Aletsch Arena

Technically Challenging Host Broadcast Production

When the world’s best enduro mountain bikers take to the course in the Aletsch Arena, every second counts—not only for the athletes, but also for the live production.

On July 18 and 19, we had the privilege of producing the UCI Mountain Bike World Series in the Aletsch Arena—a technically demanding project that required the utmost precision and flawless teamwork.

16 cameras along the entire race course

A total of 16 live cameras were in use. Two race drone teams followed the riders along the course, vividly capturing the race’s dynamic action. By alternating between the two teams, we were able to track every rider with the racing drones—while one team landed to change batteries, the other seamlessly took over coverage of the next athlete. The setup was complemented by several track cameras with LiveU connectivity, as well as numerous cameras in the finish area—ranging from fixed and PTZ cameras to a beauty drone, a wide-angle shot of the stage, and a handheld camera to capture the excitement at the finish line.

A particular challenge: While the next riders were already on the course, others were crossing the finish line. For this reason, the start and the middle section of the race were integrated into the live broadcast as “Re-Live” segments. This production was only possible thanks to the perfect coordination between the director, replay team, camera crews, and technical staff.

In Switzerland, the final could be watched live on blue Sport. The German-speaking commentators were on site in Fiesch, while the French-language commentary came from the blue Sport studio.

We’re already looking forward to the next edition of the UCI Mountain Bike World Series in the Aletsch Arena!