, China
Pre-orders for all 48 designs are available now through superbapecup.com and at selected BAPE STORE® locations.
Jake Paul’s W and Von Dutch Unite for Exclusive Fashion Collab Ahead of Miami Showdown with Anthony Joshua
The limited-edition pre-sale drops Nov 24th, offering fans first access to the collaboration and the chance to get signed merchandise.
Von Dutch’s cult streetwear platform Von Dutch Loves has joined forces withJake Paul’s bodycare brand, W, to launch an exclusive capsule collection that fuses heritage, individuality, confidence and main-event hype. The capsule blends a throwback attitude with a modern edge, and is built for the ones who back themselves, no matter what, landing just weeks before Jake’s highly anticipated fight against two-time heavyweight world champion, Anthony Joshua, in Miami on December 19.
Dropping via pre-sale on November 24th, the “Von Dutch Loves x W” collaboration features four hats and four apparel pieces that mix Von Dutch’s signature West Coast attitude with Jake Paul’s disruptive athletic style. Designed by Lindsey Falack, the creative lead behind Von Dutch Loves, the collection captures the shared spirit of rebellion and confidence that defines both brands.
The capsule reinterprets classic Von Dutch DNA through Jake Paul’s modern lens. From brown suede hats recalling vintage Von Dutch textures to a minimal varsity jacket and pin-striped black muscle tee, each piece reflects the meeting point of streetwear, sport and self-belief.
Von Dutch Loves is the brand’s collaborative platform spotlighting creative partnerships with modern icons and cultural disruptors who share the Von Dutch spirit of self-expression. W is Jake Paul’s disruptive Gen-Z bodycare brand that represents the mindset of winning, resilience and confidence in every arena, from the ring to the street.
Fans who sign-up ahead of the formal drop on Tuesday, November 25th, will get the first chance to buy the collection with exclusive early access to signed merchandise from Jake Paul.
Designer Lindsey Falack discussed her thought process when creating the collection; “I designed the Jake Paul x Von Dutch Loves collection to bring Jake’s edge into Von Dutch’s world without losing either identity. The goal was to make it clean and wearable but still loud in its attitude. The brown suede hats tie back to classic Von Dutch materials, while the tees and varsity jacket stay minimal and modern. The neon yellow “W” logo comes straight from Jake’s brand; it’s a punch of color that’s a reminder to back yourself, bring your best, and turn every moment into a win. The black muscle tee with pin striping is a nod to both boxing aesthetics and street style; athletic, but not gym wear. Jake’s boldness and Von Dutch’s history of pushing boundaries naturally fit together. This collection reflects that intersection; heritage and hype, stripped down to the essentials.”
Says Jake Paul on the collaboration, “Von Dutch always stood for being unapologetically yourself and that’s exactly what ‘W’ is about. This collab celebrates winning energy and personal expression. It’s fashion with purpose and gives you confidence to back yourself and bring that positivity to everything you do.”
The “Von Dutch Loves x W” collection will be available exclusively through vondutch.uk. You can sign up now at https://bit.ly/3LxFHui to get exclusive access to signed products and be the first to shop the collection. Fans can expect their orders from the collection to arrive at the start of the New Year.
There is something perfectly 2026 about a sporting event that demands you stop calling Hard Rock Stadium Hard Rock Stadium so it can pretend, for thirty-eight days in June and July, that gambling is not part of the modern football experience. The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off on 11 June in Mexico City and runs through the final on 19 July at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, eleven host venues will spend the tournament wrapped in temporary new names, scrubbed of corporate logos, stripped of every visible reference to the betting brands that fund modern American sport. Hard Rock Stadium in Miami becomes Miami Stadium. AT&T Stadium in Arlington becomes Dallas Stadium. SoFi, Lincoln Financial, every venue that has ever taken a check from a sportsbook is required, by direct mandate from FIFA, to hide that relationship for the duration of the tournament.
The only exception is Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, where the architectural integration of the logo into the building itself made physical removal impossible. Everywhere else, the rule is absolute. Out come the DraftKings lounge signs. Off come the BetMGM screen overlays. Down come the FanDuel branded zones. In their place go FIFA’s official partners, paying full freight for global visibility across one hundred and four matches in what is now the largest World Cup in the tournament’s history.
