Creative Technology Deploys 49M-Pixel ST 2110 Workflow for Eurovision 2026
Creative Technology supplied a full ST 2110-native video workflow for the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, delivering over 49 million pixels to approximately 500sqm of LED screens. This setup represented a significant advancement in IP production for a major live event, utilizing a redundant 100GB network and managing complex video control and media playback. The system was built for scale, resilience, and rapid turnaround for creative variations between delegations.
Key Takeaways
- Native ST 2110 distribution eliminated baseband SDI/HDMI and conversion across the entire media server-to-screen signal path.
- Network infrastructure managed 480 connected devices via two Arista core switches and 24 Netgear utility switches.
- Hardware stack featured 16 Megapixel Helios 8K controllers and eight Disguise servers delivering 32 redundant 4K outputs.
- Stage design incorporated ROE Graphite 2.6mm LED and Black Marble 4.6 LED floors, including a 12m x 8m curved 'Infinity Screen.'
- Technical teams managed 42-second turnaround windows between performances, integrating specialized holographic LED and laser projection for specific delegations.
Why It Matters
The deployment proves ST 2110 can support the most demanding live broadcast environments without relying on traditional SDI backup infrastructure. By shifting complexity to the IP layer, production teams gained the flexibility to manage massive pixel densities and rapid-fire creative changes that legacy baseband systems struggle to scale. This year's specific challenge with rolling shutter camera synchronization highlights a critical friction point as cinematic sensors move into high-brightness LED environments. Watch for the increasing adoption of global shutter sensors in live broadcast packages to mitigate the banding and flicker issues encountered in Vienna.
Additional Context
The transition to ST 2110-native workflows in Vienna aligns with a broader industry shift toward software-defined production. Although SMPTE ST 2110 won a 2025 Engineering Emmy, adoption has historically been slowed by the complexity of Precision Time Protocol (PTP) synchronization. Per TV Technology (April 2026), while ST 2110 has become the standard for greenfield high-profile events, legacy SDI still underpins approximately 82% of broader broadcast operations. The Eurovision deployment is a rare example of a 'full-IP' greenfield environment at this scale.
The 2026 contest also serves as a technical bellwether for larger events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup. According to Imagine Communications (May 2026), the soccer tournament is expected to draw 6 billion viewers and will rely heavily on ST 2110 to facilitate uncompressed 4K and 1080p HDR feeds. This shift is practical: a single 4K stream consumes roughly 12Gbps, making 100Gbps network backbones a necessity rather than a luxury for modern venues.
Technically, the use of ARRI Alexa 35 Cinematic LIVE cameras at Eurovision (per UNN, April 2026) introduced the 'rolling shutter' challenges mentioned by Creative Technology. Because CMOS sensors read data row-by-row, they are susceptible to banding when paired with LED Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) cycles. As documented by Vadzo Imaging (June 2026), preventing these artifacts requires precise matching of shutter exposure to the LED refresh frequency. The success in Vienna suggests that despite these hurdles, IP-based orchestration is now mature enough to handle the 2 exabytes of total throughput generated by the world's largest live music competition.
Read full article at ct-group.com
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