Masterclass: The Importance of IP
Posted on Feb 5, 2025 by FEED Staff
An expert panel joins FEED to discuss the importance of IP
The Panel
- John Wastcoat, vp of business development, Zixi
- Darren Gosney, technical sales manager, Blackmagic Design
- Chris Scheck, head of marketing content, Lawo
- Adam Vann, pro visual solutions architect, Scan
Could you highlight some of the recent trends when it comes to IP in broadcast?
CHRIS SCHECK: The most important benefit of IP is the ability to switch to remote production scenarios in which only the signal-ingesting equipment is actually at the venue of the event being covered, while production tools stay at the broadcaster’s production hub. In its simplest form, a small van might drive to a stadium, where a couple of technicians set up microphones, cameras, commentary stations, etc. The camera operators still need to be on-site, but the director and engineers in the various control rooms can work from the production facility. In some cases, pressing one button of a VSM control system can reconfigure everything to switch from one venue to the next, allowing the same production team to handle several events or matches in succession.
Distributed production scenarios are another workflow enabled by IP. This is handy when crew members can’t all be in the same place, allowing supervision of audio from a variety of locations.
DARREN GOSNEY: IP video in broadcast and streaming isn’t necessarily new, with many companies taking the leap into this technology over the last several years. However, its rate of adoption has accelerated significantly in recent times as many manufacturers (including ourselves) have added IP video products to their line-ups.
We’re also aware of the cost implications of moving to IP video, especially for broadcasters working in Ultra HD. While the bandwidth for HD and even Ultra HD up to 30fps can be delivered via widely available 10G Ethernet connectivity, higher frame rates such as 50 and 60fps UltraHD would not be possible. There would be a need to move to far more expensive 25G connections. To address this, we have developed our own visually lossless, low-latency codec: Blackmagic IP10.
ADAM VANN: The move from SDI to IP is altering broadcast and streaming for good – more flexibility, more scalability, more integration. SMPTE ST 2110 means IP can support complex multicamera productions, and remote production and cloud-based solutions are becoming more accessible and cost-effective.
5G has also sped up IP adoption – high-speed, low-latency streaming makes mobile and live broadcasting easier than ever. Broadcasters are also moving to software-defined workflows, replacing hardware with virtual applications that can scale dynamically to meet demand.
Data and IP are increasing viewer engagement through personalised content and dynamic ad insertion based on real-time audience insights. Low-latency protocols like SRT and WebRTC mean near-instant streaming, perfect for live sports and interactive content. With DRM, encryption and watermarking, content security has also improved in IP broadcasting. The transition to IP doesn’t just optimise current workflows but also paves the way for the inclusion of future innovations like AI and VR, changing how we produce and deliver content.
JOHN WASTCOAT: Live IP video-based cloud workflows offer broadcasters cost optimisation, scalability, reliability and enhanced interoperability. Broadcasters can achieve significant cost savings with lower upfront capital expenses, the flexibility to activate services as needed and the ability to deploy on economical public networks instead of costly satellite contracts. Cloud-based systems enhance scalability, allowing workflows to adapt as demand grows. Additionally, IP workflows promote interoperability by enabling seamless integration across various services and solution providers, giving broadcasters the freedom to choose best-in-class tools.
Zixi’s Software-Defined Video Platform (SDVP) provides industry-first advancements like DPDK high-performance networking and lossless null packet compression, which helps reduce compute costs by 90% and egress bandwidth by 30-60%, lowering the total cost of ownership (TCO).
What opportunities does IP offer in terms of cost, scalability and interoperability?
ADAM VANN: IP gives you big advantages in cost, scalability and interoperability.
IP systems mean you don’t need high-cost, specialist hardware; software-driven solutions can be used instead. Centralised remote diagnostics cut maintenance costs, while virtualised resources reduce costs during low-demand periods.
IP infrastructure lets you scale up or down as needed; high-demand events can use more resources without physical upgrades and remote or cloud-based workflows allow scaling without extra facilities.
For interoperability: IP standards like SMPTE ST 2110 let you connect multi-vendor equipment, so you can create custom set-ups with equipment from different suppliers. The compatibility of IP supports real-time collaboration, while its adaptability to new protocols ensures future-proofing with minimal disruption.
