ETC Zeo Delivers Spectacular Looks at DSDS Grand Final

Following appearances at several major live events, including the 2025 Halftime Show, the High End Systems Zeo once again demonstrated its capabilities at a high-profile broadcast production: the grand finale of Deutschland sucht den Superstar (DSDS), Germany’s equivalent of American Idol, on May 9, 2026.

ETC Zeo fixtures, supplied by Cologne-based production specialist MLS magic light + sound, played a key role in creating the spectacular visual atmosphere inside Cologne’s Coloneum studios. The 22nd season finale of the long-running entertainment format delivered dramatic performances and high-quality live vocals from the finalists, culminating in victory for 38-year-old Menowin Fröhlich. Several million viewers watched the emotional season finale live on RTL and RTL+.

With intense colors, powerful wash looks, and dynamic effects, the Zeo fixtures enhanced the performances of the five finalists and helped create a striking television aesthetic. As previously seen during the Halftime Show in New Orleans, Zeo’s distinctive design and eye-catching visual effects delivered standout moments throughout the broadcast.

The High End Systems Zeo features full pan and tilt functionality together with a 13° to 55° zoom range, enabling designers to create everything from tight beam effects to wide wash looks. Its powerful yet energy-efficient RGBW engine delivers vibrant color output, while the fixture’s blinder mode produces more than 30,000 lumens for maximum impact.

More than 100 onboard macros provide lighting programmers with extensive creative flexibility, including strobe macros, color-integrated macros, and fully customizable Flex Macros. During the DSDS finale, Zeo also demonstrated another key advantage for broadcast environments: camera-friendly, flicker-free lighting performance.

Photography: trust.event engineering