BOTHELL, Wash.—The Alliance for IP Media Solutions (AIMS), the Video Services Forum (VSF) and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) have announced the second IPMX Product Testing and Certification Event.

Scheduled for Aug. 24–28 at the EBU headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the week-long gathering is open to AIMS and VSF member companies and will expand the growing IPMX-certified product ecosystem while introducing formal certification of new capabilities developed as part of the IPMX roadmap.

The Geneva certification event follows a "dirty hands" interoperability session scheduled for July 20–24 at the Matrox Video facility in Montreal, Canada. That members-only session will give AIMS participants hands-on testing of new IPMX developments ahead of the formal certification event, continuing the model of pre-certification interoperability work that has proven effective throughout the IPMX program.

The August event will introduce certification for capabilities that have been in active development prior to the launch of the full realized standard in 2026. These include Host Key Exchange Protocol (HKEP) and HDCP handling for protected content, and the Privacy Encryption Protocol (PEP) security layer, which enables interoperable content encryption across multi-vendor deployments. HEVC and AVC compression profiles, which have seen strong industry interest in enabling efficient transport across existing infrastructure, are also progressing toward certification.

“The first certification event in January established that IPMX works across vendors at scale,” said Sam Recine, IPMX Pro AV Working Group Chair at AIMS. “The August event is where we take the next steps, expanding the certified product base and validating the capabilities that integrators and end users have been asking about since certification launched. Each event builds on the last, and the momentum we’re seeing from member companies reflects real confidence in where IPMX is headed.”

IPMX is a set of open standards and specifications designed to bring ST 2110-based media transport and NMOS-based control to a broader range of markets, including Pro AV, live events, corporate media, education, and beyond. Building on the certified product base of 48 products from 11 manufacturers introduced at ISE 2026, the certification program continues to evolve with new capabilities that address the practical requirements of deployed systems.

More information about AIMS and its work is available at www.aimsalliance.org.

BOTHELL, Wash.—The Alliance for IP Media Solutions (AIMS) has announced the launch of the Official IPMX Training Series, a free online program designed to help the Pro AV community better understand, design, configure, and deploy IPMX-based AV-over-IP systems. The Official IPMX Training Series is structured across three progressive levels - Foundations, Systems, and Networks - providing a clear learning path that supports both newcomers to AV-over-IP and experienced professionals seeking deeper technical insight.

The courses will balance demonstrations with business and technical information, helping participants understand not only how IPMX works, but how it fits into real-world workflows. The curriculum will also explore how IPMX relates to and builds upon complementary standards such as AES67, SMPTE ST 2110, and AMWA NMOS, while providing insight into the ecosystem clusters emerging around open, interoperable AV-over-IP deployments.

“Our new online training series is designed to provide the Pro AV industry with a practical, shared understanding of how IPMX fits into modern AV-over-IP system design,” said Sam Recine, IPMX Pro AV Working Group Chair at AIMS. “By clarifying how IPMX aligns with related standards and real-world scenarios, the courses will help integrators, engineers, and other stakeholders design and deploy standards-based, interoperable AV-over-IP systems.”

The initial chapters of the Foundations Training module are now available to public with the Systems and Networks modules set to debut in the fall and winter of this year, respectively

To register for the series, please visit training.ipmx.io.

More information about AIMS and its work is available at www.aimsalliance.org.

BOTHELL, Wash.—The Alliance for IP Media Solutions (AIMS) will be returning to InfoComm 2026, from June 13-19 in Las Vegas, where it will be providing Internet Protocol Media Experience (IPMX) education for attendees..

During the show, at the Las Vegas Convention Center, AIMS said it will focus on expert-led sessions and the development of its Official IPMX Training Series that will provide the Pro AV industry with the knowledge required to design and deploy IPMX-based AV-over-IP systems.