The Clean Venue Policy, Explained
FIFA’s clean venue policy is not new. The governing body has enforced versions of it at every World Cup since the modern sponsorship era began, prioritising the value of its official global partner tier above any pre-existing commercial relationships at host venues. What is new in 2026 is the aggressiveness of the enforcement and the scale of the commercial value being temporarily erased. The clean venue rule supersedes existing stadium sponsorship contracts. It overrides naming rights. It governs digital signage, in-stadium screen content, hospitality lounge branding, and concession stand logos. FIFA’s Circular No. 1938, issued on 1 August 2025, formalised the policy further by banning gambling-related branding inside Video Assistant Referee rooms, on-field referee review areas, and on referee jerseys for the duration of the tournament. The message from FIFA is unambiguous. Betting brands may fund the rest of football for the rest of the calendar year, but during the World Cup, they do not exist.
The Numbers FIFA Is Not Talking About
Here is where the contradiction sharpens. The 2022 World Cup, played in Qatar in winter to accommodate the heat, generated approximately $1.8 billion in legal sports wagers across American sportsbooks. That number was already a record for a single international football tournament in US history. For 2026, with the tournament expanding to forty-eight teams, kick-off times falling squarely inside US prime time, and three host nations all carrying mature regulated sports betting frameworks, industry projections sit between $3 billion and $4 billion in US wagering alone. Global wagering across regulated markets is forecast to exceed $35 billion. Those numbers are not coming down because of a clean-venue rule. If anything, they are climbing precisely because FIFA’s branding restrictions push the entire commercial relationship from the stadium into the screen, where the operators always wanted it.
The shift matters. A sportsbook logo on the side of a stadium is brand awareness. A sportsbook app on the phone of a fan watching the match is conversion. The clean venue policy effectively forces operators to compete on the platform where they already make their money, while simultaneously freeing them from a sponsorship category whose return on investment has been quietly debated inside the industry for years. The aesthetic loss of in-stadium visibility is, for most operators, balanced by the gain in marketing efficiency. Money that would have gone to physical branding flows instead into digital acquisition, influencer partnerships, and product-led campaigns timed to specific matches.
How the Operators Are Actually Playing It
The major US sportsbooks have spent the eighteen months leading into June 2026 reorganising their World Cup marketing around the assumption that they would have no visible presence inside the venues. FanDuel, the leading US operator by market share, has been building tournament-specific product features for the entire group stage, including same-game parlays customised for the unfamiliar fanbases that come with a tournament featuring forty-eight nations. Pre-tournament promotional structures, deposit-match offers, and FanDuel’s existing rewards programme have all been calibrated for the World Cup window, and dedicated landing pages tracking the FanDuel promo code updates and group-stage bonus structures have been live for weeks. DraftKings, BetMGM, Caesars, and Fanatics are running similarly aggressive digital playbooks, all built on the premise that the brand awareness battle is over before the tournament starts and the conversion battle begins the moment the first whistle blows in Mexico City.
The smart play, the operators have decided, is not to fight the FIFA branding policy. It is to lean into the fact that every fan watching the World Cup in the United States, Canada, or Mexico is, by definition, already inside a phone-first environment. They will be checking scores on their phones, watching highlights on their phones, following commentary on their phones, and, for a substantial percentage, placing wagers on their phones. The stadium is for atmosphere. The decision happens on the screen.
Why FIFA Actually Cares About This
It would be tempting to read FIFA’s policy as a principled stand against gambling in football. The reality is more commercial. FIFA earns its largest single revenue stream from the global sponsor tier that pays for the right to be the only consumer-facing brand inside the World Cup ecosystem. Coca-Cola, Adidas, Visa, Hyundai, and the rest of the official partner roster pay extraordinary fees in part because of the absolute visibility guarantee. If a Lays logo could share screen space with a BetMGM logo inside Miami Stadium, the value of the Lays deal would collapse overnight. The clean venue policy is, fundamentally, a contractual protection for the sponsors who have already paid. FIFA itself maintains a complicated relationship with gambling: it does not currently take direct sportsbook sponsorship at the top tier, but it operates a fantasy game ecosystem and licenses official data to wagering operators worldwide. The clean venue rule is not a rejection of gambling money. It is a controlled redirection of that money toward channels FIFA itself controls.
