by As broadcasters continue modernizing their facilities, one challenge has become increasingly clear: moving from traditional SDI infrastructure to IP-based production cannot happen overnight. Many organizations have invested heavily in proven SDI workflows that continue to perform reliably, yet they also recognize the flexibility, scalability, and interoperability that SMPTE ST 2110 offers for the future. The question is no longer whether broadcasters will adopt IP. The real challenge is how to migrate without disrupting operations, prematurely replacing functioning equipment, or forcing engineering teams into an all-or-nothing infrastructure overhaul.
At NAB Show 2026 in Las Vegas, VidOvation spoke with Cris Garcia, Director of Sales Engineering for Western USA and LATAM at Cobalt Digital, about how the company helps broadcasters move to IP without replacing everything at once. Rather than treating SDI and IP as competing technologies, Cobalt has built a portfolio that supports facilities at every stage of their modernization journey. From modular openGear cards and format converters to ST 2110 gateways, IPMX-enabled products, multiviewers, audio monitoring, and processing platforms, Cobalt offers practical tools that let broadcasters evolve at their own pace while protecting existing investments.
The discussion also highlighted a significant milestone for the industry. This year marks the twentieth anniversary of the openGear platform, an open architecture that has become one of the broadcast industry’s most widely adopted modular infrastructure standards. As a founding partner, Cobalt Digital has helped shape the evolution of openGear while continuing to expand its capabilities to support emerging IP technologies, including SMPTE ST 2110 and IPMX. That interoperability philosophy continues to guide the company’s approach to broadcast infrastructure, giving engineers the flexibility to build systems around operational requirements instead of being locked into a single manufacturer.
Why the Migration to IP Is One of Broadcast Engineering’s Biggest Challenges
The transition from SDI to IP represents much more than replacing one transport technology with another. It changes the way facilities design networks, manage signals, scale production resources, and integrate equipment across multiple locations.
Traditional SDI infrastructures have served broadcasters exceptionally well for decades because they are deterministic, reliable, and familiar to engineering teams. Many television stations, production companies, sports venues, and broadcast facilities continue to rely on extensive SDI routing, distribution, conversion, synchronization, and monitoring systems that remain fully capable of supporting demanding live productions.
At the same time, production workflows have become significantly more complex. Broadcasters are producing more live events, expanding remote production operations, supporting cloud-based workflows, and distributing content across traditional broadcast, streaming, and digital platforms simultaneously. These changing requirements have increased demand for infrastructures that can scale beyond the physical limitations of point-to-point SDI routing.
SMPTE ST 2110 addresses many of these challenges by transporting separate video, audio, and ancillary data streams across managed IP networks in real time. Instead of treating an SDI signal as one embedded stream, ST 2110 allows each element to travel independently, creating much greater flexibility for routing, processing, monitoring, and production. This architecture enables broadcasters to build facilities that are easier to scale, support distributed production resources, and integrate new technologies without redesigning the entire infrastructure.
Despite these advantages, implementing ST 2110 requires careful planning. Network infrastructure, timing architecture, engineering expertise, and operational procedures all change as facilities move toward IP. For many organizations, adopting ST 2110 all at once simply is not practical.
That reality has driven demand for technologies that support hybrid SDI and IP environments while providing a clear migration path toward full IP production.
Celebrating Twenty Years of openGear Innovation
One of the major themes at the Cobalt Digital booth during NAB Show 2026 was the twentieth anniversary of the openGear platform, underscoring its continued importance in the company’s broader infrastructure strategy.
Originally developed as an open, manufacturer-independent architecture, openGear allows broadcasters to populate a common frame with modular cards from multiple participating manufacturers. Instead of purchasing proprietary frames that only accept products from a single vendor, engineers can build customized infrastructures using solutions that best fit their operational requirements.
As Cris Garcia explained during the interview, this philosophy remains one of openGear’s greatest strengths. For example, a facility may deploy fiber transport cards from one manufacturer, processing cards from another, and IP gateway solutions from Cobalt, all within the same standardized frame. Engineers gain the flexibility to select the best available tool for each function without sacrificing interoperability or centralized management.
