Whether you’re a start-up business or a long-standing business, deploying signs for commercial digital signage, or even just streaming live TV may seem quite expensive, especially if you need more than a few TVs. You may be tempted to cut a few corners and pick up some old TVs that you have lying around or even pick some cheap screens up from a local shop – this is often the route many start-up businesses take, but often later regret.
TVs and commercial screens may look similar, but they are very different as standard TVs are not suited to the demands of digital signage and consistent operation.
The short answer to the question above is, no you shouldn’t use a standard TV for commercial digital signage.
We’ve put together the four main reasons why below:
Whilst the initial investment is lower for purchasing an ‘off the shelf TV’, you’ll end up spending more in the long run. Consumer TVs are not built to operate for 8-hours a day, 5 days a week, and some businesses even keep their screen running 24/7.
With specialist technology and extra cooling systems, commercial screens can withstand the demand placed on it by business operation, whilst the TV in your home is designed to operate at room temperature for a limited number of hours per day.
You’ll be replacing your TVs a lot more often than you will want to.
Typically, consumer TVs have a limited number of HDMI ports, especially since manufacturers are placing more of an emphasis on aesthetics and a slimmer design, whereas, commercial screens have added connectivity options suitable to operate pieces of software to design and display digital signage.
You will find expanded inputs such as VGA, DVI, DisplayPort, Ethernet, USB and video-loop out on screens designed for commercial use.
Most TVs come with control buttons located on the bottom or sides, which comes in handy when you have misplaced the remote at home but not when you’re using the TV to display content in a high-traffic area, allowing people to fiddle with the controls. This isn’t an issue for commercial screens, with a range of enhanced and protected controls.
Many businesses would like the option to display content in portrait mode, something that is not supported on consumer TVs, as they do not have the proper cooling technology and symmetrical design to support an alternative orientation. Also, with more rugged construction, commercial screens are designed for high-traffic areas, with options for conference rooms, receptions areas and outdoor spaces.
If you’re ready to explore your businesses commercial screen options, please click here to send a message to our expert team or call 01204 377 692.
