Electronic Theatre Controls
A privately held manufacturer of lighting, power-control, rigging, and related technologies for live entertainment, architectural, commercial, and horticultural applications.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
Electronic Theatre Controls, commonly known as ETC, is a privately held entertainment-technology manufacturer based in Middleton, Wisconsin. The company began in 1975 when University of Wisconsin–Madison students Fred Foster, Bill Foster, Gary Bewick, and James Bradley set out to create a theatrical lighting-control system. Working initially from the Fosters' home, they developed the Mega Cue console and established a business focused on the practical needs of performance lighting. During its early years, ETC's consoles were sold exclusively through Berkey ColorTran, which marketed the equipment under its own name. This arrangement gave the young company an entry point into the professional theatre market while it refined its engineering and product-development capabilities. In 1982, ETC introduced the Concept, its first console sold under the ETC brand. Disney used the system to control lighting along parade routes, providing an early high-profile demonstration of ETC's ability to support complex, repeatable entertainment environments. ETC subsequently broadened its activities beyond consoles. The company developed relationships with Lighting Methods, Inc., a manufacturer of dimming systems, and acquired that business in 1990. This expanded ETC's presence in power control and helped it offer more integrated lighting-control solutions. In 1992, ETC introduced the Source Four ellipsoidal reflector spotlight. The fixture became one of the company's best-known products and achieved broad adoption in theatres, touring productions, educational institutions, houses of worship, and other venues. The Source Four helped establish ETC as a major supplier of professional luminaires as well as control systems. The company expanded internationally during the 1990s and early 2000s. It opened ETC Asia in Hong Kong in 1995, followed by offices in Denmark in 1997, Rome in 1999, and Germany in 2002. ETC also acquired Irideon, Vari-Lite's architectural-lighting company, in 1998. These moves extended the company's reach from theatrical production into architectural and commercial lighting applications, including museums, building exteriors, public venues, and other installations requiring programmed or networked illumination. As the industry shifted from conventional light sources toward LEDs, ETC acquired Selador in 2009. The acquisition strengthened its LED-fixture capabilities and supported the development of product families for stage and architectural use. ETC later expanded into rigging through the 2014 purchase of the Vortek division of Daktronics, beginning international sales of rigging solutions in 2015. In April 2017, it acquired High End Systems from Barco, adding automated-lighting technology and a wider range of entertainment products. ETC's product scope now includes lighting consoles and control software, dimming and power-control equipment, LED and automated fixtures, architectural-control platforms, rigging systems, and horticultural lighting. Its Eos control family and Paradigm architectural-control systems are among its principal product lines, while Source Four remains a signature fixture platform. The company serves theatres, concert and touring productions, museums, stadiums, houses of worship, commercial properties, building exteriors, and other professional installations. ETC also entered horticultural lighting in 2019 by launching RAYN Growing Systems, an initiative focused on using LED technology to study and support plant growth. The company marked its fortieth anniversary in 2015 and became partly employee-owned that year. Its employee ownership expanded over subsequent years, reaching full employee ownership in December 2023 according to the supplied reference material. Founder and chief executive Fred Foster died in February 2019 at age 61, after which Dick Titus became president and chief executive. In 2026, James Foster, a member of ETC's board since 2022, was promoted to president. ETC has received recognition for product development, innovation, and workplace culture from organizations and publications including Live Design and the Professional Lighting and Sound Association.
History
Electronic Theatre Controls was founded in 1975 by University of Wisconsin–Madison students Fred Foster, Bill Foster, Gary Bewick, and James Bradley. The founders began by developing a theatrical lighting-control console in the Fosters' home. Their early product, later known as Mega Cue, was sold through Berkey ColorTran, which marketed the consoles under its own name. This initial distribution relationship allowed ETC to establish a foothold in professional entertainment lighting before introducing products under its own identity. In 1982, ETC launched the Concept console, its first branded console. Disney used the system for parade-route lighting, demonstrating its suitability for complex entertainment applications. Around the same period, ETC began working with Lighting Methods, Inc. The relationship culminated in ETC's acquisition of LMI in 1990 and broadened the company from console development into dimming and power control. ETC's most influential fixture development arrived in 1992, when it announced the Source Four ellipsoidal reflector spotlight at the Live Design International trade show. The fixture became widely used across theatre, touring, education, worship, and other professional environments. It remains a defining product in ETC's history and helped the company build a substantial luminaire business alongside its control products. International expansion began with the opening of ETC Asia in Hong Kong in 1995. Additional offices followed in Denmark in 1997, Rome in 1999, and Germany in 2002. In 1998, ETC acquired Irideon, the architectural-lighting business associated with Vari-Lite. This transaction supported the company's move into architectural and commercial installations, complementing its established entertainment business. The industry's transition toward solid-state lighting led ETC to acquire Selador in 2009. The acquisition strengthened ETC's LED capabilities and contributed to its expansion into LED-based theatrical and architectural fixtures. In 2014, ETC acquired the Vortek rigging division of Daktronics. The company began offering those rigging solutions internationally in 2015. In April 2017, ETC purchased High End Systems from Barco, adding automated lighting and related entertainment technologies. ETC entered horticultural lighting in 2019 through RAYN Growing Systems, an initiative intended to explore the effects of LED light on plant growth. The company also changed its ownership structure over time. It became one-third employee-owned in 2015, expanded the employee stock option plan in later years, and reached 100 percent employee ownership in December 2023. Founder Fred Foster died in February 2019, and Dick Titus became president and chief executive. James Foster, who joined the board in 2022, was promoted to president in 2026. ETC's current business spans entertainment lighting control, dimming and power systems, professional luminaires, automated lighting, architectural control, rigging, and horticultural lighting. Its markets include theatres, concert venues, touring productions, museums, stadiums, houses of worship, commercial buildings, building exteriors, and other specialized installations. The company has received industry recognition for products, innovation, and company culture, including recognition associated with Live Design and the Professional Lighting and Sound Association.
