ST 2110 and the Shift to IP-based Media Workflows

From SDI to IP

The transition from SDI to IP is one of the most significant changes the broadcast industry has experienced in decades. At the center of this shift is SMPTE ST 2110, a standard that is steadily redefining how video, audio, and metadata are transported in professional environments.

Unlike traditional SDI, where everything is bundled into a single signal, ST 2110 separates video, audio, and metadata into individual streams. This may seem like a technical detail, but its impact is strategic. It allows organizations to build workflows that are more flexible, easier to scale, and better suited to modern production requirements. Teams can access and manage each element independently, without being constrained by rigid signal structures.

Resilience and Synchronization and Infrastructure

Another key aspect of ST 2110 is its reliance on precise timing. Synchronization is handled through Precision Timing Protocol (PTP), enabling accurate alignment of separate streams across complex systems. This is critical in live production environments, where timing and consistency are non-negotiable. At the same time, the standard maintains the high quality and low latency that broadcasters expect, ensuring that moving to IP does not mean compromising on performance.

ST 2110 also changes how infrastructure is designed. Instead of dedicated point-to-point connections, multiple streams can be transported over shared IP networks. This opens up new possibilities for scaling operations, optimizing resources, and integrating distributed or remote production workflows. It also creates a natural pathway toward cloud-based production, where flexibility and software-driven approaches are essential.

ST 2110 Adoption and JPEG XS

In practice, the adoption of ST 2110 is not a one-step transition. It is a gradual process that will likely span many years. SDI will continue to serve certain use cases where it remains sufficient and cost-effective. However, for organizations looking to future-proof their operations, ST 2110 is becoming a foundational technology. It is already shaping how new facilities are designed and how next-generation workflows are built.

An important factor in making ST 2110 more widely applicable is the ability to use compression where needed. Technologies such as JPEG XS enable visually lossless compression with very low latency, making it possible to deploy ST 2110 even in environments where bandwidth is limited. This extends the reach of IP workflows beyond high-end facilities into a broader range of use cases.

Software-based Implementation and MainConcept ST 2110 Client SDK

As the industry moves forward, software-based implementations are playing an increasingly important role. They enable greater flexibility, faster iteration, and easier integration with cloud and hybrid infrastructures. At the same time, they introduce new challenges, particularly around synchronization, hardware dependencies, and handling network conditions. Addressing these challenges is key to making ST 2110 viable across a wide range of deployments.

As IP-based workflows continue to mature, we are pleased to introduce the MainConcept ST 2110 Client SDK Beta. This beta release is a software-based implementation focused on receiving ST 2110 video and audio streams in a standards-compliant manner. It is designed to operate independently of specific hardware, allowing deployment across different environments provided network requirements are met.

The SDK supports the core ST 2110 specifications for system, video, and audio, and includes functionality for stream discovery through the NMOS protocol and stream handling within IP networks. With this release, our goal is to provide a starting point for adopting ST 2110 in software-based environments and to engage with partners and customers as the technology continues to mature.