What This Says About 2026 Sports Culture
The most interesting layer of the clean venue conversation is what it reveals about the current state of the relationship between sports and gambling in American culture. Five years ago, the idea that nearly every NFL stadium, every NBA arena, and every MLB ballpark would carry a primary sportsbook partner would have seemed implausible. Today it is the baseline. The fact that FIFA can sweep all of that branding out of eleven major US venues for thirty-eight days, without meaningful protest from the operators whose logos are being scrubbed, is itself the story. The operators do not need the logos. The cultural saturation has already happened. The phones are already in pockets. The accounts are already opened. A clean venue, in 2026, is a curated photograph of a stadium. It is not a statement about gambling. It is a statement about which corporate logos get to appear in the photograph.
Walk into MetLife Stadium on 19 July for the final and you will see no FanDuel signs, no BetMGM lounges, no DraftKings overlays. The venue will be temporarily called New York/New Jersey Stadium. The branding will be Adidas, Coca-Cola, Visa, Hyundai. It will look, from the broadcast camera angle, like a deliberately neutral commercial environment, polished and globally legible. Meanwhile, inside the stadium, on roughly eighty thousand phones, an estimated several hundred million dollars in live in-play wagering will flow through American sportsbooks across the ninety minutes of the final and whatever extra time follows. The cleaned-up venue and the screen in your hand will tell two completely different stories about modern football. Both are true. Both, in 2026, are the same story.
Stepping into a professional hot shop offers an opportunity to engage with one of the most ancient crafts known to human history. Glass blowing workshops are designed to take beginners on a sensory journey where science meets creativity in a high-temperature environment. This article explores the technical and physical skills you will acquire as you transform molten material into beautiful art.
1. Mastering the Art of the Gather
The very first skill you will practise is the gather, which involves dipping a long metal blowpipe into a furnace heated to. Learn the precise hand-over-hand rotation required to collect a consistent gob of molten glass on the end of the pipe without it dripping off. This movement is much like twirling honey on a spoon, requiring a steady rhythm and a calm focus to maintain the balance of the glowing material.
2. Developing Breath Control for Inflation
The next challenge is to introduce air into the pipe to create the hollow bubble that forms the centre of your piece. Glass blowing is not about using maximum lung power but rather about applying a gentle and consistent pressure to expand the material slowly. Developing this internal sense of pressure is a unique physical skill that requires you to listen to the material and react to its changing resistance.
3. Using Gravity and Centrifugal Force
Working with a substance that is moving means you must learn how to use forces to shape your creation. You will practise swinging the blowpipe in a controlled arc to elongate the glass to widen the opening of a bowl. Attending a glass blowing workshop London, for instance, allows you to create curves and symmetrical forms that would be impossible to achieve through manual manipulation.
4. Shaping with Blocks and Marvers
To achieve a smooth finish, you will be introduced to tools like wooden blocks known as marvers. Learn how to roll the hot glass across the marver to chill the outer skin and create a cylindrical shape before you begin the blowing process. The wooden blocks, which are soaked in water to prevent them from burning, act as a cradle that allows you to refine the symmetry of your piece while it is still soft.
5. Applying Vibrant Colour and Pattern
One of the exciting parts of any workshop is learning how to incorporate beautiful colours and intricate patterns into your clear glass. You will practise rolling the molten glass through frit, which consists of small crushed grains of coloured glass that melt onto the surface. Also, you can learn how to create swirls or trails by pulling and twisting the sections with metal tweezers while the material is still pliable.
6. Navigating the Reheating Process
Discover how to use a secondary heating chamber, often called a glory hole, to keep it workable. You will develop the skill of flashing the glass, which involves rotating it in the intense heat just long enough to soften the surface without collapsing the entire structure. This requires a keen eye for the colour and glow of the material, as the shade of orange indicates how hot and soft the glass is at any given moment.
7. Executing a Clean Break and Finish
The final and perhaps most nerve-wracking skill you will acquire is the process of separating your finished piece from the blowpipe. Understand how to use a small amount of water to create a thermal shock at the neck of the glass, followed by a sharp tap that causes the piece to break away cleanly. Once separated, the piece is placed in an annealing oven to cool slowly over several hours.
Reflecting on Your Creative Journey
Participating in a hands-on workshop, you gain appreciation for the skill of the artisan and the properties of the material they work with every day. You deserve the chance to step away from your digital screens and engage in a process that is physically demanding and artistically fulfilling. The memories of the heat and the thrill of creation will stay with you long after your finished glass has cooled in the kiln.
