Riedel Communications’ Intercom Technology Scores High Marks at all Olympic Stadium Events

Following a full year of planning and preparation, Riedel Communications, GmbH - known for pioneering advanced intercom technology in the broadcast industry - supplied approximately a dozen organisations and equipped approximately 40 locations with 50 tons of communications equipment during the Summer Games 2004 in Athens, Greece.

Toping the list of Riedel customers was the Olympic Committee of Greece (ATHOC), and the host broadcaster of the Games, Athens Olympics Broadcast (AOB). Thomas Riedel, the company’s founder, and his team of more than 100 engineers equipped locations in Athens, Thessaloniki, Patras, Olympia and Kreta with intercom systems that served all events.

In all, the Riedel teams used 80 matrix systems, more than 2,000 digital intercom control panels, 3,000 digital and 1,000 analogue radio transmitters, 200 RiFace radio interfaces, 5,500 headsets and more than 125 miles of cables and fiber. During all competitions service-teams stood stand-by to provide spare-units in the case of failure.

First digital beltpack Olympics-proved

The ATHOC charged Riedel with the responsibility for all sports-related communications. At the events Riedel Artist S Matrix-systems enabled up to 1,200 participants to connect with each other simultaneously. Referees, timekeepers and venue assistants communicated via approximately 1,000 digital beltpack C2s - introduced officially at the IBC in Amsterdam but successfully tested under real conditions in Greece. The robust and ergonomically shaped beltpack is completely noise-free, has broadcast quality audio and is unique in its ability to provide a fully integrated solution for combined matrix and party-line style intercom setups. “Our new C2s enable our customers to communicate in a manner similar to analogue party-line systems, including daisy-chaining and power-supply over cabling. Additionally we’re able to offer all advantages of digital matrix systems such as flexible routing”, says Thomas Riedel, Managing Director of Riedel Communications GmbH.

Host broadcaster AOB relies on Riedel

Host broadcaster AOB - who provides the pictures for all tv-stations worldwide - used more than 800 analogue and digital radio transmitters including headsets from Riedel. The digital matrix-system Artist S provided the connections between the AOB headquarters and the teams working at the different locations. Furthermore, about 200 RiFace interfaces provided the integration of wired and wireless intercom systems. Riedel’s engineers installed not only radio systems for cameramen, sound-engineers and directors, but also a complex filter network to guarantee interference-free operation even under heavy loads by other radio operators.

Riedel became involved initially at Sport Events 2003, the official trials for the Olympic Games, when the company worked together with its Greek system-partner PTS Pierides TechnoSystems Ltd. The reliability of the intercom and radio-applications was confirmed and plans were set in motion to supply the Summer Games.

Wherever you look: Riedel’s already there

In addition to the two “Olympic“ missions a significant amount of Riedel equipment was present at the Greek venues. Alfacam, Europe’s biggest OB-truck operator and a long-time user of Riedel equipment, was on the scene with its Artist multimedia platform. In Greece, Artist enabled the installation of one huge intercom-system for the production teams of AOB consisting of several trucks connected by its unique decentralized fiber-network ability.

Many more broadcasting stations from all over the world also rely on Riedel’s technology: ARD und ZDF (Germany), BBC (UK), TVE (Spain), ERT (Greece) and NBC (USA) communicate via Riedel’s matrix and/or radio systems. The matrix was even used at Athens International Airport and by security services.

125 miles of cable and fiber

Difficult infrastructure and high safety standards, including the scanning of every single unit, burdened the installation of all the systems which utilized 125 miles of cable and fiber. Marc Schneider, Riedel’s project manager for the 2004 Olympics, commented, “With the Olympic Games 2004 we have proved that our systems are 100 per cent reliable and that we can handle any logistic challenge – even under extreme conditions.”

Riedel’s extensive experience with challenging logistics, including Formula 1 races, world championships and several Olympic games, paved the way for the smooth operation.

World-class events are the company’s driving force

Riedel, the intercom specialists from Germany, will continue to serve world-class events in the future. “We use events of this magnitude as a source for our product development. We’re not only a manufacturer of intercom-technology, but we are also committed to servicing our users. It is our aim to develop practical solutions from our practical experiences. That’s a benefit for all of our customers – from the very smallest up to big business”, said Riedel.