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Eurovision 2024: Technical fun facts about the stage in Malmö Arena!

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In a few days, it will be Sweden‘s 7th time to host the Eurovision Song Contest. It was held in Stockholm in 1975, 2000 and 2016, in Gothenburg in 1985, and in Malmö in 1992, 2013 and 2024.

Here are some technical fun facts about this year’s Eurovision stage, as provided by the SVT Communications Team:

Cameras & Broadcast

  • 26 cameras used for the Broadcast

Of those 26 cameras:

  • 4 are mounted on a Rail
  • 2 are used on Telescopic Cranes
  • 7 Wireless Cameras (5 Stedicam, 2 Handheld)
  • 2 Aerial systems, 1 is a 2D camera system and 1 is a Drop camera system (top shot).
  • 2 identical OB-vans + a container village with all broadcast related built in.
  • LiveEdit is used as ACS system (Automated Camera Scripting). It is a system that is programmed to operate the vision mixer automatically, runned by time code from the music track. It also cues each camera operator before their shot.

Communication

  • We are using over 400 radios to communicate on site.
  • Over 60 radio channels (both analogue and digital) are used.
  • On top of that we also use over 200 intercom panels, both stationary and wireless.
  • The IT set up contain 110 WiFi access points and 82 network switches. And only the IT use over 8,2 km off signal cables

Rigging

  • 196 variable speed hoist is used to position and move most of the lighting and LED element in the design.
  • 204 tons of technical gear is suspended from the arena ceiling.
  • 3,5 km of truss

Lighting

  • 2168 Lighting fixtures. All lighting fixtures have a LED or laser source.
  • 4 weeks of pre-programming is needed.

Video

  • There’s about 1 000 square meters of LED screen in and over the set.
  • Stage floor LED is 186m2
  • 5 LED video cubes are 460m2
  • 340m2 LED screen
  • 10 Media servers runs video content on all LED screens.

Sound

  • 68 speakers
  • 56 microphones
  • 9 sound desks
  • 3 different sound mixes are done IEM (in ear monitor) for the artists, PA for the audience onsite and the broadcast mix (for the TV-audience).

Stage management team

  • There is a six person stage management team. To assist them there is an additional stage crew of 36 people. They will have 55 SECONDS to move each prop into perfect position on stage while at the same time, rolling another prop off the stage. These movements are carefully choreographed and rehearsed, just like everything else in this show.

General

  • It requires in total about 230 people to operate the Eurovision broadcast, among them there are:
    • 3 Multicamera Directors
    • 40 camera operators including crane swingers, focus pullers, 2D cam pilot etc.
    • 6 operators for lighting & 2 for video
    • There are 8-9000 tickets for each show, sold to ticketholders from more than 80 countries.
    • The production team is on site 46 days in total, including the set up and dismantle.
    • We have about 350 people working on site right now and this number will grow to about 1500 in total during the broadcast week.
    • 1100 accredited media are expected from about 60 countries around the World.

You can watch the Eurovision stage in all its glory at the video down below:

Special thanks to Madeleine Sinding-Larsen, Head of Communications of Eurovision Song Contest 2024 and SVT for the invite!

Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the news regarding this year’s Eurovision Song Contest to be held this May in Malmö, Sweden!

Source: SVT
Photo: Andreas Papayiannakis/Eurovisionfun

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Eurovision 2024: The Malmö Arena stage just got revealed!

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Andreas Papayiannakis and EurovisionFun are reporting live from Malmö, got invited at the Stage Reveal event that took place earlier today at 14:00 CET and got the chance to have a first glimpse of the stage in full operation.

Today, the stage for the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 is unveiled, and it is a well-qualified gang that is behind this year’s sparkling stage experience in Eurovision this year. It’s about the stage, lighting design and specially written music that will lift the competition and the entire TV show into a feast for eyes and ears – both for the audience on site and for TV viewers around the world.