“As IPMX moves into real-world deployment, education becomes essential to ensuring successful adoption across the Pro AV ecosystem,” said Andrew Starks, AIMS board of directors’ member and director of product management for Macnica. “At InfoComm, we’ll be focused on helping the industry move from understanding the standard to applying it in practice — through education sessions and a new training program that gives engineers, integrators, and end users the tools to design and deploy interoperable AV-over-IP systems with confidence.”

At InfoComm 2026, Starks will present the session “How IPMX Expands Live Production Beyond Broadcast” on Tuesday, June 16, from 1:30-2 p.m. in meeting room W232. During the presentation, he will explore how IPMX enables a new tier of live production, where small and mid-sized organizations can deploy high-quality AV-over-IP workflows with reduced cost and complexity, and still have a seamless path to grow into full broadcast infrastructures when required.

On June 18, Samuel Recine—AIMS board of directors’ member and vice president of global strategic partnerships at Matrox Video—will co-present “IP for Corporate Broadcast AV” from 1:30-3 p.m. in room W231. The session will provide a comprehensive update on deploying high-performance media over IP across PC/IT, AV signaling, and media production systems, with topics including the latest developments in open standards such as SMPTE ST 2110 and IPMX, key strategies for bridging broadcast and corporate AV workflows, and more.

At the show, AIMS will also launch the Official IPMX Training Series, a free online program designed to help the Pro AV community better understand, design, configure, and deploy IPMX-based AV-over-IP systems. Structured as a three-level curriculum covering foundations, systems design, and advanced networking concepts such as PTP and SMPTE ST 2110, the program provides a practical path for engineers and integrators building AV-over-IP infrastructures.

In booth C7487, AIMS will also provide live demonstrations of IPMX-certified products and tools, illustrating how IPMX enables seamless integration across AV systems while supporting both Pro AV and broadcast requirements.

More information about AIMS and its work is available at www.aimsalliance.org.

BOTHELL, Wash.—The Alliance for IP Media Solutions (AIMS), together with the Video Services Forum (VSF), the Advanced Media Workflow Association (AMWA), and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), today announced that 48 products were officially certified to the Internet Protocol Media Experience (IPMX) standard at the recent IPMX Product Testing and Certification Event in Geneva, Switzerland. The IPMX-compliant solutions were revealed at a cocktail reception that took place at ISE 2026 in Barcelona on Wednesday, February 4, at 4:30 p.m. in booth 5K880.

The IPMX Product Testing and Certification Event represented the first opportunity for manufacturers to formally certify products against the IPMX set of open specifications for professional media over IP. Following rigorous testing, solutions from Bridge Technologies, Matrox, Adeas / Nextera, Panasonic, Cobalt, intoPIX, plexusAV, Megapixel, Novastar, and Evertz successfully passed certification. These products are now certified and will carry the IPMX branding, signaling verified compliance with published transport, control, and interoperability requirements.

“We couldn’t be more excited to be unveiling the first IPMX-compliant products at ISE 2026,” said Sam Recine, IPMX Pro AV Working Group Chair at AIMS. “The certification of these solutions represents a major milestone in IPMX’s transition from specification to a certifiable and deployable technology, validating years of collaborative technical work and confirming that IPMX is ready to move from development into active deployment.”

“AIMS extends its sincere thanks to Packetstorm and Meinberg for their critical technical contributions, test infrastructure, and timing and network expertise that were essential to the success of IPMX interoperability and certification efforts,” added Recine. “We also recognize the EBU for hosting the event and for providing independent administration of the test process, ensuring a rigorous and neutral certification environment.”

IPMX is a set of open standards and specifications designed to extend SMPTE ST 2110–based media transport and AMWA NMOS–based control into a broader range of markets, including professional AV, live events, corporate media, education, and beyond.

In addition to uncompressed workflows, IPMX introduces support for compressed video, simplified system timing, HDCP, and defined system profiles to make deployment more practical, scalable, and cost-effective for Pro AV environments. The certification program is designed to ensure predictable behavior, reliable interoperability, and adherence to the published IPMX test plans and specifications.

