ARRI ALEXA 35 Live captures Eurovision 2026 in cinematic first
Austria's host broadcaster ORF utilized 24 ARRI ALEXA 35 Live cameras to capture the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, marking a significant implementation of cinematic-style equipment in a large-scale live broadcast environment. The integration demonstrated workflows for look-switching and real-time cinematic color grading without traditional post-production, signaling a shift in production aesthetics for live events.
Key Takeaways
- ORF utilized 24 ALEXA 35 Live systems with Super 35 sensors to replace traditional three-chip broadcast cameras.
- Bespoke ARRI Look Files (LUTs) enabled automated, shot-by-shot visual transitions for almost every competing national delegation.
- A major firmware update accelerated multi-matrix color correction and fine gain adjustment to meet the live production deadline.
- System integration was completed within one day at NEP Germany’s facilities using Skaarhoj RCPs and ARRI Fiber Base Stations.
Why It Matters
The deployment of cinema-grade sensors at this scale validates a significant shift toward high-end aesthetics in premium live broadcasting. By successfully integrating these systems into established workflows—including 2D/3D cable rigs and remote dollies—ORF has proved that technical barriers to 'cinematic live' have largely vanished. For the streaming ecosystem, this sets a new visual benchmark for live music and marquee events, likely accelerating adoption in sports and high-profile concert tours. Investors and engineers should monitor whether this hardware-software flexibility leads to broader displacements of legacy broadcast camera fleets in future regional hosting contracts.
Additional Context
The Eurovision deployment coincides with a major corporate shift for ARRI, which was acquired by the Riedel Group in April 2026 according to No Film School. This acquisition combined ARRI’s imaging heritage with Riedel’s dominance in real-time signal distribution, a synergy evidenced on-site in Vienna where Riedel provided the MediorNet infrastructure and Spectera wireless audio systems. Per TMBroadcast, the 2026 production also featured a fully LED- and laser-based lighting concept from designer Tim Routledge, utilizing over 8,500 individually controllable LEDs that further tested the ALEXA 35’s dynamic range and highlight roll-off capabilities. In a parallel move to capture more of the broadcast market, ARRI announced a global partnership with The HELM in December 2025 to scale its live solutions across high-stakes sports and pay-per-view events. This strategy challenges the long-standing duopoly of Sony and Grass Valley, the latter of which launched its own cinematic-focused LDX 180 and C180 series in 2025 to address the growing demand for shallow-depth-of-field live production.
Read full article at 4rfv.co.uk
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