How Auracast™ broadcast audio is expanding audio streaming, and a look at the market impact it could have in 2026 and beyond
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Auracast™ broadcast audio is a Bluetooth® capability that lets you share your audio, unmute silent TVs in public locations or in the comfort of your own home, and directly tune in to audio broadcasts to hear your best in public venues like airports, theatres, stadiums, etc.
Since its release, Auracast™ broadcast audio has proven itself across a diverse range of environments, including live theatre, music venues, houses of worship, and conferences. Deploying Auracast™ solutions in these locations creates opportunities to increase participation and accessibility through multi-channel broadcasts in native languages, high-quality sound, descriptive audio, and more.
Expanding audio streaming into new applications
2025 saw a surge in the number of available qualified Auracast™ devices come to market as well as a significant increase in the number of public locations that support Auracast™ broadcast audio, from large venues like concert halls and stadiums to houses of worship, theatres, and more. Many facilities, of varying sizes, are deploying Auracast™ solutions to offer an enhanced listening experience for all visitors.
The growing adoption in the consumer market, combined with increased awareness in commercial spaces, is accelerating interest and expectations. As this momentum continues, industry experts predict that Auracast™ broadcast audio will be made available throughout a wide range of public locations, such as public transportation systems, tourist attractions, and visitor centers. “Applications such as language interpretation, as demonstrated at EUHA 2025, can extend to many environments where multilingual communication is essential, such as conferences, airports, and large public venues,” said Raviv Kramer, director of product and business development for AV at Bettear.
According to Kim Franklin, Ampetronic and Listen Technologies CMO, there’s been a significant shift to broader accessibility and engagement. Venues are using Auracast™ broadcast audio for multilingual streaming, silent TV zones, and informational tracks, demonstrating that Auracast™ innovation is driving better listening experiences for a wide range of visitors. “The biggest opportunity for Auracast™ broadcast audio is societal, normalizing accessible audio everywhere,” said Franklin. “What excites me the most is watching the shift from assistive listening being seen as for some, to simply being better audio for all.”
Thomas Olsgaard, principal engineer at GN, says that he has seen the adoption of Auracast™ broadcast audio across diverse venues — from cultural institutions to transport hubs to other community spaces — as a new benchmark for accessibility, and its expansion is improving the day-to-day lives of people with hearing loss. “It’s crucial that the hearing loss community is aware of Auracast™ broadcast audio’s availability, its rollout in venues, and, most importantly, its transformative potential to their listening experiences,” said Olsgaard.
Enhancing audio accessibility
Auracast™ broadcast audio has set a new standard for inclusion, ensuring greater audio accessibility and creating genuinely inclusive environments that transform listening experiences for those with hearing loss.
One way that Auracast™ broadcasts make public and private spaces more accessible to those with hearing loss is by eliminating the need for special seating. With consistent audio coverage throughout an entire venue, patrons can move around freely, experiencing high-quality audio everywhere without missing a moment of the performance. “Auracast™ broadcast audio provides those with hearing loss an easy and dignified way to access clear audio in places they attend, using their own personal hearing devices,” said Kramer. “Wherever they sit or stand in a venue, they will receive high-quality, clear audio directly to their personal devices.”
Bill Schiffmiller, founder and CEO of Akoio, explains how Auracast™ broadcast audio is reframing accessibility; by enhancing audio clarity and reducing cognitive strain in noisy environments, Auracast™ solutions are helping to create more inclusive environments, even in large venues.
Auracast™ broadcast audio provides those with hearing loss an easy and dignified way to access clear audio in places they attend, using their own personal hearing devices.
Raviv Kramer, Bettear
“As someone who has spent a lifetime navigating hearing challenges, my first evening using ReSound Auracast™ enabled hearing aids was unforgettable,” said Schiffmiller. “For the first time in a major concert hall, I could hear every note and every word with absolute clarity. The experience was vivid, detailed, and emotionally powerful. That moment captured what Auracast™ broadcast audio truly represents: inclusion through shared experience.”
Auracast™ broadcast audio is helping to build a world where public audio access is as common as public Wi-Fi access. From public transportation hubs and office floors to classrooms, theatres, guided tours, and airports, Auracast™ broadcast audio represents the next step toward hearing accessibility.
Auracast™ deployments in the real world
Of course, it is easy to laud the benefits of any new technology when only talking about its potential market impacts or high performance in concept. However, Auracast™ broadcast audio is already a proven solution and has been deployed in a number of locations around the world.