Cobalt has been involved with openGear since its earliest days and now offers one of the industry’s broadest portfolios of openGear products. The company’s catalog spans everything from simple distribution amplifiers and signal converters to sophisticated frame synchronizers, audio processors, HDR conversion, fiber transport, routing, multiviewing, compressed video transport, and uncompressed IP workflows.
For broadcasters, this modular approach provides practical advantages that extend well beyond hardware consolidation. Systems become easier to expand, upgrade, and maintain because new functionality can often be added by installing additional cards rather than replacing entire systems. Engineering teams also benefit from standardized rack layouts, centralized software management, and consistent operational workflows across multiple applications.
Bridging Today’s SDI Facilities with Tomorrow’s IP Infrastructure
One of the most valuable aspects of Cobalt’s strategy is that it recognizes broadcasters rarely replace an entire facility at once.
Many organizations continue operating large SDI plants while gradually introducing IP islands to support new production requirements. Sports venues may deploy ST 2110 infrastructure for new control rooms while maintaining SDI connectivity to legacy production equipment. Television stations may begin transporting selected signals over IP while continuing to rely on proven SDI routers throughout much of the facility.
Rather than forcing a complete infrastructure replacement, Cobalt has developed products that bridge these environments.
Its ST 2110 portfolio includes IP-enabled INDIGO Gateways, SAPPHIRE BBG-2110 converters, PACIFIC encoders and decoders, TOPAZ processing platforms, UltraBlue multiviewers, ARIA audio monitoring systems, and the blueCORE standalone platform. Together, these products support low-latency, high-quality media transport across modern IP production environments while maintaining compatibility with traditional broadcast workflows. The broader point is that Cobalt is building an ecosystem that helps facilities move forward without losing the value of what already works.
This broad ecosystem allows engineers to introduce IP where it provides the greatest operational benefit while continuing to leverage existing SDI investments. As a result, facilities can build hybrid infrastructures that support gradual modernization across multiple budget cycles rather than creating isolated technology silos.
For engineering managers, that flexibility reduces deployment risk while aligning infrastructure decisions with production priorities rather than forcing unnecessary equipment replacement.
IPMX Creates a Practical Migration Path
While SMPTE ST 2110 has become the preferred architecture for many high-end broadcast facilities, it can still represent a significant step for organizations without extensive IP networking experience.
During the conversation with Jim Jachetta, Garcia emphasized IPMX as an important transitional technology.
IPMX applies many of the same underlying principles as ST 2110 while simplifying deployment for organizations that may not yet have the networking infrastructure, staffing, or budgets required for a full ST 2110 implementation. As a result, instead of requiring an immediate commitment to enterprise-scale IP production, IPMX enables facilities to begin introducing IP-based workflows in a more manageable way.
Perhaps even more importantly, Cobalt has designed this migration path to minimize future disruption.
As Garcia explained, organizations using compatible Cobalt products can often move from IPMX toward full ST 2110 functionality simply by activating software licenses rather than replacing hardware. That approach allows facilities to purchase equipment today with confidence that it can evolve alongside future infrastructure plans, rather than becoming obsolete as operational requirements change.
For broadcasters managing long equipment lifecycles and capital budgets, this licensing strategy offers valuable flexibility while reducing the financial and operational barriers associated with adopting IP production technologies.
Building a Complete ST 2110 Ecosystem Instead of Individual Products
Many manufacturers participate in portions of the ST 2110 ecosystem by offering gateways, converters, or monitoring products. Cobalt’s approach is broader and connects those pieces more fully.
The company’s ST 2110 portfolio spans multiple stages of the production chain, allowing engineers to deploy complementary solutions that work together across acquisition, processing, conversion, monitoring, transport, and distribution.