 

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Florian Wieder – Production Designer
Florian Wieder is based in Los Angeles and Munich. Over the past 30 years, he has developed the creative and visual concepts for several large-scale shows, concerts, tours, ceremonies, music and television productions worldwide. Florian has worked with artists such as Beyonce, Adele, Jennifer Lopez, Robbie Williams, U2, Lady Gaga, Rammstein. He was a designer and creative producer for seven MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs), 12 MTV Europe Music Awards (EMAs) and has developed the Eurovision Song Contest seven times since 2011. In 2022, he designed the opening ceremony of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. For the MTV VMAs, he was awarded a Primetime Emmy/Best Production Design.

Fredrik Stormby – Light and Screen Content Designer
With almost 25 years of experience, Fredrik Stormby has worked with concerts, theatre, corporate events and television productions. His latest engagements span several roles in projects such as ABBA Voyage, Melodifestivalen, Beyoncé’s Renaissance Tour and Eurovision Song Contest 2013, 2016 and with Loreen 2023. Fredrik is one of the founders of Green Wall Designs, a creative studio specializing in lighting, stage and screen content, based in Stockholm. He takes a holistic approach to production design, seamlessly integrating light, video, and scenographic elements.

Eirik Røland and Johan Nilsson – composers for this year’s musical identity
As a duo, Eirik Røland and Johan Nilsson have collaborated since 2016 to produce music for games, television and other media. Previous notable work includes RAGE 2 (gerAAA games) and American Song Contest (NBC). When asked what their specialties are, they answer that it is about exploring and finding the soul and identity in something and touching and conveying a message to the listener. They specialize in composing adaptive music with the technology that this entails. The adaptive music leads to seamless transitions and in the Eurovision Song Contest it provides opportunities to create a soundscape that contributes to a more exciting voting. The duo expresses:

“The music for Eurovision is a mix of energetic dance music, modern film music with big EDM sounds and a touch of Nordic melodies and timbres. Extra fun is that parts of the music will be adaptive, which is the first time ever for Eurovision.

Special thanks to Madeleine Sinding-Larsen, Head of Communications of Eurovision Song Contest 2024 and SVT for the invite!

Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the news regarding this year’s Eurovision Song Contest to be held this May in Malmö, Sweden!

Source: media.melodifestivalen.se/SVT
Photo: Andreas Papayiannakis/Eurovisionfun

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Eurovision 2024: Listen to OGAE Sweden’s official song for the contest!

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The Swedes promise us a wonderful contest this year. In this regard, OGAE Sweden and O!DORIAN opted to provide us fans with an official song for this Eurovision Song Contest.

The song titled “We Are One (United by Music)” is written by Anders Dannvik, Per Olsson and Emil Löfström and produced by Michael Lövgren for Milo Blue Productions. The vocalists are O!Dorian and Sophia Ahlin.

The song will be played at several events during the Eurovision week in Malmö (such as: Euroclub and Euro Fan Cafe) and will also be available as a CD-single, together with a sing-a-long version.

It is a typical Schlager type of song, a dominant sound in Scandinavia:

We wanted to create a song where fans can recognise the typical Swedish Schlager sound”, says Emil Löfström (O!Dorian).

While, the president of OGAE Sweden, who also serves as a vocalist for “We Are One (United By Music)”, Sophia Ahlin mentions:

It is a first to have an official song for the Eurovision fans network and we’re hoping to initiate a new tradition.

The 68th Eurovision Song Contest will take place in Malmö, Sweden from 7 to the 11th of May, following Loreen’s win in Liverpool.

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Stay tuned to EurovisionFun for all the news! 

Sweden: Tina Mehrafzoon and Edward af Sillén are the Swedish commentators for Eurovision 2024!

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Today, Friday April the 19th, SVT, the Swedish national broadcaster, has announced who will be involved in the Swedish commentary of the three shows of the contest, on a press release.

When the Eurovision Song Contest is held for the 68th time, viewers in Sweden will be guided by Tina Mehrafzoon and Edward af Sillén.

This is the thirteenth year that the experienced and knowledgeable Edward af Sillén takes place in Eurovision’s commentary booth. For the music journalist and media profile Tina Mehrafzoon, who during the spring had a commentating expert role during the Melodifestivalen, it is the premiere.

Tina Mehrafzoon expresses:

“To be able to do this together with Edward is an honour and a dream come true. The fact that Sweden is the host country makes it all the more special. I know which professionals make the show so my job will be very pleasurable and easy!”