Companies like Ampetronic and Listen Technologies, Bettear, GN, ReSound, and others are powering a new generation of assistive listening technologies and are among the first to champion, integrate, and promote Auracast™ broadcast audio, helping to shape the future of audio.
The Sydney Opera House
In collaboration with the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) and leading cultural institutions, GN has worked hard to showcase the viability and accelerate the adoption of Auracast™ broadcast audio, supporting early adopters, both permanent installations and trials, such as the Bristol Temple Meads train station and St Paul’s Cathedral. Another recent example is the Sydney Opera House installation, where GN worked with leading technology experts and advocates to deploy an Auracast™ system in the Sydney Opera House’s Playhouse Drama Theatre and Studio, enhancing accessibility and visitor engagement.
The Marriott Theatre
Andrew Bellavia, hearing health advocate and founder of AuraFuturity, has directly supported multiple Auracast™ deployments. The latest installation, the Marriott Theatre (an 800-seat venue), deployed an Auracast™ system, in addition to their hearing loop, to enhance accessibility for more patrons, offering seamless, high-quality sound from any seat and the lobby, even if they do not wear hearing aids. “While the theatre can be a challenging setting, the Auracast™ transmission coverage was good throughout the theatre and the lobby,” said Bellavia, adding that “feedback from the launch event was very positive.”
WYO Theater
The WYO Theater, in Sheridan, Wyoming, installed an Ampetronic and Listen Technologies Auracast™ system to make performances more inclusive. “The response has been incredible,” said Franklin. “I attended a launch event and had several people tell me that it was the first time in a long time they could just sit back, connect, and enjoy the show without thinking about the technology.”
Guided Tours
Phil Creighton, an Auracast™ evangelist, recently shared his experience using personal and public Auracast™ devices. “Going to a new venue and hearing their Auracast™ broadcast for the first time always takes my breath away,” said Creighton. “I am so accustomed to struggling to hear that the experience of crystal-clear audio shouldn’t be a surprise, but it is. On a street tour for Jack the Ripper, for example, I would have been standing on the tips of the guide’s toes to hear. Now, thanks to a portable Auracast™ microphone about the size of a matchbox, every word is clear. From churches to theatres to railway stations to street tours, Auracast™ broadcast audio is a versatile solution.”
EUHA 2025
At EUHA 2025, the 69th International Congress of Hearing Aid Acousticians, Bettear deployed a hand-held Auracast™ system to help facilitate press and audiology trainee tours. The system supported simultaneous interpretation in both German and English, accommodating the diverse audience, and delivered crystal-clear, dual-language audio to separate groups with minimal setup effort. Journalists and trainees were able to seamlessly receive the interpreted audio directly on their Auracast™ hearing aids or headphones.
Bettear’s Auracast™ transmitters at the venue also supported the event’s lecture sessions, which also included a silent stage without traditional loudspeakers, each requiring real-time audio distribution and interpretation. The Auracast™ system ensured universal accessibility, allowing all attendees to access high-quality audio in their preferred language, regardless of their device — be it Auracast™ hearing aids, cochlear implants, or earbuds.
Auracast™ broadcast audio in 2026 and beyond
Every month, more and more public venues are deploying Auracast™ systems. This, combined with the ongoing release of numerous personal Auracast™ enabled devices, from earbuds to hearing aids to smartphones and more, gives us a glimpse into the impact Auracast™ broadcast audio will have on the market in 2026 and beyond.
“It feels like every day there are new Auracast™ installations popping up in theatres, places of worship, sports stadiums, on public transport, and in people’s homes,” said Creighton. “Next year, that growth will explode, and I’m looking forward to seeing Auracast™ broadcast audio in more televisions, headphones, smartphones, and hearing aids as well as larger venues. There will come a point when we take it for granted, and that day can’t come soon enough.”
Transforming everyday spaces
As we move forward into 2026 and beyond, Auracast™ broadcast audio will continue to transform public spaces, helping more venues become inclusive. Thomas Olsgaard, from GN, states that as adoption increases, Auracast™ broadcast audio will create even more opportunities to transform everyday spaces, including supermarkets, schools, and hospitals, and make inclusive listening universal to ensure the day-to-day lives of people with hearing loss are positively impacted. “It will help entire communities share the same, high-quality audio together,” said Olsgaard. “That promise of inclusion where no one is left out of the conversation, the music, or the moment is what excites us most.”