‘One of the most cinematic singer-songwriters of our generation.’ – Vaughn Lowery, President, 360 MAGAZINE
Ellie Goulding returns with brand new single “Black Prada Dress,” hot on the heels of announcing her highly anticipated sixth studio album I Know Too Much, arriving 4 September.
Premiered during Ellie’s set at BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend2026 over the bank holiday weekend, “Black Prada Dress” immediately sparked major fan reaction online, with clips rapidly circulating across social media. On Sunday (7 June), Ellie will return to Later… with Jools Holland to perform the single – a significant full-circle moment, having first appeared on the show in 2009 ahead of the release of her debut album.
Exploring the tension between perception and reality, “Black Prada Dress” is a caustic, self-aware portrait of the fractured selves we construct to survive, perform and protect ourselves – unravelling in real time.
An early glimpse into I Know Too Much, “Black Prada Dress” was written by Ellie and produced by the album’s executive producer Jack Rochon, who she discovered on TikTok while he was still relatively unknown. Long recognised for her instinct for emerging talent – having first discovered producer Starsmith at the beginning of her own career – Ellie immediately connected with Rochon creatively, with the pair shaping the album together over the past couple of years.
““Black Prada Dress” really sets the tone for “I Know Too Much”. The album came from the idea that maybe we can know too much. There is a certain kind of freedom in the ease of not knowing. This album is a collection of songs that represent a crossroads in my life where I realized what the freedom of not knowing has gifted me in the past, yet a time when I am at the precipice of understanding the true power in knowing.
Through the chaos of this great change, I went to my comfort zone and found my refuge in the studio. My initial instinct was I didn’t know where it was all going, but I just knew I needed to be in the studio. Writing a song has always been my best form of therapy.” – Ellie Goulding
One of the most successful artists of the 21st century, Ellie Goulding has amassed over 55 billion streams globally and sold more than 44 million albums. Among the top five most-streamed British female artists in the world, she holds the UK record for the most No.1 albums by a British female artist (tied with Adele), as well as the record for the most UK Singles Chart entries for any British female solo artist in history.
Ellie’s catalogue remains one of the most viral in pop, repeatedly trending on social media worldwide, with “Starry Eyed” recently returning to the UK Official Charts after reaching #1 on TikTok earlier this year – further cementing Ellie’s status as one of pop’s most enduring and influential voices.
Bespoke jewellery is surging, driven by a simple wish: people want pieces that feel personal rather than mass-produced. From celebrity engagement rings to family heirlooms, buyers increasingly choose jewellery that carries meaning over jewellery that merely follows fashion.
Unlike off-the-shelf pieces, bespoke work is built around a client’s ideas. It usually begins with a consultation covering the occasion, budget, stones, metal, and design direction. Sketches or CAD renders then let the client see and refine the piece before any metal is cut, after which it is cast, set, and finished by hand.
Celebrity culture has accelerated the shift. Distinctive rings worn by Jennifer Lopez, Blake Lively, and the Princess of Wales show how an unusual stone or a sentimental detail can define a piece. One practical point is often missed: because custom work skips retail markups and brand premiums, it frequently costs no more than a comparable boutique piece.
The deeper pull is emotional. A custom piece can hold a birthstone, an inherited diamond, or a hidden engraving. In one recent Perth commission, a workshop melted a late father’s worn wedding band into his daughter’s engagement ring, so she could carry his gold down the aisle. No catalogue piece can do that.
Ethical sourcing matters too, with clients asking for recycled gold, lab-grown stones, or repurposed family gems. Among the jewellery stores in Perth, a trusted maker such as Stelios Jewellers can guide these choices and turn a personal idea into a wearable piece with lasting meaning.
Bespoke is not only for engagement rings. It suits anniversaries, milestone birthdays, memorial pieces, and graduation gifts. Wherever the story is specific, a ready-made design can feel ordinary, while a custom one fits the person and the moment.
Cost and timing are the usual worries, yet bespoke is more flexible than expected. Price follows the stone, metal, and complexity, and the timeline runs from a few weeks to a couple of months, so starting early leaves room to refine the design without pressure.