In summary, IP offers companies all three of the benefits you have mentioned. It’s a flexible foundation for today and tomorrow, supporting current and future demands in technological advancements.
CHRIS SCHECK: The general consensus seems to be that IP infrastructure is less affordable than SDI Baseband equipment, though IP exists in a variety of flavours. Open standards are necessarily based on SMPTE ST 2110, but other increasingly popular protocols are NDI, SRT and Dante.
Forward-looking broadcasters prefer to base their IP backbone on ST 2110 because it’s manufacturer- and approach-agnostic and allows operators to add new tools to their network without any changes to the network’s architecture or underlying technology.
This makes it easy to scale the infrastructure as and when necessary, by adding more processing power whenever more channels need to be served or more events need to be covered. ST 2110-based IP is the foundation of reliable interoperability and is no longer limited to bespoke hardware. Lawo’s Home Apps, for instance, run on generic servers and can be used in any location that’s connected to the same Home cluster. Here, IP is also the glue that binds everything together.
Apart from that, the more broadcasters adopt remote production scenarios, the more they’re able to save on travel costs and compensatory days. In the words of an Australian director: “Thanks to IP, we now have a consistent crew because we don’t travel people as much. Sure, it is great to have the cost savings and benefits that come with that, but it’s even better having a more efficient environment.”
What are your tips for media orgs looking to shift from SDI- to IP-based systems for video and audio delivery?
DARREN GOSNEY: With standards like SMPTE 2110 now widely embraced, broadcasters and production companies’ confidence in building uncompressed 10-bit IP video systems with huge flexibility and interoperability is growing. For those still unsure about making the step, perhaps due to a lack of understanding of network engineering, we’re working to bridge that gap in a familiar way. While our IP video products can be integrated into more complex IT infrastructures, they can also be operated in point-to-point configurations or routed using our Ethernet switch that acts in the same way as a traditional SDI-based video router.
JOHN WASTCOAT: Transitioning from SDI- to IP-based systems brings benefits for broadcasters but also introduces unique challenges. In today’s cost-sensitive landscape, cloud-based IP solutions have shifted the focus from capital expenditures (capex) to operational expenses (opex), requiring a fresh understanding of how expenses can evolve over time. Though IP- and cloud-based workflows offer flexibility and scalability, a thorough TCO analysis is essential to identify related costs. IP migration can lower overall expenses, but there are often hidden costs such as egress bandwidth, compute power, cybersecurity and energy consumption that can strain budgets beyond initial fees. Careful consideration of these factors is crucial, as they can accumulate and impact budget stability. A comprehensive TCO approach will help manage these ongoing expenses, ensuring the full potential of IP and cloud technologies is realised.
How is IP enabling collaboration between distributed teams?
CHRIS SCHECK: The possibility to enable geographic distribution, albeit on a much smaller scale, has always been at the heart of Lawo’s R&D activities. This started long before anyone even imagined the potential of porting broadcast activities to the IP world and the benefits this would bring in terms of flexibility and agility. As stated previously, IP allows teams on a given project to work from different locations as well as sharing processing resources among several on-premises control rooms or anywhere in the world.
IP is already widely used to produce broadcasts from a fixed, remote location based on processing and ingestion tools set up at the venue where a given event takes place. Doing so enables host broadcasters, for instance, to cover global sporting events where all venues are connected to a central location, with essences – audio, video, control and ancillary – travelling over dedicated fibre lines.
Maintaining maximum quality has been at the heart of developing the SMPTE ST 2110 suite of standards, which also include provisions made for lossless compressed video in order to save bandwidth while maintaining the highest-possible quality standards.
ADAM VANN: IP technology is fundamentally changing collaboration in broadcasting and media production for remote teams with rich, high-quality, real-time workflows across any location.
With IP infrastructures, members of any team can access centralised resources such as video, audio and data files from practically anywhere. Cloud platforms take this a step further, allowing remote teams to store, edit and manage content without requiring physical transfers. Many standards have developed, such as SMPTE ST 2110, and they make it possible to transfer high-quality, low-latency video and audio via IP, allowing seamless production even with contributors dispersed geographically.