Its offerings include compact gateway solutions that connect SDI equipment into IP infrastructures, JPEG XS conversion products for efficient transport, multiviewers capable of monitoring IP, SDI, and compressed streams, advanced processing platforms with HDR conversion capabilities, audio monitoring systems, software-definable encoders and decoders, and standalone processing appliances built around the blueCORE platform. Many products also support deployment within openGear frames, providing broadcasters with additional flexibility when designing modular infrastructure.
Rather than treating ST 2110 as an isolated product category, Cobalt integrates IP functionality across multiple product families. This allows facilities to introduce IP capabilities where they deliver the greatest operational value while maintaining familiar engineering workflows.
For engineers responsible for designing resilient live production systems, this comprehensive approach simplifies infrastructure planning and reduces the complexity often associated with large-scale technology transitions.
Engineering Advantages That Extend Beyond the Transition to IP
One recurring theme throughout NAB Show 2026 was that broadcasters want solutions that stay valuable long after deployment. Technology decisions made today must continue to support production requirements for years as formats, standards, and workflows evolve.
Cobalt’s product strategy reflects that need by emphasizing software-defined functionality, modular hardware, and standards-based interoperability. Rather than designing products for a single workflow, many platforms support multiple operational roles through licensing options, configurable processing, and expandable capabilities.
For example, Cobalt’s INDIGO ST 2110 daughter card options allow compatible processing cards such as the 9904-UDX-4K and 9905-MPx to gain SMPTE ST 2110 connectivity without replacing the underlying hardware. The blueCORE platform similarly supports multiple configurations, including SDI, HDR, ST 2110, and IPMX functionality through licensable software options, allowing facilities to add capabilities as operational needs change.
This modular approach helps engineering departments standardize on common hardware platforms while adapting systems to evolving production requirements. As new facilities are built or existing plants are modernized, equipment can often evolve alongside the infrastructure rather than requiring complete replacement.
That flexibility matters as broadcasters continue balancing traditional baseband operations with growing investments in IP production, cloud workflows, HDR, UHD, and distributed production environments.
Simplifying Complex Live Production Workflows
Modern live productions rarely rely on a single transport format.
A sporting event may combine traditional SDI cameras, fiber transport, ST 2110 routing, JPEG XS contribution feeds, cloud-based graphics, multiviewing, remote replay, and multiple streaming outputs. Each signal path adds another opportunity for incompatibility, latency, or operational complexity if the infrastructure is not carefully designed.
Cobalt addresses these challenges through processing, conversion, monitoring, and transport products that work across multiple signal formats.
Its SAPPHIRE BBG-2110 converters provide gateways between SDI, HDMI, IPMX, and SMPTE ST 2110 environments. PACIFIC software-defined encoders and decoders support contribution workflows while offering upgrade paths as compression requirements evolve. UltraBlue multiviewers allow operators to monitor SDI, IP, and compressed sources within a unified interface, while ARIA audio monitoring products provide flexible audio confidence monitoring across increasingly complex production environments.
Instead of requiring separate product families for every transport format, broadcasters can build infrastructures that support multiple technologies simultaneously while maintaining consistent operational workflows.
This becomes particularly valuable during major live productions where engineering teams must integrate equipment from multiple manufacturers while maintaining confidence that every signal is being transported, processed, and monitored correctly.
Interoperability Remains One of Broadcast’s Greatest Strengths
Broadcast engineering has always depended on interoperability.
Facilities rarely purchase all equipment from a single manufacturer. Instead, cameras, switchers, replay systems, graphics, routers, monitoring systems, audio consoles, transport equipment, and infrastructure components are often sourced from different vendors, each selected for performing a particular function exceptionally well.
Cobalt has embraced that reality through both its participation in openGear and its commitment to open broadcast standards.
During the interview, Garcia emphasized that engineers can populate an openGear frame with products from multiple manufacturers depending on workflow requirements. A broadcaster might deploy fiber transport cards from one vendor, processing cards from Cobalt, and additional infrastructure products from other openGear partners within the same chassis.