Above all, the trend reflects a quiet human desire: to wear something that is unmistakably yours. Personalised pieces offer beauty, memory, and craft in a way mass production simply cannot match.
Sony Electronics Introduces BRAVIA® 9 II and BRAVIA 7 II RGB TVs and the BRAVIA Theater Trio
‘At a recent Sony Electronics experiential activation on the historic Sony Pictures Studios main lot in Culver City, we got a quick peek of this remarkable new technology. It comes equipped with a cutting-edge Mini-LED backlight system that emits RGB colors directly from the light source, resulting in some of the most vibrant and immersive visualsavailable.’ – Vaughn Lowery, Executive Director, 360 MAGAZINE
Sony Electronics Inc. advanced its “Cinema is Coming Home” message with the introduction of two BRAVIA® True RGB televisions, the new flagship BRAVIA 9 II TV, the BRAVIA 7 II TV, as well as the BRAVIA Theater Trio, a next-generation home audio system engineered to complement large screen cinematic viewing. The combination of TV and the Home Theater system, driven by Sony’s ongoing commitment to faithfully deliver the creator’s visual and audio intent, completes the ultimate cinematic experience at home.
Sony debuts its first True RGB BRAVIA TVs, featuring independently driven RGB LEDs, a new unique anti-glare and reflection screen, and a next-generation theater system all developed with insights from industry experts.
Sony Electronics Inc. advanced its “Cinema is Coming Home” message with the introduction of two BRAVIA® True RGB televisions, the new flagship BRAVIA 9 II TV, the BRAVIA 7 II TV, as well as the BRAVIA Theater Trio, a next-generation home audio system engineered to complement large screen cinematic viewing. The combination of TV and the Home Theater system, driven by Sony’s ongoing commitment to faithfully deliver the creator’s visual and audio intent, completes the ultimate cinematic experience at home.
Sony introduces two BRAVIA® True RGB televisions, the new flagship BRAVIA 9 II TV, the BRAVIA 7 II TV, as well as the BRAVIA Theater Trio, a next-generation home audio system engineered to complement large screen cinematic viewing.BRAVIA 7 II: A new dimension of color with True RGBBRAVIA 9 II: Sony’s most authentic color ever – Flagship True RGBBRAVIA Theater Trio: Sony’s flagship model, expands sound far beyond the screenSupported by SPE sound creator expertise, the Trio lets you experience at home the immersive sound crafted for film production.Direct Connect: Easily enhance the bass and surround soundDirect Connect allows compatible BRAVIA TVs to pair directly with optional wireless subwoofers and wireless rear speakers, without requiring a soundbar
The new TVs are powered by Sony’s proprietary RGB Backlight Master Drive Pro, which precisely controls independently driven red, green, and blue light sources, enabling the new BRAVIA True RGB TV models to achieve the largest color volume ever in Sony’s home TV history and deliver accurate color reproduction from wider viewing angles in bright home environments.
“Sony has been advancing LED control for over 20 years from our first independent RGB light sources in the Qualia 005, launched in 2004, through our flagship Backlight Master Drive premiering in 2016,” said Yoshihiro Ono, Head of Home Entertainment Business Unit, Sony Corporation. “Our new True RGB represents a breakthrough that combines the precision of individually controlled RGB LEDs with the best aspects of both Mini LED and OLED, giving viewers purer color, higher brightness, and picture accuracy that holds up in any room.”
BRAVIA 9 II and BRAVIA 7 II Shared Features:
First True RGB LED BRAVIA TVs: the BRAVIA 9 II and BRAVIA 7 II, each using independently driven red, green, and blue LEDs for precise color reproduction in bright living room environments.
Unprecedented Color Volume: Independent control of RGB LEDs achieves the largest color volume in Sony’s home TV history, delivering high color gamut, contrast, depth, and beautiful gradation. Powered by Sony’s RGB Backlight Master Drive Pro which drives each LED with high precision, improving brightness, reducing blooming, and producing purer color than conventional Mini LED displays.
Wide Viewing Angles: Independently driven RGB LEDs and the X-Wide Angle Pro ensure beautiful images and consistent colors from wide viewing angle.
Large Screen for Immersive Experience: The BRAVIA 9 II offers an impressive 115-inch class option for large format cinematic viewing, while the BRAVIA 7 II features screen sizes 50- to 98-inch class, both maintaining ease of installation and integration.
