Riedel Support for the ESC in Lisbon

Through tight integration with MediorNet, Riedel’s Artist digital matrix intercom system and Bolero wireless intercom provided comprehensive and reliable communications for crew and performers. For all broadcasts, including semifinals 1 and 2 and the Grand Final, Riedel supplied the signal and communications backbone for Videohouse, which produced the show’s world feed on behalf of EBU and Portugal’s public broadcasting company, RTP. 

Deployed in a decentralized configuration, Riedel’s MediorNet network ensured fully redundant distribution of all video and audio signals for commentary, intercom, signal distribution, and radio communications, including the feeds for monitors in commentary booths and for displays and projectors in the Altice Arena.

Crew communications were facilitated by a robust intercom system anchored by four more Artist 64 mainframes and more than 100 Artist RCP and DCP intercom panels. The Artist panels provided fully redundant, decentralized distribution of all Bolero wireless intercom signals, with 32 Bolero beltpacks deployed to the production team. Bolero’s Advanced DECT Receiver (ADR) technology ensured clear communications throughout the Altice Arena using only six AES67-networked antennas. The Artist infrastructure also supported almost 600 Hytera and Motorola TETRA handheld radios.

For the first time at the Eurovision Song Contest, Riedel deployed a complete solution based on Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) to support commentary booths for almost 30 countries covering the contest for their local audiences. Anchored by four Artist 64 intercom mainframes and 40 Artist CCP-1116 commentary panels, the system used Cymatic Audio’s uTrack24 devices, loaded with Angelbird SSD hard drives, to manage line IDs for the commentary booths.

In this regard, Riedel introduced SIP for the first time at ESC this year, replacing ISDN lines for commentators whilst providing much better audio quality at the same time.

In addition, Riedel provided an access control system designed to simplify guest and crew entry into the arena, boost security, and provide efficient visitor management. The system required personnel to pass through turnstiles where their accreditation cards, embedded with RFID chips, were swiped with stationary or wireless reading devices, and the RFID data was matched to an online database. Also, Riedel once again worked with partner TPO to provide a comprehensive IT and infrastructure, including all switches, servers, 170 wireless access points, for up to 2,000 journalists in the press center and a comprehensive Cyber Security Package.

Challenges and working relationship:
ESC is a large-scale, immensely complex live production. The biggest challenge is to ensure 100% reliability regarding efficient and crystal-clear communication due to the number of users (some numbers: more than 5,000 buttons spread across 200 comms panels, over 800 intercom users and a total of 46km of fiber cabling).

Last but not least, the ESC family for each year’s shows comprises of a vital mix of internationals who have delivered countless ESC shows on the one hand and the core team of the host broadcaster on the other hand who in many cases delivers this show for the first time.

The task here is for everyone to transfer knowledge and experience from the past and maintain highest levels of support and assistance in the background, whilst at the same conceding all room and space for the host broadcaster to create its own and unique one-of-its-kind event and to implement its very own working principles and procedures.

Riedel Equipment LIst for the ESC in Lisbon

Intercom

·         4 Artist 64 intercom Mainframes

·         67 RCP-1128 Intercom Panels

·         10 RCP-1112 Intercom Panels

·         24 DCP-1116 Intercom Panels

·         6 Bolero Antennas

·         32 Bolero Beltpacks

 

Commentary

·         4 Artist 64 intercom Mainframes

·         40 CCP-1116 Commentator Panels

 

Hub MediorNet system   

·         6 MetroN Frames

·         30 MicroN Frames

·         24 Modular Frames

 

Radio

·         300 Hytera PD605 Handheld Radio

·         260 Motorola Tetra Handheld Radio

 

IT Services (gemeinsam mit unserem Partner http://www.tpo.se)

·         170 Access points

 

Accreditation

20 Turnstiles + Viewing Stations

5 Accreditation Work Sations

Team Riedel for ESC 2018 comprised of 25 people, including project and program management and specialized engineers.

In summary, the above task could not have been completed in any better way than it was done this year. Working relationship amongst all parties, including EBU, RTP and suppliers/partners could not have been any better and was always based on the highest level of trust, support and respect throughout the entire production.