Euro 2024: How BMS built RTVE, ITV and BBC’s Brandenburg Gate studios
A view of the BMS-built studio from ITV’s Academy of Arts presentation position
Euro 2024 viewers in Spain and the UK are enjoying coverage of the tournament from studios set against the backdrop of Berlin’s Pariser Platz, with the iconic Brandenburg Gate in view.
The temporary studio, which is home to RTVE, the BBC and ITV’s presentation and production teams, was constructed by BMS (Broadcast & Media Solutions), a German facilities firm that specialises in scouting locations and building and equipping temporary outside facilities.
BMS, led by co-founders Wolfgang Quinkenstein and Joachim Wildt, has built similar setups at World Cups in Russia, South Africa and Germany, the London 2012 Olympics and Euros in France, Poland/Ukraine and Austria/Switzerland.
BMS co-founder Wolfgang Quinkenstein
“What we do is to identify the best spot, such as a unique backdrop or historical landmark which represent the home country of the tournament.
“In addition, the spot needs to fulfil special requirements in terms of logistics, flexibility in additional lighting, and so on,” says Quinkenstein, an experienced director who has worked on Bundesliga coverage and with Sunset+Vine on its production of Champions League coverage for Amazon Prime Germany.
“In Red Square (for the 2018 FIFA World Cup) we built a 45-metre-long scaffold base with two levels for the studios and the containers behind on behalf of HBS. In Paris (for Euro 2016), we built a scaffold construction for the studios and in front were the containers. Here, the studios are above the containers. It’s never the same, because we always have to think of the best unique view, and then create the rest around it.”
For Euro 2024, BMS worked closely with UEFA to secure the location close to the US Embassy and with the iconic Brandenburg Gate – one of the most recognisable and historically important landmarks in Germany – in the background. The location of the facility in front of the Brandenburg Gate was chosen to face the front of the Quadriga, a sculpture depicting a two-wheeled chariot pulled by four horses on top of the Gate, but also because on the other side of the Gate is a Euro 2024 fan park with a giant screen blocking the view of the gate.
Two years of planning and a four-week construction has resulted in a building that is comprised of 53 container units providing approximately 1,000m² of production and infrastructure space, offices, technology, make-up, green rooms, a staff restaurant, social areas and three studios of 8 x 8 x 3.5m, split among RTVE, the BBC and ITV.
RTVE’s studio
While ITV has presented most of its coverage from an open-sided balcony position in the Academy of Arts building to the left of the BMS studio setup, its studio within the BMS facility has provided a second, fully-enclosed option for presenting coverage – which has provided a useful alternative during the often windy and rainy weather conditions. The BBC, meanwhile, has a presenter terrace above the roof of its studio in the BMS facility.
In addition to building the studio space, BMS has provided power via what Quinkenstein describes as a “green power concept”, with UPS 600KVA and back-up generator plus air conditioning and lighting, with the broadcasters designing and equipping their own studios and technical areas.
BMS has also set up a 54m camera hoist that provides a view of the area, connecting the east and west sides of the Brandenburg Gate and delivering images of the fan zone to the IBC for use by UEFA’s broadcast partners.
Eurovision Services is responsible for connectivity between the BMS facility and the IBC in Leipzig.