Bill Schiffmiller, from Akoio, says that he sees Auracast™ broadcast audio expanding rapidly. According to Schiffmiller, we can expect to see Auracast™ deployments in offices to support hybrid work and improve focus as employees return to shared spaces, across the hospitality industry as venues explore opportunities for improving event halls and hotels, and it will soon be a staple for air travel, enhancing in-flight entertainment and broadcasts in airport terminals, allowing passengers to tune into gate-specific announcements for their flight.
Raviv Kramer, from Bettear, says that they are seeing strong interest across universities, as decision makers are beginning to understand that Auracast™ solutions deliver far more than wireless audio and that they can significantly enhance the performance of speech-to-text engines. “As the technology becomes more popular and rapidly adopted, more places are going to offer this experience,” said Kramer. “Auracast™ broadcast audio is becoming the standard for hearing accessibility everywhere.”
Improved personal listening experiences
Advancements in Auracast™ broadcast audio will open the door for more personalized and interactive experiences. As broadcast capabilities and latency improve, the listening experience will become seamless. Kim Franklin, from Ampetronic and Listen Technologies, says that we can expect to see richer audio, faster connections, and new opportunities for synchronized experiences across a wide range of spaces. “Imagine walking through an airport or museum and hearing exactly what’s relevant to you in real time,” said Franklin.
As Auracast™ enabled devices continue to proliferate the market, Auracast™ broadcast audio will power bring-your-own-device (BYOD) initiatives in public spaces. This creates a more intuitive and personal experience for each visitor while simplifying maintenance by reducing the amount of dedicated hardware a facility needs to maintain and keep on hand.
Auracast™ broadcast audio is becoming the standard for hearing accessibility everywhere.
Bill Schiffmiller, Akoio
AI and Auracast™ broadcast audio
Industry experts agree that AI and machine learning have the potential to further optimize Auracast™ solutions, mitigating interference and enhancing speech clarity for high-quality, inclusive listening experiences without added complexity. When combined with edge computing, they can make Auracast™ broadcasts smarter and more adaptive.
According to Raviv Kramer, at Bettear, AI and machine learning can be used not only to improve the quality of audio but also to translate it, match it with transcription, perform voice transformation, filter words, and enhance speech. “We have opened a speech-to-text pathway for Auracast™ systems in our transceivers,” said Kramer. “Our R&D team is working on advanced approaches to audio personalization for those with hearing or perception challenges, including individuals with hearing loss, ADHD, cognitive decline, and more. In the future, this capability will be integrated with the Auracast™ ecosystem to create a personally tuned audio stream for the listener, maximizing their immersion.”
Kim Franklin, at Ampetronic and Listen Technologies, sees AI playing a growing role in managing large-scale installations, predictive maintenance, adaptive audio profiles, and data-driven insights to ensure every listener gets the best experience possible.
Making the switch to Auracast™ broadcasts
Auracast™ broadcast audio makes it possible for everyone to access clear sound, no matter their device or hearing ability. Venues that offer Auracast™ broadcasting provide additional benefits to visitors.
“Integrators and end users love the simplicity and flexibility,” said Franklin. “Venues appreciate that one system can serve both assistive and general listening needs. And end users tell us it just works, which is the best compliment we can get. Every installation reinforces that Auracast™ broadcast audio isn’t a concept anymore, it’s available now.”
Auracast™ broadcast audio is a proven solution for providing high-quality audio for all, and the ecosystem continues to expand. Updating your facility’s audio infrastructure with an Auracast™ system prepares you for the upcoming demands in public audio, which are happening now; it is affordable, and the value added is exponential.
“It makes business sense to install a low-cost system that improves the user experience,” said Andrew Bellavia, from AuraFuturity. “After all, you want people to come to your venue. When people can’t hear well, they get fatigued and stressed. They will be less likely to return. I have had many conversations with people who no longer attend conferences or live performances because of hearing difficulty. That is costing you.”
Every installation reinforces that Auracast™ broadcast audio isn’t a concept anymore, it’s available now.
Kim Franklin, Ampetronic and Listen Technologies
Learn more about how other public venues worldwide are using Auracast™ solutions to create more inclusive environments for visitors.
And, if you are interested in advocating for Auracast™ broadcast audio in your community, the Auracast™ advocates resource hub is your starting point for the tools and practical guidelines that will help you make the case for Auracast™ broadcast audio.
Check out the webinar, How to successfully advocate for Auracast™ broadcast audio in public venues, to learn more.