This host year, Edward af Sillén is also involved as a director and screenwriter. The whole spring is filled with intense work, but Edward is very much looking forward to the assignment as a commentator.

“It feels both honorable and very fun. The viewers will be in safe and warm hands with Tina in the driver’s seat, while I will split my time between being backstage and working with the presenters and being by Tina’s side as much as possible during the shows. It’s going to be really exciting,”

says Edward af Sillén.

Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the news regarding this year’s Eurovision Song Contest to be held this May in Malmö, Sweden and any updates regarding its planning!

Source: media.melodifestivalen.se/SVT
Photo: SVT/Dan Danielsson

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Eurovision 2024: Extremists Allegedly Plan to Target Eurovision Song Contest in Sweden ?

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Recent reports suggest that Islamic extremists are allegedly plotting to bomb the Eurovision Song Contest venue in Sweden next month as a protest against Israel‘s participation. Israeli reporters, who conducted an undercover visit to a mosque in Malmö, claim to have been warned by guards about the planned attack.

Posing as Muslim British tourists, the reporters engaged with guards at the largest mosque in Malmö, the host city of the event. According to their accounts, the guards cautioned them against attending the contest, citing the possibility of an explosion at the venue.

The Israeli TV channel, Keshet 12, has reported the conversation to event organizers and Swedish authorities, who have initiated an investigation into the matter.

Despite these threats, a Eurovision spokesperson confirmed that the contest will proceed as planned at the 15,000-seat Malmö Arena, featuring artists from at least 37 countries. The event is expected to draw fans from around the globe.

This alleged plot comes amid heightened tensions surrounding Israel‘s participation in the contest. Pro-Palestinian activists have called for a boycott of Israel over its actions in Gaza, which they claim have resulted in significant civilian casualties.

Israel‘s representative in this year’s Eurovision, 20-year-old Eden Golan, has also faced controversy. Her entry song, initially titled “October Rain,” was criticized for its references to the Hamas attack. Eurovision organizers demanded that the lyrics be rewritten to adhere to the competition’s political neutrality policy.

In addition to the security concerns raised by the alleged plot, journalists investigating the matter faced hostility while in Malmö. Muslim individuals reportedly verbally abused and physically assaulted the reporters upon learning of their Israeli identity.

The documented visit to Al-Wakf mosque revealed further alarming sentiments, with security guards purportedly expressing anti-Israel sentiments and warning against attending the Eurovision event.

Despite these challenges, Eurovision organizers remain committed to ensuring the safety of attendees and staff. Any threats brought to their attention are promptly reported to the relevant authorities.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the latest developments regarding the 68th Eurovision Song Contest.

Source: Daily Mail

Eurovision 2024: Massive Nordic police operation ensures security for Eurovision in Malmö!

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The final week in early May will, if not the biggest, be one of the biggest police operations in Malmö‘s history. For a whole week, Eurovision enthusiasts from around 80 countries gather to party, rejoice, and follow the competition live at Malmö Arena.

At the same time, protests against Israel‘s participation in the competition are becoming increasingly loud. Many demand that the country be prevented from participating. For the police, this situation means that security around the event must be strengthened. Nils Norling, press spokesperson for the Malmö Police says:

“For the police, Eurovision is a very big operation. Large parts of the personnel of the Malmö police are involved in this command. We also have a lot of people from other parts of Region South, and we will receive reinforcements from other parts of the Swedish Police Force throughout the week.”

Positive about the cooperation

The assessment is that it is not enough. The Swedish police are now seeking assistance from Danish and Norwegian police to reinforce the operation. Nils adds:

“We view their arrival very positively. It not only gives us relief but also the opportunity to train and work together, strengthening Nordic police cooperation. All foreign police officers will be supervised by Swedish officers.”

Collaboration between Norwegian, Swedish, and Danish police has occurred before. Swedish police have supported Danish colleagues in Denmark, and Norwegian police have assisted at football matches in Stockholm.

“It is part of Nordic police cooperation that we can support each other. The way Swedish, Danish, and Norwegian police work is very similar.”

says Nils Norling.

Previous collaborations

Danish and Norwegian police officers come with their own equipment, which may include police vehicles.

