That’s It For Me Folks … But Not For Sixteen:Nine!
May 23, 2025 by Dave Haynes
This is my last regular post on Sixteen:Nine, more than 11,000 posts and 400+ podcasts after I started doing this thing, on a lark, back in early 2006.
It’s time to slow down, so I’m now riding off into the sunset … albeit on a lawn mower.
The pic is AI’d. I couldn’t prompt it to make the old fart a little thinner and riding a Ryobi electric with rear baggers.
I turned 67 in January, and it is time to enjoy the little things that have been sidelined by work demands for many years.
This is NOT the end of Sixteen:Nine. The publication will continue with daily news and analysis, as generated by my smart and busy friends at invidis, which among many things produces a daily German language publication that also looks deep into what’s happening with digital signage and DOOH. We’ve been content partners for a few years now, and I have grown to know the team in Munich. They’re all English speakers, and they know the US-Canada market and people.
They might not offer the same level of snark, but they know the business … which is what really matters.
Pumping Brakes
This has been in the works for months – and my initial plan was announcing my retirement on April Fool’s Day, because that seemed on-brand. But as it played out, I stuck around a few extra weeks as the hand-off came together. I was in Munich this week at my last event as the original Sixteen:Nine guy – the always excellent Digital Signage Summit Europe. This is the sort of event I will still attend – to stay current, build new connections and have a few adult beverages with industry friends. I will be at ISE in early 2026, and already have my AirBnB in Barcelona sorted.
I live in Nova Scotia, which is beautiful but has a relatively fleeting summer season. The next four months will mostly be me outside doing anything but tapping away at a keyboard. It will be a bit of a journey to go from super-busy to super not-busy. That part is both exciting and terrifying. I don’t have a real hobby or particularly deep passion that I’ll finally have time to really explore, and to keep me occupied. But I also don’t think I’ll be spending my days watching game shows and spying on neighbors.
Come fall, getting chased back inside by cold and inevitably some snow, I’ll get back into something. Not sure what. But something. Just not five days a week something.
I’ll do a little consulting, but not a pile. I’ll do some writing for hire. Podcast hosting, if a vendor needs a moderator or referee. I definitely don’t want big commitments or, even worse, an actual job. I have already had a couple of companies float the idea of joining their company boards, which is intriguing. The insights from 26 years in the industry, and 1,000s of contacts, would no doubt be useful to some companies. Hit me up!
I will also, very likely, do some writing here and there on Sixteen:Nine – to scratch a writing itch or jump in when I read something and my Bullshit Filter starts flashing red.
LinkedIn is also a busy outlet for me.
Thank You
It has been a great pleasure to meet terrific people from all over the world, and to take a small part in educating and growing the industry to a point where screens are common and the overall technology approach is now mainstreamed. It’s been a very long road from April 1999, when I told my daily newspaper friends that I was abandoning a “gold-plated” pension to join a company that was putting flat panel screens in elevators. My colleagues thought I was nuts, but I had left the newsroom to take my newspaper online in 1995, and within a few years I could clearly see what was going to happen with local dailies. And it did.
It has also been a great pleasure to develop what has become a global circle of friends. The dispersed nature of this industry, coupled with living in the woods in Atlantic Canada, means I only see most of these folks once or twice a year. I have enjoyed their friendship and company, and now being kinda sorta mostly retired means maybe Joy and I can go and visit them, and their cities and regions. I know people who live in great wine regions, and they’re getting visits. … somehow or other.
Or people can come see Nova Scotia! And me. It’s lovely summer and fall. Winter … not so much. Spring is slow to arrive and often on the wet side. Plus these little bastards called black flies. Tiny but they bite.
Thank you to the endless people who have fed me information, pointed me at projects and new tech, and acted as my own informal advisory panel. When I couldn’t figure out what the flying hell a company was going on about, I’ve had people I could tap to help crack the code and explain the relevance. They made dumb old me sound smart-ish.
Thank you to the friendship of Invidis, and the nice little tribute they did last night and posted today.
