Wuppertal June 16, 2021
Riedel Extends Comms and Signal Distribution Solutions Supporting 2021 Eurovision Song ContestFor the 15th year, Riedel Communications provided advanced intercom and signal distribution technologies and on-site engineering support for the record-breaking 65th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC). Staged May 18-22 at the Rotterdam Ahoy, this year's broadcast marked the ESC debut of several new Riedel solutions, including the top-of-the-line Artist-1024 digital matrix intercom node and SFP modules from the new MediorNet IP range of signal processing solutions.
Back after a pandemic-induced cancellation in 2020, the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest drew an audience of 183 million viewers across 36 markets - with a live audience for the Grand Final show on May 22 that was an estimated 4% higher than that of the 2019 competition. Riedel supplied a complete solution that included not only intercom and signal distribution, but also accreditation, access control, commentary systems, and a comprehensive IT infrastructure for staff, broadcasters, and attending press members.
In addition to managing radio communications, distribution of images inside the Ahoy Arena, and delivery of audiovisual signals for broadcast and production, Riedel outfitted commentator booths and oversaw communication with the master control rooms in each of the countries that customized the EBU broadcast. In addition, Riedel introduced several COVID-19 prevention measures designed to protect all technical team members and minimize the risk of infection at accreditation and access control points.
This year's ESC production included 24 cameras together with 130 video feeds, 140 intercom panels, 75 microphones, five mobile units, a technical operations center, three support vehicles, and 60 EVS channels - a setup designed to shape a signal that could be seen all over Europe, Australia, and the USA with incoming connections from 40 different countries.
The Riedel Artist-1024 intercom node supplied the highest-possible intercom port density as well as full AES67 compliance, a critical capability, as this year's ESC production was the first to leverage an AES67 audio network. The IP-based signal transport mechanism complementing a 60-node MediorNet MicroN network relied on Riedel's MediorNet MuoN SFP gateway and processing devices and MediorNet FusioN stand-alone I/O and processing devices. At Ahoy, the MuoN modules were configured with Riedel's SMPTE ST-2110-compliant MADI bidirectional gateway app, providing encapsulation and de-encapsulation of MADI signals to IP for commentary. The FusioN devices acted as 16-image SMPTE ST-2110 multiviewers and enabled video distribution inside the ESC commentary control room.
Other key Riedel elements were the 1200 and 2300 Series SmartPanel user interfaces, equipped with software apps to provide additional functionality above their primary purpose as intercom panels. With the powerful MediorNet Control App installed, the 2300 Series SmartPanels gave users flexible routing and control over audio and video signals using the high-resolution, multitouch color displays and intuitive touch-screen UI. The production also employed 64 Riedel Bolero wireless intercom beltpacks.
To provide and maintain a safe production environment, Riedel followed strict distancing and prevention measures within the bubble and developed a complex accreditation front end and access control system - based on the results of the 26,000 COVID-19 tests administered to all staff - to preserve that bubble. The RFID-based solution included automatic deactivation of accreditations after 48 hours, with reactivation upon submission of a negative COVID test result.
The Eurovision Song Contest is a complex production, and it evolves from year to year with ongoing improvement to technical and operational aspects, as well as the fan experience, said Yung Min Lee, Senior Project Manager at Riedel Communications. This year's event presented an array of new challenges, and we're absolutely thrilled with how successfully the whole production unfolded.
Europe Stories
18/12/2025
Canada's largest indoor arena has transformed its live production capabilities with a full ST 2110 infrastructure and Calrec's compact Argo S console. S...
18/12/2025
Long-term agreement includes the SES SCORE platform and hybrid distribution worldwide to deliver more than 5,000 hours of golf tournaments annually featuring th...
18/12/2025
Thursday 18 December 2025
Sky Sports remains the exclusive home of the Masters ...
18/12/2025
Using the additive process of 3D printing, layer after layer gets printed until an object is as close to the final shape needed as possible. Historically, machi...
18/12/2025
In 2025, RT proudly supported 185 arts and cultural events across the island of Ireland, reflecting significant growth since the scheme was re-launched in 2014...
18/12/2025
RT Sports Awards 2025 live on RT One and RT Player at 8:05pm on Saturday 20 December
On Saturday 20 December live on RT One and RT Player at the earlier t...
18/12/2025
RT lyric fm presents a very special Winter Solstice edition of Ambient Orbit, l...
18/12/2025
At 7.45pm on 1st January 1926, the precursor to RT , then 2RN, delivered the fledgling new Irish state's first public radio transmission. From those first c...
18/12/2025
December 18 2025, 05:30 (PST) The Movie Experience SLO Becomes First U.S. Exhib...
17/12/2025
Investigative journalists across the Western Balkans and T rkiye continue to con...
17/12/2025
The right playlist is essential on New Year's Eve, building the energy as you get ready and keeping it high as you count down to midnight. This year, Spotif...
17/12/2025
eds3_5_jq(document).ready(function($) { $(#eds_sliderM519).chameleonSlider_2_1({...