Further technical information on IPMX is available at ipmx.io/technical-information, while the published IPMX test plan can be found at vsf.tv/technical-recommendations. More information about AIMS and its work is available at www.aimsalliance.org.

BOTHELL, Wash.—A decade after its formation as an advocacy for media interoperability over IP, the Alliance for IP Media Solutions (AIMS) is now rolling out a fully baked version of its IPMX protocol for AV over IP.

In what it terms as a “major milestone for Pro AV-over-IP at ISE 2026,” AIMS announced the official launch of Internet Protocol Media Experience (IPMX) as a fully developed, certifiable standard. Taking place Feb. 3–6 at the Fira de Barcelona in Barcelona, Spain, ISE 2026 will be the first major industry event to showcase formally certified IPMX products.

In booth 5K880, AIMS will highlight the first wave of IPMX-compliant products, which successfully completed formal certification during the recent IPMX Product Testing and Certification Event held in Geneva, Switzerland.

“ISE 2026 marks a defining moment for IPMX, AIMS, and the Pro AV industry,” said Andrew Starks, board of directors member and marketing working group chair for AIMS. “After years of collaborative development and real-world testing, IPMX is launching at ISE as a certifiable and deployable technology, with products that have formally demonstrated interoperability and compliance. As certified products begin to enter the market, we’re excited about the year ahead as IPMX drives the evolution of AV-over-IP from proprietary implementations toward a truly open, innovative, and future-proof ecosystem.”

To complement the certified products on display at ISE 2026, AIMS will present a live IPMX demo in its booth, focusing on real-world IPMX deployments and practical implementation. The demonstration will highlight the ease of deploying and operating IPMX-based systems, showing how the standard is ready for use in Pro AV environments today. Attendees will also be able to get a preview of the latest IPMX training initiatives that are in development for 2026 and beyond.

IPMX will also be featured in several partner kiosks within the AIMS booth. In these kiosks, member companies Packet Storm, Providius, Evertz, MegaPixel, and Meinberg will demonstrate IPMX-based systems across a wide range of real-world scenarios, including interoperability with SMPTE ST 2110, AES67, JPEG XS, Dante, and more.

ISE 2026 will also serve as a milestone for AIMS itself, as the organization marks 10 years of innovation, partnerships, and building an open future for media-over-IP. To commemorate both the anniversary and the official launch of IPMX, AIMS will host a cocktail reception at its booth on Tuesday, Feb. 4, at 4:30 p.m., open to all ISE attendees to celebrate with the broader Pro AV community.

Created by AIMS in collaboration with VSF and AMWA, IPMX implements a standards-based approach based on SMPTE ST 2110, with features and capabilities that target the specific needs of the broadcast and Pro AV industries. In addition to simplifying the implementation of SMPTE ST 2110 and ensuring interoperability for AV-over-IP systems, IPMX incorporates core features tailored to Pro AV installations.

These features include asynchronous audio and video support suitable for both live production and Pro AV presentations, 4K60 transmission over a single gigabit network, and HDCP for content security. IPMX also includes a control layer provided by AMWA’s NMOS specifications, which enhances device interoperability and eases the dependency on a myriad of proprietary control system protocols.

BOTHELL, Wash.—The Alliance for IP Media Solutions (AIMS), the Video Services Forum (VSF), the Advanced Media Workflow Association (AMWA) and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) will hold the first official Internet Protocol Media Experience (IPMX) Product and Certification Event in January 2026.

The event, Jan. 19-23, 2026, at the EBU headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, will give manufacturers the chance to complete formal certification of products built to the IPMX set of specifications for professional media over IP. Certified products will qualify to carry IPMX branding, indicating they are compliant with a verified set of transport and interoperability requirements, AIMS said.

The event in Geneva is the culmination of a series of technical sessions, plug fests and test-suite development activities overseen by AIMS, VSF and AMWA to establish a basis for certification.