Thank you to companies like Screenfeed, Capital Networks, Mvix, Broadsign, Telematics, Digichief, Datacall, Freshwater Digital, SignageOS and Optisigns (and others I am forgetting … sorry!) – that have or did support my efforts for years and years. They had marketing goals, sure, but some of them said their support had as much to do with ensuring what I was up to could continue, because it was needed.
One of the great things I heard numerous times through the years was how subscribing to Sixteen:Nine came to be part of the onboarding process for new hires at companies: “There’s your desk. Here’s your WiFi credentials. And this is the publication we need you to start reading daily.”
That was fun to hear.
Thank you, as well, to Spectrio – which acquired this title a few years ago now, and made my retirement much more feasible financially. They have been fabulous business partners and I am grateful that the executive team pretty much let me just do my thing. I have seen what often happens with acquisitions and how the “acquired” can’t wait to escape. None of that was at play here, and I stuck around well past the time when I could have said Buh-Bye. Good people.
Finally, a thank you to my wife Joy – 42+ years married and counting – for putting up with the times when my efforts were not generating a lot of dollars, when I was traveling a lot, and when actual vacations were just a novel concept. Because of the mixers and my need for help on the night, she’s come along to place like Barcelona and got to know lots of industry people. I totally understand why people have been happier to see her than me.
I’ll see you around. Best email now will be 169dave@gmail.com and I’ll be on Linkedin, as well.
Dave Haynes
Flight home is not until tomorrow, so heading for a Munich beer garden! A beer and giant pretzel is in order.
We’ll miss you, Dave, but I suspect you will find ‘retirement’ as busy as I do!
All the best, Dave, but I have a feeling we’ll be hearing from you again in one form or another. Guys like you (and me) can sit on a tractor for only so long!
Dave,
Great to see you this week and congratulations on your success. You have been a wealth of insight and count you among not only a friend and fellow appreciator of the finer things in life, but a beacon for practical impartiality in our often confusing and jargon laden industry landscape. So glad I’ll be able to raise a glass with you at least once more in Barcelona. Enjoy your Summer break…you’ve earned it!
Congratulations, Dave! I shall definitely miss the snark 🙂
Enjoy this season.
What a landmark day in the industry, I’m sure I speak for all of your readers when I say that you’ll be greatly missed, Dave! Hopefully I’ll bump into you again at next year’s ISE, enjoy your well deserved retirement 🙂
Congrats on the well-deserved retirement Dave. Your editorial over the years helped me immensely in quickly understanding a new industry. I’m grateful for your time and thoughtfulness and like many of your devoted readers, will miss you. Hope to see you for a glass of cold Tidal Bay on my next trip to Nova Scotia. Be well.
Best Wishes Dave. We’ll see ya around. As I appreciate Jeremy’s comment of “Enjoy THIS season”
There is a season for everything and most of the time we don’t know what adventure the next season may bring us. Surely I do not see you riding off into the sunset on a zero-turn, but maybe a John Deere 4020 toting a round baler. Love ya Dave.
Since day one of reading this “blog,” I have felt a sense of “Ok, now things get interesting.” I consume knowledge on this website, and it helps me understand things and connections and create my own sensibility in a world where cold parts and heat ventilation are one of the main reasons for their existence. Thanks, Dave, for all the effort. Enjoy your retirement; it’s well deserved. Hope to catch up with you in Barcelona next year!
Congrats! Well deserved! So thankful for you!
Thanks for everything you have done for our industry, Dave, and especially for applying your no-BS filter to industry news and updates.
Your candor will be missed.
I wish you and Joy health and happiness in the next chapter of your lives together.
It was great yo see you this week in Munich and look forward to catching up again at ISE.
All the best, Jason
You’re a legend Dave! Will always remember beers in London. See you around
Dave,
I’m so happy for you, but man, this is a tough one for the rest of us. The industry won’t be the same without your insight, your “pay it forward” style of sharing knowledge, and most of all, your snark, sense of humor, and world-class BS filter!
I’ve got to say thank you for always supporting me and my effiort, especially in the early days when you welcomed a rookie DS guy from Buffalo into your early Toronto events. That support and encouragement meant more than you probably know, and I honestly wouldn’t be where I am without it.
