By SVG Contributor
Monday, December 30, 2024 – 08:26
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By Russell Johnson, Hitomi Broadcast director.
As we reflect on 2024, it’s become clear that this was the year the broadcast industry finally embraced IP-based production at scale. After years of cautious experimentation, SMPTE ST 2110 has moved from being an aspirational technology to the default choice for new major sporting installations.
This shift hasn’t happened overnight. When ST 2110 first emerged, many broadcasters were understandably hesitant. The technology required significant infrastructure investment and demanded that traditional broadcast engineers develop networking expertise. The complexity of IP systems meant that when things went wrong, fault-finding wasn’t as straightforward as tracing a broken SDI cable.
However, 2024 has seen that fear factor largely overcome. A critical mass of expertise has developed within the industry, and enough successful deployments have demonstrated that IP-based production is not just viable but advantageous. Many major broadcasters now readily accept ST 2110 feeds, creating a snowball effect that’s driving adoption across the sector.
Direct-to-consumer streaming
The timing of this transition is particularly fortunate as it coincides with another significant trend; the move toward direct-to-consumer streaming by sports rights holders. Throughout 2024, we’ve seen major sports organisations investing in their own streaming capabilities rather than relying solely on traditional broadcasters. This shift is partly driven by economics, when you consider the vast audiences for premium sporting events, the mathematics of direct distribution becomes increasingly attractive compared to traditional rights deals.
The marriage of these trends – IP infrastructure and direct streaming – is enabling more sustainable approaches to sports broadcasting. Consider international motorsport as an example where once organisers shipped multiple aircraft worth of equipment to each event on a global calendar, they now operate with streamlined fly packs and extensive remote production. This not only reduces the carbon footprint but also allows for more efficient use of technical expertise, with specialists able to work multiple events without extensive travel.
Pragmatic approach to image quality
ne of the most striking developments of 2024 has been the industry’s pragmatic approach to image quality. While 4K UHD was once seen as the next must-have format, broadcasters have increasingly favoured high dynamic range (HDR) implementations at HD resolution. This choice is particularly relevant for sports streaming, where HDR offers noticeable quality improvements without the bandwidth demands of full UHD.
However, HDR brings its own challenges, particularly around colour accuracy. There’s ongoing industry debate about the appropriate lookup tables for HDR colour spaces, and it’s remarkably easy to get wrong. Getting the best from HDR requires careful measurement and management of the colour pipeline. Nevertheless, when properly implemented, it’s a perfect example of the industry finding smarter ways to deliver more impact with constrained budgets.
This focus on efficient resource use is crucial as production companies face increasing pressure to deliver higher production values with tighter budgets. The days of endless resource scaling are over; instead, broadcasters are looking for technologies that allow them to do more with less.
The complexity of modern broadcast chains, particularly in ST 2110 environments, has highlighted the critical importance of precise timing and synchronisation. What might seem like minor misalignments in a traditional SDI workflow can become significant issues in an IP environment, where multiple buffers and network paths can introduce unexpected delays. The ability to prove that everything is correctly aligned has become as important as the alignment itself.
Looking forwards
Looking ahead to 2025, I predict several developments. Firstly, we’ll see more “native” ST 2110 installations. Rather than hybrid SDI/IP setups, new facilities will increasingly be pure IP from the ground up. This will be particularly evident in the major sporting events of 2025, where IP infrastructure will be the norm rather than the exception.
Secondly, the economics of sports broadcasting will continue to evolve. The recent cooling of the bidding wars for sports rights between streaming giants suggests a market in transition. Sports organisations will increasingly explore hybrid models, maintaining traditional broadcast partnerships while developing their direct-to-consumer capabilities.
The sustainability imperative will drive further changes in 2025. Remote production will become more sophisticated, with distributed teams collaborating across continents. This approach not only reduces carbon footprints but also allows organisations to access global talent pools more effectively.
One challenge that remains is skills development. The industry needs to invest in training to ensure broadcast engineers are comfortable with IT concepts like networking and virtualisation. This transition from traditional broadcast engineering to IT-based systems represents perhaps the biggest cultural shift our industry has seen.
The transition to IP is more than a technical evolution – it’s enabling new business models, more sustainable operations, and innovative viewing experiences. While 2024 may be remembered as the year the industry embraced IP, 2025 will be the year we begin to realise its full potential.
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