The pub is a cornerstone of the community the world over. People gather in them to catch up with friends, enjoy good food, have a pint (or litre), and also to watch big games on TV: the shared experience is important.
Pubs can be venues for all kinds of entertainment: pub quizzes, karaoke, meat raffles, darts, pool and bar billiards, table football, dominos, open mic nights and bingo. Some also host comedy nights, board game nights, vinyl nights, and tap takeovers.
This means pubs and bars offer a wide range of entertainment in addition to the food and drink.
But pubs and sports bars have long struggled with the “Muted TV” problem, especially on days when multiple events are taking place at the same time: rugby on one screen, athletics on another, and football (soccer) on a third. Which one should have the volume?
With multiple screens showing different matches, playing the audio out loud would create a chaotic wall of noise. Or there could be a room full of people squinting at subtitles, which will inevitably be several seconds behind and obscuring the action, while a DJ plays unrelated music.
Auracast can transform venues into “Social Audio” hubs. By installing a multi-channel transmitter, a pub can broadcast the audio for the rugby on Channel 1, athletics on Channel 2, and football on Channel 3.
Customers simply “tune in” with their own earbuds, allowing them to enjoy the match with the same intensity as if they were in their own living room, while maintaining the bar’s social atmosphere. And if the game isn’t going their way, they can switch to the commentary from one of the other screens.
For nightclubs and music venues, Auracast is creating the next generation of the Silent Disco.
In the past, these events required renting hundreds of specialised headphones, which was a logistical nightmare for club owners. Now, every patron’s headphones or earbuds, hearing aids, or Cochlear implants act as the receiver. This not only saves money but also allows for a more “inclusive” party environment.
People who find traditional club volumes overwhelming can use Auracast-enabled earplugs to hear a perfectly balanced, lower-volume mix of the music, while those with hearing aids can participate without the feedback and distortion that often occurs in high-decibel environments.
And when it comes to quizzes, the host can read the questions into an Auracast microphone, so everyone can hear them clearly.
Quiet zones can be set up for those who want to listen to music without disturbing others, while open mic nights can benefit by giving everyone the opportunity to hear the performer as if they were in the front row, even when they’re in the beer garden.
From a business perspective, this “personalisation of sound” could lead to longer dwell times and higher spend per head because people want to stick around. After all, a customer who can actually hear the commentary of the game they came to watch is far more likely to stay for a second or third drink.
Additionally, pubs can use the “Broadcast Name” feature for subtle marketing – e.g., “Tune in for 2-for-1 Burger Deals Audio” – adding a new layer to their in-venue advertising.
In this Auracast world, the best bar in town isn’t just the one with the biggest screen; it’s the one that lets you hear it.
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