“We’re deeply proud and excited to host this event along with our partners from VSF, AMWA, and EBU,” said Sam Recine, IPMX Pro AV Working Group chair at AIMS. “Certification is an essential step for any open standard that promises interoperability across vendors. This event is where IPMX moves from theory into practice. The products tested in Geneva will be the first to demonstrate verified compliance with the IPMX specifications.”

IPMX is a set of open standards and specifications designed to bring SMPTE ST 2110-based media transport and NMOS-based control to a broader range of markets, including Pro AV, live events, corporate media and education. IPMX adds essential features tailored for Pro AV workflows, including support for compressed video, simplified system timing, HDCP and system profiles to make deployment more practical and scalable, AIMS said.

More information is available on the AIMS website.

BOTHELL, Wash.—The Alliance for IP Media Solutions (AIMS), Advanced Media Workflow Association (AMWA) and the Video Services Forum (VSF) have released the full schedule for the IP Showcase on the Water presentation, taking place at IBC2025, Sept. 12-15, at the RAI Amsterdam Convention Center.

The one-day Sept. 14 event will be held on canal cruise boats launched from Strandzuid, near the convention center. Complimentary registration is now open to reserve a seat for any of the six one-hour cruises. Each cruise will accommodate up to 35 attendees and feature two 20-minute sessions from industry experts, for a total of 12 presentations. IP Showcase partners are also sponsoring the Flint Green Line, an industry initiative aimed at promoting more sustainable travel to IBC, the group said.

Top speakers from Appear, Alpha, Netgear, DirectOut, Nextera Video, Simplexity, Matrox Video, intoPIX, Lawo, Dolby Laboratories, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and Grass Valley will present.

The lineup includes:

• Session 1—Hybrid Live Production Workflows and Real-World ST 2110 Deployments.
• Session 2—IP Infrastructure for IPMX and ST 2110 Networks and PKI and TLS in IPMX and NMOS.
• Session 3—NMOS-Based Systems and the Evolution of NMOS for ST 2110 and IPMX.
• Session 4—Interoperability and Video Profiles and Codec Options in IPMX.
• Session 5—Aligning Flows and Channels and Real-World Dynamic Video and Audio Metadata Deployments.
• Session 6—The Dynamic Media Facility and Media eXchange Layer (MXL).

“At IBC2025, the IP Showcase on the Water gives attendees a front-row seat to the evolution of IP media workflows,” Andrew Starks, AIMS board member and director of product management at Macnica, said. “This year’s presentations highlight key trends shaping the future of our industry—from the growing impact of the dynamic media facility to the continued advancement of IPMX and NMOS. It’s an opportunity to see how open standards are delivering on their promise of greater interoperability, scalability, and long-term flexibility across broadcast and Pro AV environments.”

Boats will depart on the hour from Strandzuid, located near RAI Amsterdam at Europaplein 22, 1078 GZ Amsterdam.

AIMS, AMWA and the VSF are also sponsoring the Flint Green Line to IBC2025. Setting out from London’s St. Pancras Station on Thursday, Sept. 11, the Green Line offers IBC attendees a low-carbon direct route to Amsterdam.

Attendees can register for the IP Showcase on the Water here.

The current IP Showcase on the Water presentation schedule is available here.

More information on the Flint Green Line to IBC2025 is available here.

BOTHELL, Wash.—The Alliance for IP Media Solutions (AIMS) will highlight the latest Internet Protocol Media Experience (IPMX) developments and host several of its members for live demonstrations in its booth during InfoComm 2025, June 7-13, in Orlando, Fla.

IPMX is a set of open standards-based protocols designed to ensure interoperability for AV-over-IP systems. Companies demoing IPMX in the AIMS booth include: intoPIX, Cobalt Digital, Matrox Video, Macnica, Nextera Video, Meinberg USA, Megapixel and EvertzAV.

“The progress IPMX has made over the last year is extraordinary — not just in technical development, but in real interoperability across vendors,” said Andrew Starks, AIMS board member and director of product management at Macnica.