Smart Options: Discover more on Google TV*1 with Gemini*2. Gemini learns what you love and adapts to your questions to provide responses tailored to you – whether that’s your next favorite show, an educational deep dive, or seamless smart home control.
Elevated Audio Experience: Full range speakers*3 deliver a solid sound while enhancing dialogue clarity with Voice Zoom 3™, powered by AI. Also, our evolved 3D Surround Upscaling expands stereo to wider 3D surround.
Aesthetic Design: The flagship design integrates effortlessly into any space, featuring a wave‑textured bezel and a transparent center stand*4 that creates a floating, cable‑free look, allowing the screen to serve as décor even when not in use.
BRAVIA 9 II Add-on Features:
Sony’s most advanced expression of True RGB: Featuring newly developed LED controllers for the highest level of backlight control. This architecture produces purer primary light before the image reaches the panel, enabling expanded color volume powered by BRAVIA 9 II’s RGB Triluminos Max™ and Luminance Booster Pro, smoother gradation, and accurate hues at higher brightness levels, which are critical in brighter living rooms.
Immersive Black Screen Pro: A newly engineered glare-free and low-reflection unique screen treatment delivers rich, deep blacks even in bright living room environments*5. This allows viewers to immerse themselves more fully in films, revealing fine details even in dark scenes. Sony Pictures Entertainment participated in the evaluation of the surface film, helping ensure the TVs preserve the filmmaker’s intended picture quality across a variety of home lighting environments.
Immersive Audio Experience: Acoustic Multi-Audio+ with up-firing beam tweeters raises cinematic surround sound with powerful depth and true immersion*6.
Shared Cinema-Driven Features Across 9 II and 7 II
Both True RGB models include:
My Cinema, optimizing picture and sound for film first viewing
Ambient Optimization, automatically adapts picture and audio to room condition and viewing position
“Studio Calibrated” modes for platforms, including Netflix, Prime Video, and SONY PICTURES CORE*7 (availability varies by region)
Support for Dolby Vision®, Dolby Atmos®, DTS:X®*8, and IMAX® Enhanced*9
The result is a viewing experience that maintains creator-intended color, depth, and detail under real-world conditions.
BRAVIA Theater Trio
The BRAVIA Theater Trio is a premium wireless theater system crafted for ultra large screens, developed to bring an authentic cinema experience into the home. To capture the passion and craftsmanship of sound creators at the heart of film production, the Trio was created in close collaboration with Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE). Through this partnership, our team gained deep insight into professional sound making, with SPE sound creators involved from the earliest stages to refine every detail. The result is a newly designed three speaker system—optimized front left, right, and center speakers—that delivers a wide, immersive soundstage and clear dialogue in a space efficient package. Supported by SPE sound creator expertise, the Trio lets you experience at home the immersive sound crafted for film production*10.
“Sound design is integral to the cinematic experience and often drives the visceral impact of a scene,” said Tony Lamberti, Academy Award–nominated sound mixer. “The spatiality of the BRAVIA Theater Trio is exceptional; it fully envelops you in sound and delivers a truly immersive, cinematic experience in the home.”
“When we design sound for film, every choice is about guiding what the audience feels in a moment,” said Andrew DeCristofaro, sound designer at Sony Pictures Entertainment. “The BRAVIA Theater Trio brings that same intention into the home, letting people hear the detail, movement, and balance the way we meant it to be experienced.”
Sony’s 360 Spatial Sound Mapping-technology (360SSM) generates up to 24 phantom speakers to create a wide, cinematic sound field that envelops listeners from every direction. Developed with insights from Sony Pictures Entertainment, the technology is informed by an in-depth study of professional studio acoustics and the listening environments used in film production. By creating both direct sound and the natural reflections characteristic of cinemas, 360SSM transforms a room into an immersive audio space using only the existing speaker layout. The result is a multidimensional sound field that feels as though numerous speakers are placed throughout the room, faithfully conveying the depth, positioning, and nuance intended by filmmakers.
With a newly added high‑performance USB‑C microphone, the BRAVIA Theater Trio delivers enhanced measurement accuracy and precise room calibration, creating immersive sound perfectly tuned to any space*11.
BRAVIA Theater Trio supports Dolby Atmos®, DTS:X®*8, and IMAX® Enhanced*9 for compatible content and can be expanded with optional subwoofers and rear speakers*13 including dual subwoofer configurations*15.
