For the Eurovision Song Contest, Riedel’s DIVA+ platform provided the infrastructure layer that brought the system together Rock ’n’ roll Riedel
E urovision is the world’s largest live music event, and this year the contest marked its 70th anniversary. Hosted in Vienna, Austria, the 2026 edition reached 132 million people across 35 measured TV markets. It was also a historic first-time victory for Bulgaria, with pop star DARA gaining 516 points for her song Bangaranga , meaning the country will serve as next year’s host. The grand final aired on 16 May and achieved a 54.8% viewing share among 15- to 24-year-olds, more than four times the broadcast channels’ average, demonstrating its exceptional appeal among younger audiences. Across the 2026 season, official Eurovision content generated more than 2.75 billion views across YouTube, TikTok, Instagram and Facebook, with the grand final live stream attracting 5.43 million unique Eurovision has tested the limits of live broadcast technology since its first edition in 1956. For ORF, the host broadcaster, the goal was to manage a familiar tension between creative ambition and production discipline. The 70th anniversary ultimately created the conditions for a more decisive change. ORF chose to replace traditional broadcast system cameras with ARRI ALEXA 35 Live cameras across the entire production. ORF set out to create a more emotional, cinematic look with greater intimacy and proximity to the artists while preserving the viewers on YouTube. All kinds of everything operational robustness of classic live broadcast. Riedel and ARRI worked
FINAL COUNTDOWN ARRI ALEXA 35 Live cameras were used instead of traditional broadcast kit (right)
closely to integrate ARRI’s cinema camera technology into a traditional OB workflow, supported by NEP and other technology partners. The integration between ARRI, Riedel and NEP was established early in the planning phase. Riedel engaged NEP ahead of the formal tender process, allowing key elements of the production to be tested before final delivery decisions were locked. Riedel’s DIVA+ set-up in Vienna combined approximately 60 MediorNet frames and more than 80 network switches with more than 11km of signal fibre cables across the venue. The communications layer was based on Artist-1024 intercom nodes, integrating more than 190 Bolero wireless intercom beltpacks, over 120 SmartPanels and approximately 650 radios with more than 60 radio channels,
four digital base stations and 16 analogue repeaters. “Cinematic live production only works when creative ambition and technical reliability come together in one integrated ecosystem,” says Lutz Rathmann, CEO managed technology, Riedel Communications. “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. We proved that a new visual language for live entertainment is production ready.”
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