“We have previously received help from Danish police and borrowed firefighting vehicles, for example, during the Rosengård riots.”

Nils Norling does not want to disclose how many police officers – Swedish, Norwegian, and Danish – are involved in the command during Eurovision.

“We should not expose ourselves to being identified.”

Focus on the public festival

The police have been preparing for six months for Eurovision week. As the competition approaches, more and more employees have been involved.

“For every week, more people are engaged.”

Nils Norling says that residents and visitors to Malmö will notice a significant police presence in the city during the week of the competition. Throughout the city, there are activities related to Eurovision. In Malmö Arena, there are events almost daily, with finals and semi-finals and double rehearsals before them.

“We can assure everyone in Malmö that there will be a lot of police officers. People living in and visiting Malmö should be able to focus on the public festival. The police will handle security work.”

Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the news regarding this year’s Eurovision Song Contest to be held this May in Malmö, Sweden and any updates regarding its planning!

Source: Skånska Dagbladet
Photo: Johan Nilsson/TT

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Eurovision 2024: SVT regrets choosing Malmö as the host city?

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One of the most well-known radio producers on Israeli public radio, Yigal Ravid, mentioned today on a KAN radio program that members of the Swedish broadcaster admitted to the Israeli delegation that Malmö’s selection as the 2024 Eurovision host city was apparently a mistake.

For SVT and the EBU, choosing Malmö to host the 68th Eurovision Song Contest is turning out to be a major security risk. With over 70,000 Muslims calling this city home, it is widely regarded as the most pro-Palestinian city in the nation, with numerous anti-Israel demonstrations occurring literally every day.

When the host city was chosen, the events of October 7th had obviously not occurred. But now that the situation is tense, this option appears dangerous.

On the other hand, Stockholm was out of the running due to Taylor Swift’s concerts which coincide with Eurovision, as well as the refusal of the city’s football teams. Hence, there was no arena available, making Malmö the only choice for hosting the event.

Eurovision 2024 approaches, with security measures tighter than ever before, as the EBU and Swedish organizers face their most difficult challenge.

@kan_reshetbet ״הבחירה במאלמו הייתה טעות גדולה״: יגאל רביד על המשלחת הישראלית לאירוויזיון והאיומים שעלו מדרגה #השעההבינלאומית #עדןגולן #אירוויזיון ♬ original sound – כאן רשת ב
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Source: KAN

 

Eurovision 2024: Activists protest Israel’s Eurovision Participation outside Malmö City Hall

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“Long live Palestine!” and “Israel is a terror state” – these slogans resounded outside Malmö City Hall as vocal activists gathered to influence the city’s politicians during the municipal board meeting earlier today, Wednesday, coinciding with the municipal executive board’s consideration of a citizen’s proposal to halt Israel‘s participation in Eurovision.

Today, the board will take a position on citizens’ initiatives aimed at stopping Israel‘s participation in the competition in May. The City of Malmö‘s government has already made it clear on several occasions – it is not up to the municipality to stop countries from participating.

“But they can do something. In that case, the City of Malmö should make a statement that Israel is not welcome in Malmö.”

says Yomn Kadoura, spokesperson for the network Stop Israel to TT and adds:

“And that they send emails to the EBU and say that Israel is not welcome at Eurovision!”

The Eurovision Song Contest will be held in Malmö between 7 and 11 May, and the war between Israel and Hamas has stirred up strong feelings around Europe regarding the music competition. Sydsvenskan has previously reported that Tarabband, Crying Day Care Choir, and Nevergreens have canceled their concerts. Yesterday, Medina also announced their resignation.

The fact that the festivities are surrounded by growing criticism is a concern for the host city. Karin Karlsson, the main project manager for the City of Malmö‘s hosting, told TT last week.

“We want a Malmö where we come out of this in one piece.” 

Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the news regarding this year’s Eurovision Song Contest to be held this May in Malmö, Sweden and any updates regarding its planning!

Source: Anna Karolina Eriksson/TT
Photo: Per Pixel Petersson/imagebank.sweden.se

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Eurovision 2024: “Can’t guarantee safety but do everything we can!” | Police ahead of Eurovision

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Now it’s only a month left before the world’s biggest music festival, the Eurovision Song Contest, which will be held in Malmö, Sweden. And preparations are in full swing so that the competition can be carried out with the best possible safety.