“At InfoComm 2025, we’re excited to show the industry that IPMX is no longer a vision for the future. It’s on the cusp of market readiness with tested, deployable technology built on open standards. This is a critical step for Pro AV’s transition to IP, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to show it off at the industry’s biggest event of the year.”

InfoComm follows the IPMX Tested Event 2025, March 24-28, in Burbank, Calif. The multivendor interoperability milestone held at EvertzAV brought together 12 companies to validate system behavior, video and audio compatibility across IPMX profiles.

The event marks a significant step toward finalized specs and widespread industry adoptions, AIMS said.

AIMS is now preparing publicly available self-test procedures and a marketing label system to help manufacturers clearly indicate which IPMX profiles their products support.

In Orlando, AIMS will also contribute to InfoComm’s education program. AIMS board member and vice president of strategic partnerships at Matrox Video Sam Recine will present the “Compatibility in IP-Based Media Systems Across Product Classes” session on June 11 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. in meeting room W312C.

Earlier that day in room W312C, from 11 a.m. to noon., he will also join Panasonic’s Mike Bergeron and Peyton Thomas for the panel “Designing a Network for Live Video to Support Broadcast Quality Production in a Workplace Context.”

See AIMS at InfoComm 2025 booth 3089.

For more information, visit the AIMS website.

BOTHELL, Wash.—The Alliance for IP Media Solutions (AIMS), Advanced Media Workflow Association (AMWA) and the Video Services Forum (VSF) will once again present the IP Showcase in the West Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center during the 2025 NAB Show, April 5-9.

The IP Showcase will focus on the convergence of broadcast and Pro AV technologies, with the IPMX open-interoperability framework for AV-over-IP taking center stage.

“The 2025 NAB Show marks a pivotal moment in the convergence of broadcast and Pro AV, and the IP Showcase will be instrumental in educating attendees on how IPMX is bridging the technological gap between these industries,” said Andrew Starks, a member of the AIMS board of directors and director of product management for Macnica.

“As broadcasters and AV professionals increasingly rely on shared IP-based infrastructures, IPMX provides an open-standards-based technology that enables seamless interoperability, high performance and scalability across diverse applications. With NAB’s growing focus on Pro AV, this year’s show offers the perfect platform to demonstrate how IPMX is driving innovation, breaking down barriers, and unifying the way we create, distribute and experience content. It’s going to be an amazing show, and we can’t wait to see everybody there.”

A core component of the IP Showcase will be the IP Showcase Theater where industry professionals will be giving presentations on a wide range of topics. Taking place on the Tech Chat Stage in the West Hall, the IP Showcase will feature 16 presentations.

Topics will include a roadmap presentation for IPMX, which outlines key milestones, including the first product validation tests scheduled for Q3 2025, the control plane and the relationship between IPMX and AES67 and SMPTE 2110. Other topics to be explored include dynamic media facilities and cloud integration, live production, timing and synchronization and security in IP-based workflows, as well as case studies on media organization and facilities that have shifted to IP.

The IP Showcase will also feature an IPMX demo space in booth W2843, across the aisle from the Tech Chat Stage, where attendees will see live demonstrations of IPMX-ready products, including an NMOS controller and multiviewer and integrations with existing AV-over-IP technology.

A meeting space will be available in room W317 where training, standards-related meetings and other IPMX demonstrations will take place.

Visit the IPMX demo space in 2025 NAB Show booth W2843.

Visit the IP Showcase in the West Hall across from the IPMX demo space.

Visit the training space in Meeting Room W317.

More information is available on the AIMS, AMWA and VSF websites as well as the IP Showcase website.

BOTHELL, Wash.—The Alliance for IP Media Solutions (AIMS), the group working towards a standards-based internet protocol infrastructure for professional media, has elected its board of directors for 2024-25.

Re-elected to the AIMS board were chairman Steve Reynolds of Imagine Communications and directors Andreas Hilmer of Lawlo AG, Lee Buchanan of Grass Valley and Andrew Starks of Macnica.