You’ve been a leader, a friend, and a hell of a good person, kind, honest, and a guide for so many of us along the way. I wish you, Joy, and the whole family all the good stuff that comes with a well deserved retirement.
And hey, if you’re ever in Buffalo, give me a shout. I’ve got a few haunts I think you’d really like where the Burboun flows like your favorite wine!
Cheers,
Rob Suffoletta
Thanks so much for everything over the years. Really going to miss the snark!
Congratulations Dave! Thank you for your contributions to our industry and for always pushing the facts and data. I have been introduced to products and concepts many times from your articles that have led to real design choices and decisions for my customers. Now go mow that lawn with a beer in hand! Prost 🍻
I’ve followed your writing for years, Dave — always looked forward to the snark, insight, and deep industry knowledge. While we’ve never met, it often felt like I knew you. Thanks for being a daily part of my routine and shaping the voice of this industry. Enjoy the well-earned ride into the sunset (lawn mower and all).
Dave,
This took me by surprise. But good for you! We’ll definitely miss you and your writing. I remember the first time we met in a video call when we purchased some consulting from you. You then stated something along the lines, “…that was the most precise request for a proposal I have seen” I thought it was fun and felt honoured at the same time 🙂 Good times.
Enjoy your not-so-busy times, and hopefully we’ll still have the chance to catch up.
Cheers!
Tip ‘o the cap to you Dave. Your snark was just right and on point. It will surely be missed. I always look forward to your posts about our unique industry and have been honored to have been featured and referenced a few times personally. Thank you for the dedication to your craft. Now go enjoy the fruits of your labor.
It’s hard to put into words what you’ve meant to me and this industry as a whole Dave.
So happy for you buddy.
Thank you for always being genuine with your takes and just the right amount of salty 😊
Your posts were always a great read. You will be missed!
I will certainly miss your posts. Enjoy your well-deserved time to relax and explore new paths.
Wow! I knew it was possible but was never sure the day would come. You’ve been a great advocate and inspiration for whatever this thing is that we all work at. We go way back Dave and I hope we can continue to stay in touch. I’m not far behind you and more than a little envious that you’ve made the decision. Take care and keep the mower blades sharp.
Cheers my friend
Brad
Happy retirement, Dave! You are definitely leaving behind a legacy. I hope things work out so that you can come out to DSE in San Diego in October. We’d be happy to host you.
Right before InfoComm. Well played my friend, well played.
What a bittersweet announcement, Dave. There is no other voice like yours in the industry and you will be missed. Thank you for all your kindness and candor over the years. I hope our paths cross again.
Congratulations Dave! You’re going to love it here*
(here* is retirement…Though I am not very good at it yet…it is getting easier…and nice sunset!
Thank you Dave! You’ve defined and educated the market. You’ve pushed us all forward. We wish you the best!
Thank you for all you have done for the digital signage industry. Appreciate and envy your retirement. Enjoy every moment and don’t be a stranger!
Farewell, Dave – see you in the stands at HFX Wanderers FC or Chelsea FC
Congrats, Dave! It is not easy to rise above the BS and to stay on brand, but you have done it with style. For that and for your contribution to the industry, you should be proud. Hope to see you after your “Summer of Dave”.
Enjoy your retirement!
Thank you, Dave…for the insights, the networking, the friendship. You’ve made a more significant positive effect on the industry than you’ll ever know. Best of luck in retirement. The AI image made me reminisce a bit about growing up nearby in Maine. I hope you’re able to enjoy many of those sunsets.
ongratulations on your well-deserved retirement, Dave! Your insight, candor, and commitment to keeping the digital signage industry informed and moving forward have been unmatched. You’ve shaped the conversation for years, and your daily “voice” will be greatly missed. Wishing you nothing but happiness and adventure in this next chapter! See you at ISE!
Congrats Dave, and no doubt we’ll see you, and for sure hear from you before ISE in Barcelona (BTW who can put on a “Mixer” like you do, in Barcelona or Vegas or anywhere?
Happy Trails, Dave. A job well done.
Congrats on more sunrises & sunsets Dave! Thank you, truly for being the voice of clarity in a sometimes uncertain industry. The community you have built around 16:9 will no doubt stand the test of time. Thanks for the laughs! #getCarriedaway
Enjoy it Dave! I’ll be in Cape Breton in August, maybe I’ll see you at a garage party somewhere.
