With Mainstage, SWR is taking a big step closer to its goal of producing digital and linear offerings in the most cost-conscious and user-oriented way possible. Permanent studio sets have been built at the Mainz and Stuttgart locations, where all regular, current studio productions with and without an audience can be recorded and broadcast live. The studio setup consists of large LED walls that can be individually configured to meet the design requirements of each programme. At the touch of a button, SWR SPORT can become MARKTCHECK or LANDESSCHAU.

By eliminating the need to set up and dismantle decorations and thanks to the high degree of standardisation in the broadcast formats, it is possible to produce different programmes on the same day and within the same shift. This reduces not only set-up times but also rehearsal times. Mainstage is an SWR development that sets new standards in studio production for all broadcast channels.

The CYCLO-LED backlighting was supplied by DP Lighting Systems on behalf of BFE Studio und Medien Systeme. This lighting system, featuring RGBW LEDs in a 10 cm pixel grid, allows for versatile background design in combination with a projection screen measuring 46 x 5.5 m. This technology has been in use since 2012 in the SWR studios in Stuttgart with RGB LEDs, and is now also being used for the Mainstage studio. The LED backlighting complements the LED video walls supplied by BFE with programme-specific content behind the presenter and guests in the gaps and around the LED video walls. This ensures that the various magazine programmes are always recognisable.

The LHGL lighting with RGBW fluorescent lamps, installed in 1996 as part of the initial equipment for the studio in Mainz, was replaced by the CYCLO LED system, which offers far more versatile design options with significantly reduced energy consumption and maintenance costs.

At the same time, the connection panels in the studio were equipped with additional connection options for Ethernet and DMX networks as well as remotely switchable power connections. The ISYGLT system from Seebacher was used for this purpose.

The studios in Mainz and Stuttgart have been broadcasting in their new design since November 2020 for SWR Sport, Landesschau and consumer magazines, among others.