- 2026
James Foster becomes president
[1]James Foster, a board member since 2022, is promoted to president.
- 2023
ETC becomes fully employee-owned
[1]The company's employee-ownership program reaches full ownership in December.
- 2019
RAYN Growing Systems launches
[1]ETC enters horticultural lighting to investigate LED applications for plant growth.
- 2017
High End Systems is acquired
[1]ETC acquires the automated-lighting company High End Systems from Barco.
- 2014
Vortek rigging division is acquired
[1]ETC purchases the Vortek rigging division of Daktronics.
- 2009
Selador is acquired
[1]The acquisition strengthens ETC's position in LED lighting as the industry shifts toward solid-state technology.
- 1998
Irideon is acquired
[1]ETC purchases Vari-Lite's architectural-lighting company, Irideon.
- 1995
First international office opens
[1]ETC opens ETC Asia in Hong Kong.
- 1992
Source Four is introduced
[1]ETC announces the Source Four ellipsoidal reflector spotlight at Live Design International.
- 1990
ETC acquires Lighting Methods, Inc.
[1]The acquisition expands ETC's capabilities in dimming and power control.
Products and positioning
Professional, integrated lighting and entertainment-technology systems for demanding theatrical, architectural, commercial, venue, and horticultural applications.
Lighting control consoles and software
Eos
Eos is ETC's principal family of professional lighting-control systems. It is designed for programming and operating lighting in theatrical, touring, venue, and other complex entertainment environments. The family represents the continuation of ETC's original console business while supporting the company's broader ecosystem of luminaires, dimming equipment, and networked control products.
Ellipsoidal reflector spotlight · 1992
Source Four
Source Four is ETC's signature ellipsoidal reflector spotlight platform, introduced in 1992. It became widely adopted in professional theatre and related applications because it provided a standardized, versatile fixture platform for controlled beam shaping and stage illumination. The product family helped establish ETC as a major professional-luminaire manufacturer in addition to its console and power-control activities.
LED lighting fixtures
ColorSource
ColorSource is a family of LED fixtures for professional entertainment and related lighting applications. It reflects ETC's expansion into solid-state luminaires and provides venues with LED-based tools that can be integrated with ETC control systems. The range is associated with stage, architectural, and other professional environments requiring controllable color and output.
Architectural lighting control
Paradigm
Paradigm is ETC's architectural-control platform for programmed and networked lighting installations. It extends the company's control expertise beyond theatrical venues into museums, commercial properties, building exteriors, public spaces, and other sites where lighting scenes, schedules, and centralized management are required.
Horticultural lighting · 2019
RAYN Growing Systems
RAYN Growing Systems is ETC's horticultural-lighting initiative, launched in 2019. It explores the use of LED technology in plant-growth applications and represents ETC's move into a specialized market outside conventional entertainment and architectural lighting.
Brand decisions
2023
Completion of employee ownership transitionStrategyBackground
ETC had introduced partial employee ownership in 2015 and expanded its employee stock option plan in later years.
Action taken
The company completed the transition to 100 percent employee ownership in December 2023.
Aftermath
ETC remained privately held under an employee-owned structure.
2019
Entry into horticultural lightingStrategyBackground
ETC identified potential applications for its LED expertise outside entertainment and architectural lighting.
Action taken
The company launched RAYN Growing Systems to explore how LEDs affect plant growth.
Aftermath
Horticultural lighting became a new area of activity alongside ETC's established venue and architectural businesses.
2017
Acquisition of High End SystemsM&ABackground
ETC was expanding its entertainment portfolio while automated lighting was becoming increasingly important in live production.
Action taken
ETC acquired High End Systems from Barco in April 2017.
Aftermath
The transaction added automated-lighting products and strengthened ETC's position across live-entertainment technology.
2014
Acquisition of the Vortek rigging divisionM&ABackground
ETC sought to extend its venue-technology offering beyond lighting and control.
Action taken
The company purchased the Vortek rigging division of Daktronics and began offering rigging solutions internationally in 2015.
Aftermath
Rigging became an additional component of ETC's international entertainment-technology portfolio.
2009
Acquisition of SeladorM&ABackground
The professional-lighting market was moving toward LED technology and away from reliance on conventional light sources.
Action taken
ETC acquired Selador to strengthen its LED-lighting capabilities.
Aftermath
The acquisition supported ETC's expansion into LED theatrical and architectural fixtures.
1990
Acquisition of Lighting Methods, Inc.M&ABackground
ETC had been working with Lighting Methods, Inc., a manufacturer of dimming systems, as it expanded beyond lighting consoles.
Action taken
ETC acquired Lighting Methods, Inc. and incorporated its dimming and power-control capabilities into the broader business.
Aftermath
The transaction broadened ETC's product scope and supported its development as an integrated lighting-technology supplier.
Sources1 sources
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