Joining the board as a newly elected member is Samuel Recine, vice president of sales, Americas and Asia Pacific, for the AV/IT Group at Matrox Video. Recine joined Matrox in 1997, where he led a variety of commercial and product-management roles. He is currently focused on contributing to the growth of performance media over IP markets.

Terry Holton, retiring from Yamaha, will step away from board duties.

“Terry’s contributions as a board member have been invaluable in helping us educate the broadcast and Pro AV markets on the importance of AV over IP while developing the IPMX standard and positioning it for widespread adoption,” Reynolds said in a statement. “We appreciate his efforts and wish him the best. At the same time, we’re thrilled to welcome Samuel to the board. He has been instrumental to our success in promoting a common set of standards for IP media transport and will play an important role in the next phase of IPMX’s journey.”

AIMS board members are chosen each year. Terms begin immediately.

AIMS is extending its deadline for submitting presentations for the one-day Media-Over-IP Pavilion during the AES New York Show in October to July 30, 2024. 

AIMS is once again collaborating with the Audio Engineering Society (AES) to bring the popular Media-Over-IP Pavilion to the AES New York show, Oct. 8-10, collocated with NAB Show NY 2024 at the Jacob Javits Convention Center. The Media-Over-IP Pavilion will be an exclusive one-day event held on Oct. 9. 

The Media-Over-IP Pavilion will address all professional media networking topics, with particular emphasis on the AES67 standard, specifications in the AIMS Roadmap, and case study presentations. Its focal point will be the Media-Over-IP Pavilion Theater, which will host a continuous program of 30-minute presentations covering the latest developments in this constantly evolving field.

The call for presentations is open to end users, industry associations, solutions providers, and technology developers, who are invited to share their knowledge and perspectives on how developments in IP networking will impact the Pro Audio, Broadcast and Pro AV industries.

“The Media-Over-IP Pavilion Theater has become a must-see attraction at the AES Show, providing all attendees with the opportunity to gain valuable knowledge from top media networking experts,” said Terry Holton, Chairman of the AIMS Audio Working Group. “We’re excited to bring this unique platform back to New York to educate the industry on the many different aspects of professional media networking.”

More information and the submission form are available at www.ipshowcase.org.

AIMS has announced it will once again collaborate with the Audio Engineering Society (AES) to bring the popular Media-Over-IP Pavilion to the AES New York show, being held October 8-10.

AES New York is collocated with NAB Show NY 2024 at the Jacob Javits Convention Center. 

The Media-Over-IP Pavilion will be an exclusive one-day event held on October 9. Following a very successful event last year, AIMS will once again partner with AES again to promote and educate the industry about media networking open standards.

The Media-Over-IP Pavilion will address all professional media networking topics, with particular emphasis on the AES67 standard, specifications in the AIMS Roadmap, and case study presentations. Its focal point will be the Media-Over-IP Pavilion Theater, which will host a continuous program of 30-minute presentations covering the latest developments in this constantly evolving field, the group said. 

AIMs said the call for presentations is open to end users, industry associations, solutions providers, and technology developers, who are invited to share their knowledge and perspectives on how developments in IP networking will impact the Pro Audio, Broadcast and Pro AV industries.

“The Media-Over-IP Pavilion Theater has become a must-see attraction at the AES Show, providing all attendees with the opportunity to gain valuable knowledge from top media networking experts,” said Terry Holton, chairman of the AIMS Audio Working Group. “We’re excited to bring this unique platform back to New York to educate the industry on the many different aspects of professional media networking.”

Applications for presentations must be submitted by July 8. More information and the submission form are available here.

The 2024 NAB Show brings the return of the IP Showcase, an essential event for industry professionals to explore the forefront of broadcasting technology. Since its inception, the IP Showcase has been instrumental in demystifying IP production and broadcasting, offering a unique platform for learning, sharing, and discovering how open standards fuel innovation and collaboration across the media landscape.