IP enables live remote production whereby video feeds from facilities in various locations are sent to one central location for use in the control room. Since not everyone has to be physically present, expenses are lowered and large-scale multicamera productions made possible.
In conclusion, IP technology offers flexibility, speed and quality, permitting seamless remote collaboration within dispersed teams developing high-quality content far from home.
What IP innovations are ensuring minimal latency while maintaining high quality?
JOHN WASTCOAT: While IP networks offer cost advantages, they’re inherently dynamic and can face congestion, which risks packet loss, higher latency and reduced quality. To achieve ultra-low latency and maintain broadcast-quality output, innovations in IP technology are essential. Advanced error correction, adaptive bit-rate streaming and packet recovery mechanisms help mitigate latency and packet loss, even over unpredictable IP networks.
Multi-access edge computing (MEC) is also a critical development, enabling content processing to occur closer to the source, reducing latency by shortening the data’s travel path to reach viewers. Additionally, advancements in 5G have provided faster connection speeds and higher throughput with ultra-low latency, ideal for delivering high-quality live video.
The SDVP exemplifies these innovations, featuring forward error correction (FEC) and congestion-aware adaptive streaming to ensure resilience and quality. The SDVP powered by the Zixi protocol enables low-latency, reliable video transport, making it a powerful solution for high-quality, IP-based, broadcast workflows.
CHRIS SCHECK: Due to the laws of physics, transporting any kind of signal over long distances involves some delay, as no signal can travel faster than the speed of light. To mitigate syncing issues, the appropriate amount of delay can be added to audio essences, which often travel faster and result in a delayed output. Satellite uplinks are of little help because they also induce delays.
Any kind of processing involves a short delay – a latency – which is why sending an essence to a device or app on a continent elsewhere in the world for processing then back again should be avoided at all costs.
To this end, solutions such as .edge provide local processing. This happens on the edge of the network – before essences are sent out for production purposes – so this approach is called edge processing. By saving lots of milliseconds or frames, this can optimise latency.
Where will IP sit in broadcast΄s future?
ADAM VANN: IP technology will supersede as the mainstay for the future of broadcasting and media. The industry is moving towards more flexible, scalable and economical systems. Several broadcasters and production companies have transformed their workflows to become almost entirely IP-based, thereby providing greater flexibility and cost efficiency. The momentum already built up for switching from traditional SDIs to 5G digital IP is now ramping up further.
Broadcasters can also use IP to transfer from one video format to another, increasing bandwidth as the demands for high-resolution video (4K and 8K) increase, as well as for new technologies such as VR and AR. On-demand scaling of bandwidth and processing power is poised to be high up among the host of reasons why IP is likely to remain at the heart of content provision. On top of this, IP allows remote production and cloud-based workflows, which peaked during the pandemic. As production needs become increasingly global, IP’s role in supporting virtual and remote production workflows will continue to grow.
IP technology is not squeezed among current trends, but is instead part of the backbone of future broadcasting and media distribution in terms of achievability, innovation and adaptability.
JOHN WASTCOAT: The shift to IP- and cloud-based workflows is accelerating as broadcasters respond to increased viewer demand for live programming, personalised content and improved profitability. IP enables efficient, collaborative workflows, allowing media organisations to produce, distribute and monetise content globally with fewer physical constraints. This aligns with the industry’s broader adoption of cloud and virtualised workflows, and provides flexibility to scale resources on demand and integrate easily across platforms.
Innovations in 5G and edge computing further enhance IP’s reliability and reduce latency, making it ideal for live broadcasting, OTT streaming and interactive content. Tools like the SDVP optimise IP-based workflows with advanced error correction, adaptive bit-rate streaming and multi-protocol support, ensuring high-quality, low-latency video transport. As IP continues to offer flexibility, scalability and cost efficiency, it’s becoming the cornerstone of future broadcasting and media infrastructure, driving the industry’s digital transformation.
DARREN GOSNEY: While IP adoption is on the rise, it’s important to recognise potential challenges, including bandwidth requirements, infrastructure investment and the need for more skilled IT personnel. These factors will almost certainly influence the pace at which IP technology is embraced by companies across the landscape of broadcasting and media.
