Long past are the days of the orchestra, the juries and the 20 something participating countries for the Eurovision Song Contest. Nowadays, with 42 countries in the running and more than 400 million viewers worldwide the contest has become an enormous, highly demanding project on every aspect. Any organiser can see that and YLE are no exception. For this year's contest they have teamed up with a large number of international technical operators and providers from all over Europe to ensure the best outcome in May. YLE promise the best transmission ever offering a choice of superb audio (5.1)and video technology available (HD).
YLE have announced that for the first time ever the Eurovision Song Contest will be transmitted not only in stereo but in multi channel format (5.1) as well. Each local broadcaster will then be able to choose the format they want for their viewers. That means that fans lucky enough to own a surround system and their broadcasters transmit in 5.1 format will be in for an experience. Also, YLE will be broadcasting the contest, again for the first time, in High Definition format (HD) which is great news for fans owning an HD ready TV set. Prisma, the Swedish company, who was in charge of the 2005 Eurovision Song Contest in Kiev among others, will be in charge of this.
(Click here for more information on High Definition TV)
As few broadcasters worldwide can come up with the equipment and resources required for such a demanding project out of their own stock, YLE have opted for outsourcing while retaining the managerial role as well as providing their extensive know-how, executives, producers, technicians and operators.
German company Sennheiser will be providing the microphones and in-ear monitors. Also German Lawo will supply the mixing consoles and the sound routing system. Equipment and personnel needed for front-of-house sound and stage monitoring and the 5.1 multichannel audio detection equipment, will be provided by Finnish Akun Tehdas and Genelec respectively.
Audio Broadcasting Services GmbH / Lawo AG (ABS), a German company with great experience in major events' sound transmission, has undertaken, apart from the the mixing console, the entire audio system as well. ABS were responsible for the sound transmission between venue cities in the FIFA World Cup in Germany.
Also, Swedish Spectra in colaboration with Finnish Eastway will provide the lighting for the show. TeliaSonera will manage internal telecommunications.
Moreover, YLE has teamed up with Sony Finland, German MAT, British Gigawave, Turkish Arttek, Dutch Energyst CAT, the British StageOne and finally Finnish Angel Films and YIT Constructors.
The voting will be organised once again by the EBU together with Digame and Deutsche Telekom.
