Riedel and ARRI Support Cinematic Live Production at Eurovision Song Contest 2026

Riedel Communications and ARRI supported ORF's host broadcast of the Eurovision Song Contest 2026, which for the first time used ARRI Alexa 35 Live cameras as the complete main camera package for the live production. The broadcast reached more than 132 million viewers across more than 35 participating territories. NEP served as OB integration partner.

Riedel's DIVA+ infrastructure in Vienna included approximately 60 MediorNet frames, more than 80 network switches, and more than 11 kilometers of signal fiber cable. The communications layer was built on Artist-1024 intercom nodes with more than 190 Bolero wireless intercom beltpacks, more than 120 Smart Panels, approximately 650 radios across more than 60 radio channels, four digital base stations, and 16 analogue repeaters. The international commentary workflow used approximately 35 commentary panels and Riedel's Desktop SmartPanel Commentary Panel App. A total of 24 ARRI Alexa 35 Live cameras were deployed across standard and special camera positions including cable cams, telescopic cranes, wireless Steadicam rigs, and remote dollies. Sennheiser supported wireless audio and in-ear monitoring workflows.

Cinematic Live Production only works when creative ambition and technical reliability come together in one integrated ecosystem. At the Eurovision Song Contest, DIVA+ provided the foundation that allowed ARRI's cinematic image quality to be used reliably at the scale of a global live event. Together, we proved that a new visual language for live entertainment is production ready, says Lutz Rathmann, CEO Managed Technology, Riedel Communications.

For the 70th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest, we wanted to push the visual language of the event forward while maintaining the robustness required for a global live broadcast. With Riedel, ARRI, NEP, and our wider technology partner network, we turned this ambition into a reliable production model, says Claudio Bortoli, Technical Supervisor, Eurovision Song Contest 2026, ORF.

Together with ORF, Riedel and ARRI, we brought new and established technologies into a unified production workflow that delivered a more cinematic viewing experience. As the integration partner, our role was to manage the complexity behind the scenes so the production team could focus on the show with confidence. Every new capability introduces additional technical challenges, and our expertise is in bringing those technologies together into a seamless, reliable operation that enables creative innovation without compromising the resilience live productions demand, says Axel Engstr m, Sales and Project Manager, NEP.

LINK:	https://www.sportsvideo.org/2026/07/07/riedel-and-arri-support-cinemat...
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