United and NEP joined forces again for the Eurovision Song Contest 2021
Hilversum, 21 April 2021A year after the Eurovision Songcontest was postponed, NEP and United joined forces again for the multi-camera production of the Eurovision Song Contest 2021. As a result of a European tender, both media parties are commissioned by the NOS to take care of the registration, including all technical facilities, crew and equipment, of the three live shows from Rotterdam Ahoy. A unique collaboration that turns this international spectacle into reality and therefore can meet all the technical production and high-quality requirements.
National importance
“We are enormously proud that we, as two Dutch companies, may capture this largest music event in this unique collaboration. Eurovision is of unknown scale, complexity and range, so we’re very honored to be involved again. NEP also develops and delivers the graphics and AR elements, which are being controlled by our own software and crew. The Eurovision Songfestival is finally an event that connects people and something the public is really looking forward to. That’s why the expectations and quality standards are higher than ever before. We therefore deploy the best technical solutions, equipment and the best crew to meet the highest quality standard and to ensure that this will be an unforgettable spectacle,” says Ralf van Vegten, Managing Director NEP.
René Delwel, CEO of United, adds: “It’s nice to see how the two companies are working together as one team for this enormous event. We consider the 65th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest to be very unique and of great national importance. Our people are very aware of that and work hard to deliver the best solutions and results. In organizing the Eurovision Song Contest, the largest European entertainment show with approximately 200 million viewers, the Netherlands will place itself on the international map. This is a unique chance that we seize with both hands.”
Interesting facts and figures
- 130 video signals
- 140 intercom panels en 60 boleros
- 25 cameras
- Trucks: UHD1, UHD2, TOC Container, MusicOne, NL6, NL9 and 3x Utility trucks
- 60 EVS channels
- Incoming connections out of 40 countries
- 39 participating countries
- 9 shows (2,5 weeks of rehearsals)
- Last year approximately 200 million viewers
This year the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 will take place in Rotterdam with 41 participating countries. The semi-finals will be held on Tuesday, May 18, and Thursday, May 20, with the finals on Saturday, May 22, live from the Ahoy Arena. The organization of the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 in the Netherlands is a collaboration between NPO, NOS and AVROTROS, in co-production with the EBU.