Petra Stenkulla is the police area manager in Malmö and was interviewed on P1-Morgon of Sveriges Radio by reporter August Haskbom. Petra comments on the situation:

“It is of course the case that Sweden has a terror threat level of four out of five. And that means that we need to intensify our work together with the security police. But really, you can say that all types of events where there are very many people in the same place always pose a certain risk and that means that we need to take measures to have many police officers and have good planning for anything that could happen, even if it is an accident or anything at all.”

In a time with high terrorist threat, Israel‘s participation has aroused strong reactions and with up to one hundred thousand visitors, the city of Malmö is still planning on an open event. Petra Stenkulla adds:

“Our ambition is for it to be a festive event where people can still feel safe and have fun. Right now, we’re planning for it to be an open event that is happening in several different places. There will be events and people need to be able to move between them. And this is part of our planning.”

In safety planning, the City of Malmö and the police have had frequent communication with last year’s host city, Liverpool.  And Petra Stenkulla thinks that a good plan has been formed for this year’s music competition:

“We can never guarantee safety but we will do our upmost to make people feel safe. And we can also assume that there will be both rumor spreading and other factors that will lead to, for example, threats that we need to assess. But we will continue to work with this, we have a solid plan and we feel confident with that plan. So that everyone can feel comfortable.”

Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the news regarding this year’s Eurovision Song Contest to be held this May in Malmö, Sweden and any security updates regarding its planning!

Source: Sveriges Radio/P1 Morgon/August Haskbom/Ekot
Photo: Johan Nilsson/TT

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Malmö 2024: Full Programme Unveiled for Eurovision Fans!

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With just a month to go until the excitement kicks off, Malmö has unveiled its comprehensive programme of events set to captivate residents and visitors alike.

Malena Ernman, who represented Sweden at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2009, will have the honor of inaugurating the Eurovision Village festivities. The bustling streets of Skåne will come alive with the electrifying energy of Ukraine’s Go_A bringing “Shum” to the shores.

As previously teased, Eurovision Village in Folkets Park will serve as the epicenter of the week-long celebrations leading up to the Grand Final. From the Euphoria Stage to the Dancing Queen Stage, there will be no shortage of entertainment options to immerse yourself in. Friisgatan will transform into Eurovision Street, offering a vibrant mix of performances and culinary delights. Additionally, venues around Malmö Live and Malmö Central Station will host intimate concerts and shows, ensuring that Eurovision fever permeates every corner of the city.

The eclectic lineup promises something for everyone, from ’90s dance acts to global electronica and iconic Melodifestivalen legends. And yes, drag queens will be gracing the stage, adding an extra layer of flair to the festivities.

Highlights include performances by Medina, a sneak peek at Malmö Opera’s upcoming musical Joyride, and an evening dedicated to ABBA’s timeless classics. For those craving more, there’s a lineup of concerts, competitions, and surprises to keep the party going well into the night.

Plus, catch some of your favorite Eurovision stars performing live at Eurovision Village. From 6th to 9th May, the Euphoria Stage will host acts from the 68th Eurovision Song Contest, promising unforgettable performances that will leave you wanting more.

As the countdown to the Live Shows of the Eurovision Song Contest begins, stay tuned for updates on the Village & Euroclub page for even more exciting happenings. Whether you’re streaming the songs or watching the music videos, get ready to experience the magic of Eurovision 2024 in Malmö, Sweden.

And don’t miss the special evening presented by Malmö Pride featuring Austrian Eurovision winner Conchita Wurst, who will be gracing the stage with a live concert, adding an extra dose of glamor and empowerment to the festivities.

Mark your calendars for May 7 (First Semi-Final), May 9 (Second Semi-Final), and May 11 (Grand Final) for an unforgettable celebration of music and unity. With the full programme now unveiled, Eurovision fans can start planning their itinerary for an immersive and unforgettable experience in Malmö.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the latest developments regarding the 68th Eurovision Song Contest!

Source: Eurovision.tv