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Broadcast

Eurovision Song Contest Rotterdam Ahoy

Client
NPO and AVROTROS
Branch
Broadcast
Info
Date – 2021
Location – Rotterdam Ahoy, NL
Photo credit – Nathan Reinds/ NPO/ NOS/ AVROTROS
Intro
The annual Eurovision Song Contest was hosted in Rotterdam Ahoy in 2021. "It was an unparalleled show, showing that the Dutch event industry is world-class. Being able to live up to this during the pandemic is truly an achievement that makes us proud," said CEO CeesJan Faber.
In detail
Decor
With its partners and suppliers, Faber was responsible for all video hardware and the technicians who installed and operated the equipment.

All 39 participating countries could specify their specific video effects and other requirements. The most eye-catching was the set with the LED back wall 52 meters wide and 12 meters high designed by Florian Wieder, known from the Emmys and MTV Music Awards. A “runway” screen in the center of the auditorium created an extra dimension. Augmented Reality was also used more than ever before.

In detail
LED solution

850 square meters of LED

In total, some 850 square meters of LED were used, supplemented in the hall by around 100 LCD screens. Faber also took care of controlling them with a group of about 10 technicians. “The integration of all kinds of techniques and the expertise of our people to make everything possible were on a special level,” said Sales Director Jeroen Jongenelen. “But really special, of course, is what effect it had on the audience, in the hall and at home.”

The technique

LED Screens and Media Servers

This 508 m2 LED wall was composed of ROE Visual’s latest indoor/outdoor product, BQ4, and controlled by Megapixel VR’s HELIOS LED Processing Platform. Furthermore, this wall contained two 12-meter-high LED doors in the middle, which visually shaped the theme “Open Up”. These could rotate 360 degrees, live, creating different looks and additional depth for performances in addition to a central stage entrance.

Also included in the design were 2 ROE BM4 LED floors, one measuring 127 m2 in the main stage and one measuring 27 m2 in the B-Stage, fitted with dark glossy glass panels, for the ‘top shots’ during live broadcasts.

A 110 m2 transparent ‘runway’ LED screen by ROE Vanish8 in the center of the venue created an extra dimension as a backdrop for the B-Stage when this screen was flown in.

For video content control, 12 Disguise media servers were deployed, 4x VX4 and 8x GX2c, with 24/7 support by Disguise, London. For pre-programming video content and lighting, and programming and operating in Ahoy, Jo Pauly of Visual Solutions and Lex ter Heurne of By-Lex were part of the Faber team. The latter also took care of the content network. The Barco Event Controller platform was used for the video switching.

Technical Production Eurovision Song Contest (ESC)

Technical production of the ESC was in the hands of Head of Production Erwin Rintjema, of Sightline Productions. Head of Video Hans Cromheecke was responsible for the video.

"The scale and size of the ESC are unlike any other. This year, with Faber providing all LED and controls, we were able to take another step up in quality. Faber delivered and controlled this from A-to-Z flawlessly, delivering a truly world-class performance. From the very first preparation to the live shows, the Faber team was fully in control, remaining extremely flexible and able to handle the enormous amount of changes and updates constantly. In that, they are truly at a very high level!"
Erwin Rintjema
Head of Production
Sightline Productions
"With 11,252 x 2,592 pixels, the LED screen delivered here was certainly not an everyday screen. Also by using the new HELIOS processors, Faber was able to deliver this scale-up without shrinkage, with 10-bit processing, 100 percent redundancy and super user-friendly. The ROE BQ4 Black Quartz LED screen and BM4 floor are of the same high quality. Faber was also granted the video part because they had the right attitude for this project from Day 1. The Faber team was balanced, had tremendous experience and gave 100 percent. Their passion for the job was visible."
Hans Cromheecke
Head of Video
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