Other Updates
Direct Connect*14 allows compatible BRAVIA TVs to pair directly with optional wireless subwoofers and wireless rear speakers, without requiring a soundbar, enabling simple setups for deeper bass and more expansive surround when paired with the TV’s impressive speaker system*16.
Sustainability & Accessibility
Our TVs use recycled materials across the body, internal parts, and remote, including Sony original SORPLAS™. The BRAVIA 9 II is the first Sony TV product to use renewable plastic*17 created from used cooking oil and other renewable feedstocks. Components produced with the renewable plastic include the rear cover, one of the largest components, and some internal components such as optical components which are inherently difficult to produce with recycled materials*18. Additionally, the entire True RGB lineup benefits from power efficient RGB LED control by RGB Backlight Master Drive Pro.
A new inclusive remote control*19 improves accessibility through narration friendly design and tactile clarity.
Pricing & Availability
BRAVIA Theater TRIO has a suggested retail price of $2,199.99 USD / $ $2799.99 CAD and is available for pre-sale at Sony, Best Buy, Amazon and other authorized retailers.
Selecting the right lighting for off-road adventures is quite different from city riding because trail conditions present challenges. Water-resistant gear is vital because even a small amount of dampness can short-circuit cheaper electronics, leaving you stranded in the dark, far from home. This article explores seven things to consider when you are selecting water-resistant lights for your next trail ride.
1. Checking the Official Water Resistance Rating
The most reliable way to judge how well a light handles wet conditions is to look for its official Ingress Protection, or IP, rating on the packaging. For trail riding, you should look for a minimum of an IPX6 rating, which indicates the light is protected against high-pressure water streams from any direction. Having this certification gives you the confidence to ride through heavy rain or across shallow streams.
2. Evaluating the Quality of the Seals and Ports
While a rating is important, inspect the light to see how the charging ports and battery compartments are sealed against the elements. Most water-resistant bike lights use thick silicone or rubber covers that fit snugly over the USB ports to prevent grit and moisture from entering the sensitive electronics. If a seal feels loose or flimsy, it is likely that water will eventually find a way inside during a long, wet ride.
3. Assessing the Brightness and Beam Pattern
A good trail light should offer a high lumen output that illuminates not just the ground directly in front of you, but also the sides of the track. This peripheral vision is essential for navigating tight corners and spotting changes in the terrain before you reach them. Many off-road lights feature a dual-beam system where one lens focuses on distance while the other provides a broad flood of light for the surroundings.
4. Considering the Battery Life and Power Indicators
When you are out in the middle of a forest, running out of battery can be a serious safety issue, so you must choose a light with sufficient runtime for your longest trips. You should look for models that provide clear information about how long the battery will last on different brightness settings. Many professional lights now include easy-to-read LED indicators that change colour as the battery drains.
5. Looking for Impact Resistance and Build Quality
Water-resistant lights for trail use should also be built to survive the inevitable bumps and occasional drops that come with off-road cycling. Materials like aircraft-grade aluminium or reinforced polymers are excellent choices because they offer a high strength-to-weight ratio. Investing in a ruggedly built light means it will last through many seasons of tough, muddy, and adventurous riding.
6. Inspecting the Mounting System Stability
See for mounts that use heavy-duty straps or bolted clamps that can be tightened onto your handlebars. Some trail riders prefer a helmet-mounted light because it shines wherever they look, which helps them see around sharp bends or check mechanical issues. The mount should also be easy to operate with gloved hands, as you might need to adjust the angle or remove the light while you are out in the cold.
7. Reviewing the Ease of Maintenance and Cleaning
A well-designed water-resistant light should be easy to wipe down or even rinse under a tap. Avoid designs with too many deep crevices where dirt can become trapped, as this can interfere with the operation of the switches or the cooling fins. Keeping your equipment clean not only makes it look better but also ensures that the seals remain effective and the light output stays at its brightness.
Key Insights for Your Next Trail Light Purchase
Selecting the right lighting for your off-road adventures is about finding a balance between powerful performance and extreme environmental protection. When you invest in high-quality gear that is specifically designed for the trail, you are ensuring that your focus remains on the joy of the ride. Taking the time to choose the best possible lights will make every night ride a professional experience.
