The not-for-profit Digital Signage Federation, Warrenton, Virginia, announces that it has finalized a working relationship with the European organization formerly known as the Out-of-Home Video Advertising Bureau—OVAB Europe—and after the groups' planned merger it will operate as DSF Europe.

DSF Europe will maintain its own budget and annual agenda, participate in worldwide event and initiative planning, and will have a seat on the DSF Board of Directors. This affiliation recognizes the global nature of digital signage activity and the need for an industry association on a similar scale. The merger is expected to help drive DSF membership and participation in both North America and Europe where many multi-national companies already do business, provide education, professional development and programming support for those organizations seeking to invest in or become more active in the digital signage sector.

According to Ken Goldberg, CEO, Real Digital Media, and immediate past chair of the DSF, the two groups had been familiar with each other and they talked about some sort of merger over the past year.

“OVAB was completely focused on ad-supported networks,” Goldberg says. “Their dues structure limited the number of members they could have, and that tended to exclude end-users.

Their focus has mainly been on creating industry standards and technology development. Ours has been on education and markets, and our membership is much broader. OVAB has about 40 members right now. We hope to expand their focus beyond ad-based networks.”

Goldberg went on to say that the DSF, which has more than 200 members, has long wanted to expand its reach into Europe, and he feels that the DSF here will be able to learn from their counterparts over there.

“We have a lot to learn from each other,” Goldberg says. “Europe is far ahead of us in some ways, particularly with how they use technology, and we are very strong in other areas.”

DSF Europe will maintain its own budget and annual agenda, will participate in worldwide event and initiative planning and will have a seat on the DSF board of directors.

Dirk Huelsermann, who has chaired OVAB Europe since its inception, will continue in his role as president of DSF Europe. “Our Board of Directors believes strongly that working closely with the Digital Signage Federation will allow us to build on a strong foundation to expedite the growth of DSF Europe," he says.