To manage communications in the extreme noise, speed, and complexity of live motorsport, production specialist Showcom invested in a new Clear-Com system, deploying two Arcadia Central Stations, multiple FreeSpeak Icon beltpacks and FreeSpeak II transceivers. Arcadia delivered broadcast-grade performance while meeting the fast setup and teardown demands of outside broadcast (OB) and live event production.

“What we’ve just invested in is opening a whole new world for us,” said Nickolas Chapman, Managing Director of Showcom. “In our business, setup and teardown time is brutal. We can’t afford full complex matrix systems that take hours to rig.

“This modular Clear-Com system gives us high-end flexibility without the heavy lifting. It’s fast, efficient, and built for high-pressure environments. The game-changer for me specifically is the VI12 key push-button panels that can IV inject straight into Arcadia”

Arcadia gave Showcom freedom to scale communications dynamically across the event footprint, supporting multiple production teams while maintaining clarity and control. Its design allowed rapid configuration changes as needs differed throughout the event.

Chapman, who has been a Clear-Com user since 1985, emphasized the evolution of the platform. “Clear-Com has always been rock-solid, but what they’re doing now is next level. I can break a large system into smaller ones or link systems together depending on the show. It’s exactly what modern productions need.” He also recalled how quickly things evolved. “We started small with two Arcadias, a 32-port and a 48-port, and I’m already running out of space. I’m linking channels, integrating older FreeSpeak units, pushing everything to the max. It’s modular madness in the best way possible.”