I’m a huge fan. You have been a guiding force and will be missed. Too bad I sold my property in Digby!
Congratulations Dave – you’ve earned it mate!
Dave,
Congrats my friend! Your articles, snark, and mixers were a great introduction for me to the industry 17 years ago. It showed me a great community to be a part of and I have appreciated the insight and great conversations you have given me especially over an adult beverage in far away places over the years! I look forward to continued updates down the road. Stay safe!
Congratulations. You are 100% correct, readi g Sixteen:Nine is part of the daily routine for many of us in the digital signage space.
Your fair assessment and snark was always welcomed in the spin of all the marketing out there.
The industry will not be the same without your daily insights, expertise, snark, and BS filtering Dave. I can sincerely say you are the real-deal and one of the industry experts and nicest people I have really enjoyed collaborating with. Don’t be a stranger! Maria and I might take you up on that invite to visit to your little slice of paradise.
invidis can replace the news, but not the perspective. You’ll be deeply missed. And yes, all new hires at Intuiface found 16:9 among their onboarding requirements.
May you never be bored, and Joy never regret this decision!
Thanks Geoff. Met your new CEO last week. Good guy!
Enjoy your next chapter. You’ll be missed, but fondly so.
Thanks Geri
Superb read and great self send off! Enjoy retirement Dave.
Thanks Ross
We met you from L Squared when we first started back in ’09 – but it wasn’t until 2016 when we worked together. Gaj and I are grateful for both your straight views on everything, and keep us connected globally when we were still small and couldn’t afford big shows. All the best to a long future.
Thanks Brent … I saw Gaj at ISE and I think he was a bit amazed I remembered him and had his name down. Still have my marbles. Well … most.
Thank you Dave. You have supported so many people over the years, myself included.
I’m thankful for your honesty, advice and good humour.
I can’t thank you enough.
Thanks Michael.
Thanks Dave for being a fountain of inspiration and knowledge about this lovely industry. Enjoy your new life and please let us enjoy your lovely sense of humor from time to time. By the way, my company do include Sixteeen:Nine as part of the onboarding process! Enjoy this new era, hope to see you at ISE 2026.
Thank you
I don’t think anyone would argue you are the de facto winner for the leading voice of the digital signage industry, Dave. Thanks for dropping by IAdea a couple of times when you travel to Taiwan. Have fun in Canada and perhaps that gives me a reason to visit Nova Scotia.
thanks John, and yes, come by!
Congrats on nearly two decades of telling it like it is and cutting through the crap. You kept me…and the industry…on my/its toes and we’re better for it. I have multiple bottles of syrah and cabernet in a cool, dark room waiting for you next time you’re in Oregon. Cheers!
Hope to take you up on that, and will bring Joy!
Hey Dave,
A Big congrats from me and the old man who always appreciated your friendship and passion for the industry as well as helping us out on a number of occasions.
Looking forward to hearing about what new adventures await and will buy you a beer next time you’re in Toronto.
Cheers bud!
Jeff
Enjoy your well earned retirement! Have really enjoyed quietly reading along your blog over the past few years. Will miss the great writings for sure!
With much love, respect and gratitude, thank you for your valuable contributions and congratulations on a highly successful Sixteen:Nine journey
Dave, you have served the digital signage industry very well. It wouldn’t be what it is today without your efforts. I hope that you are busier in your retirement than you ever were in your work life. Your snark will be missed.
Happy retirement, Dave!
Sixteen:Nine has been a fun weekly dive into the digital signage industry. Do pass by again at ISE as you did this year, we’ll have a cold one waiting for you.
Dave…I have always enjoyed your perspective and hope that in your “retired” state we can perhaps work together in some way :). Enjoy the peace.
Dave, you helped educate me on the market when I was just starting out years ago, and continued to do so throughout my career. Thank you for all of your insights and snark, sir. Enjoy your summer, and Skål pa fisken!
Your industry insight and posts have helped us all. I hope you enjoy your time and whatever you do next. Thank you!