Custom-Engineered 240m Mid-Tier Ribbon LED Screen Installed at The O2 Arena
A 240-metre custom ribbon LED screen has been installed at mid-tier level inside The O2 Arena – one of the UK’s leading live entertainment venues.
Arena Ribbon Screen Upgrade Begins
Back in 2007, AEG constructed one of the world’s most successful entertainment venues, the 36,000 capacity O2 Arena. Within its arena bowl a 6,688 pixel wide LED screen was installed.
In 2022, AEG decided it was time to upgrade the arena mid ribbon display and replace it with a 12.5 million pixel digiTHIN HDcustom engineered LED screen. The digiLED digital ribbon is an impressive 240m long and has since been named ‘Arenamazing’ by AEG.
Designed to enhance audience engagement and deliver dynamic content across the bowl, the bespoke display combines advanced engineering with seamless integration into the venue’s existing architecture.
Crafted With Sustainability In Mind
A unique feature of the old system was that it doubled up as a crowd safety barrier, its core structure providing the protective rail at the front of the venues corporate boxes.
The idea of a simple “rip out and replace” screen upgrade was quickly ruled out and instead digiLED devised a plan to reface the exisiting structure with a custom designed arena mid-tier ribbon solution.
90% of the original screens’ structure was repurposed and modified to enable the new high-brightness, enery-efficient digiTHIN HD product to be mounted.
This not only reduced needless waste, but also minimised the carbon footprint of the project by reusing alot of exisitng metal work.
Carefully Sourced Energy Effcient Display Components
Electrical calculations showed that with the new digiTHIN HD LED screen, the arena’s electricity bill would reduce by around £60,000 per year. This was all while having a 180% increase in brightness and a 780% increase in pixel count!
digiLED achieved this by using high efficiency electronics and incorporating their green technology digiLED ZEUS®.
The O2 Saves Energy With Award Winning digLED ZEUS
digiLED ZEUS® is an internationally patented and UK developed world first technology.
It allows an LED screen that is not in use to have its power consumption reduced to ZERO, whilst also ensuring there is no inrush currents created when the screen is turned on.
With its in inbuilt safety features, the power can be automatically disconnected in the unlikely event of a fire and is all remotely controlled.
By deploying this technology, the display’s standby power consumption was cut from 130,000 kWh per year to zero, saving The O2 Arena tens of thousands of pounds in energy costs and significantly lowering its carbon footprint.
Client Testimonial
digiLED’s approach to the stunning new Arenamazing installation was innovative from the start. Built on a template they had used in the US, their methodology was to identify exactly what elements of the legacy equipment could be reused. The time, effort and cost saved with this approach was substantial, not to mention the carbon footprint. The O2 was also the first recipient of their digiLED ZEUS® technology which will save us hundreds of £1000s over the coming years and enhance our green credentials.
Stuart Edwards, Technology Director
The O2