17/12/2025
Wuppertal December 17, 2025
Riedel Builds Global Communication and Commentary ...
17/12/2025
December 17 2025, 17:00 (PST) Dolby and LG Unveil a New Era of Home Audio With ...
17/12/2025
Wednesday 17 December 2025
Heated Rivalry will be coming to Sky and streaming service NOW on 10 JanuaryTurn on cookies to view this content. Go to Privacy opti...
17/12/2025
RT has announced that Kathy Fox has been appointed Commissioning Editor with re...
17/12/2025
With the new season of Dancing with the Stars shimmering in the not-too-distant future this New Year, the celebrity and dancer pairings of the twelve couples ha...
16/12/2025
Hawkins has landed on Spotify, just in time for Stranger Things Season 5, Volume...
16/12/2025
Wherever you are, your favorite music and audio content should go seamlessly with you. That's why Spotify has partnered with NAVER Corp, Korea's leading...
16/12/2025
2025 Wrapped arrived bigger and bolder than ever. This year's experience is designed to be ultra personal and shareable, with new features like Wrapped Part...
16/12/2025
16 Dec 2025
VEON Announces Release Date for Full Year and Fourth Quarter 2025 R...
16/12/2025
16 Dec 2025
VEON's Kyivstar Invests in Renewable Energy in Ukraine with Acq...
16/12/2025
Harmonic's XOS Advanced Media Processor Improves Streaming Video Quality and Boosts Viewer Engagement SAN JOSE, Calif. - Dec. 16, 2025 - Harmonic (NASDAQ: ...
16/12/2025
RT Sport Awards 2025 live on RT One and RT Player at 8:05pm on Saturday 20 December.
On Saturday 20 December live on RT One and RT Player at the earlier t...
16/12/2025
Singer -songwriter Brian Kennedy has been announced as the final celebrity dance...
15/12/2025
Cape Town, November 13, 2025 - SES and International artist and humanitarian, Fo...
15/12/2025
Luxembourg, December 15, 2025 - SES, a leading space solutions company, and Abra Group launched fast and reliable multi-orbit inflight connectivity service on t...
15/12/2025
15 Dec 2025
VEON's Beeline Kazakhstan Delivers First Starlink Direct to Cel...
15/12/2025
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor finds himself the topic of year's cracker jokes
Oasis, David Harbour, Celebrity Traitors and Angela Rayner all feature in this y...
15/12/2025
Comscore Expands Cross-Platform Campaign Measurement to Include Audio and Social New capabilities strengthen cross-platform campaign reporting suite; CCR rebran...
15/12/2025
RT .ie has reached one billion page views this year and is on track to finish 2025 2% ahead of last year. Average time spent on the site is up 3% on 2024, with ...
12/12/2025
Last month, Spotify announced a new collaboration with the ATP Tour, the global governing body of men's professional tennis, aimed at bringing the next gene...
12/12/2025
Friday 12 December 2025
Ted is back! Seth MacFarlane's live-action comedic ...
12/12/2025
Uachtar n na h ireann, Catherine Connolly visited RT Raidi na Gaeltachta's...
12/12/2025
Ireland AM host Eric Roberts has been revealed as the sixth contestant taking to...
11/12/2025
Thomson and the Center for News, Technology and Innovation (CNTI) convened a two-day workshop in Sarajevo bringing together more than 35 journalists, editors, p...
11/12/2025
Having the right song soundtrack your moves can make all the difference when gam...
11/12/2025
It's been a big year for Taylor Swift. Her highly anticipated album The Life...
11/12/2025
11 Dec 2025
VEON's Banglalink Receives Regulatory Approval to Launch Digita...
11/12/2025
Thursday 11 December 2025
Sky Arts paints a picture of Britain's beauty as ...
11/12/2025
It's not every day we're asked to create a website for a classical musician!
So, we were delighted to help pianist Georgina Duncan as she embarks on he...
11/12/2025
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!
Irish golfing hero Shane Lowry...
11/12/2025
RT Sport Awards 2025 live on RT One and RT Player at 8:05pm on Saturday 20 December
On Saturday 20 December live on RT One and RT Player at the earlier ti...
11/12/2025
Sash is ready to samba as Fair City star Stephanie Kelly is revealed as the late...
11/12/2025
Dalet, a leading provider of cloud-native, end-to-end media workflow solutions, ...
10/12/2025
For the first time, Spotify is giving users the power to steer the algorithm. Gustav S derstr m, Spotify's Co-President, CPO, and CTO, shares the vision beh...
10/12/2025
10 Dec 2025
VEON's Rising Capital Markets Profile Strengthened by Inclusion...
10/12/2025
10 Dec 2025
VEON Recognized for JazzCash, Kyivstar and Jazz at the World Commun...
10/12/2025
Wednesday 10 December 2025
Sky extends partnership with the Ladies European Tour for a landmark 30th year
Sky and the Ladies European Tour (LET) have announce...
Wuppertal June 16, 2021 