This flexibility gives engineering teams greater freedom to design systems around operational requirements rather than vendor limitations.
That same standards-based philosophy extends into Cobalt’s IP portfolio. By supporting SMPTE ST 2110, IPMX, and other widely adopted broadcast standards, the company’s products fit mixed-vendor production environments while helping broadcasters avoid unnecessary infrastructure lock-in.
For organizations planning long-term facility investments, standards-based interoperability often becomes just as valuable as any individual hardware specification.
Practical Applications Across Broadcast and Professional Media
Although the discussion centered on ST 2110 migration, the technologies highlighted at NAB Show 2026 support a wide range of production environments.
Live Sports Production
Sports broadcasters continue expanding remote production while increasing UHD, HDR, and multi-camera coverage. Hybrid SDI and IP infrastructures allow facilities to introduce new technologies without interrupting ongoing operations. Modular processing, routing, multiviewing, and conversion products help engineering teams adapt infrastructure as production requirements continue to grow.
Television Broadcast Facilities
Television stations modernizing master control rooms, production control rooms, and transmission facilities often require years to complete infrastructure upgrades. Cobalt’s migration strategy allows stations to introduce IP functionality gradually while continuing to leverage existing SDI investments throughout the transition.
Remote and Distributed Production
Remote production continues driving demand for flexible transport and processing solutions that connect geographically dispersed production resources. ST 2110 and IP-based infrastructures support greater flexibility for routing media between facilities while enabling engineering teams to centralize production resources.
Houses of Worship and Live Events
Organizations producing concerts, conferences, corporate events, and worship services increasingly face many of the same workflow challenges as traditional broadcasters. IPMX provides a practical entry point into IP production while preserving compatibility with professional AV environments and offering a future migration path toward ST 2110.
Systems Integrators
For systems integrators designing facilities that must remain operational for many years, modular infrastructure offers significant advantages. Standardized openGear frames, licensable functionality, and standards-based interoperability simplify future expansion while reducing the need for wholesale equipment replacement as customer requirements evolve.
Why Broadcasters Turn to VidOvation
Selecting the right broadcast infrastructure involves much more than comparing product specifications.
Engineering teams must consider interoperability, scalability, operational workflows, installation requirements, future expansion, budget constraints, and long-term support. Every facility has different production goals, existing equipment, staffing resources, and technical priorities.
VidOvation works closely with broadcasters, production companies, sports organizations, systems integrators, government agencies, and enterprise media teams to help evaluate these factors before recommending a solution.
Whether an organization is planning its first ST 2110 deployment, expanding an existing hybrid SDI and IP facility, evaluating IPMX as a migration strategy, or designing a completely new broadcast infrastructure, VidOvation provides engineering expertise that extends well beyond product selection.
Customers can work with VidOvation to evaluate technologies, compare workflow options, design system architectures, perform proof-of-concept testing, develop migration strategies, and determine whether purchasing or renting equipment best supports their production requirements.
That consultative approach helps organizations deploy technologies that meet both today’s operational needs and tomorrow’s infrastructure plans.
Preparing Broadcast Infrastructure for the Next Decade
The conversation with Cobalt Digital at NAB Show 2026 reflected a larger trend shaping the broadcast industry.
The future of live production will not be defined by a single technology. Successful facilities will combine proven SDI infrastructure, emerging IP workflows, modular architectures, standards-based interoperability, and flexible software-defined platforms that can evolve as production requirements change.
By combining twenty years of openGear innovation with a comprehensive portfolio of SMPTE ST 2110 and IPMX solutions, Cobalt Digital is giving broadcasters practical tools to modernize at their own pace. Rather than forcing disruptive infrastructure changes, its approach helps organizations build hybrid environments that support both current operations and future growth.
For broadcasters, production companies, sports networks, live event producers, and systems integrators planning their next infrastructure investment, that flexibility can simplify one of the industry’s most significant technology transitions and help strengthen the case for moving forward.
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