This year we continue the tradition of enlightening and inspiring NAB Show attendees, with a program that mirrors the dynamic evolution within the standards community. Located in Booth W2867 in the West Hall, the 2024 IP Showcase lineup is crafted to showcase the latest strides in media over IP, reflecting our members’ commitment to pushing the boundaries of what's possible.

With a robust schedule of roughly two dozen presentations, the IP Showcase caters to a wide audience — from those just stepping into the world of media over IP to industry veterans. Each presentation is a window into the ongoing evolution of IP standards and their application in real-world scenarios. As a preview, let’s look at three of them.

First up is “What is IPMX? – A Plain Language Summary of the IPMX Technical Recommendations” by Jed Deame of Nextera Video. This presentation promises to deliver a comprehensive summary of the major features of IPMX, breaking down its components into easy-to-digest segments. 

Deame will peel back the layers of technical jargon to reveal the core benefits of IPMX for both broadcast and ProAV users. Attendees can expect a comprehensive look at how IPMX builds upon the foundations of SMPTE ST 2110, enhancing interoperability and easing the transition to IP workflows. This session is an essential primer for anyone looking to grasp the significance and application of IPMX in today’s media landscape.

Next, Andreas Hildebrand of Lawo AG takes the stage with his presentation “MADI over IP: The Magic About Flow Configuration and Packet Setup.” With the industry's shift towards IP, understanding the nuances of audio transport becomes crucial. Hildebrand, a renowned expert in the field, will guide attendees through the intricacies of transporting MADI over IP networks, emphasizing latency considerations and flow configuration. This talk is tailor-made for audio engineers and system architects seeking to leverage the full potential of IP audio within their operations, offering insights into achieving seamless audio integration in an IP-centric world.

Rounding out our selection is “Expanding ST 2110 beyond the Studio — Connecting it all together” by Gerard Phillips of Arista Networks. As live production environments increasingly embrace IP, the question of how to interconnect these “islands” of IP production for broader collaboration and sharing becomes paramount. Phillips' talk addresses this next frontier, exploring strategies for extending ST 2110 connectivity to foster greater creative and operational flexibility. Attendees will leave with a roadmap for enhancing opportunity and creativity through comprehensive IP connectivity, making this session a must-attend for professionals tasked with envisioning the future of their IP infrastructure.

These are just a sample of the two dozen presentations expected at the IP Showcase. By offering insights into IPMX, audio over IP, the expansion of ST 2110 networks, orchestration and automation in the cloud, mastering the basics of media-over-IP network design, or any of the other topics planned for this year’s lineup, they will provide attendees with a valuable perspective on the evolving IP landscape.

We encourage attendees to prioritize the IP Showcase at the 2024 NAB Show, whether for our insightful presentations or the opportunity to engage in our meetups. It’s an essential destination for professionals seeking to deepen their knowledge and discuss the latest in media over IP. The IP Showcase stands as a testament to the industry’s ongoing evolution and offers a valuable platform for learning, sharing, and networking. Make sure it's on your 2024 NAB agenda.

BOTHELL, Wash.—The Alliance for IP Media Solutions (AIMS) has announced that three companies have joined the group. 

The new members are NovaStar, a leading global LED display solutions provider; CUX, a provider of audio, video, and environmental control solutions; and Appear, a global leader in high-capacity solutions for media processing and content delivery.

"We couldn't be more excited to name NovaStar, CUX, and Appear as the newest AIMS members," said Andrew Starks, board of directors' member and marketing working group chair for AIMS. "With NovaStar and CUX's deep-rooted experience in AV-over-IP for the Pro AV industry and Appear's specialized knowledge in broadcast IP media transport, all three companies will be instrumental in helping us propel IPMX adoption in these sectors and unlock new market possibilities."

NovaStar boasts a diverse range of products that encompasses everything from synchronized controls for LED displays to point-to-point calibration systems, AV-over-IP solutions, and cloud-based management services. The company's solutions have been adopted for a variety of live events — including concerts and the opening ceremony of the 2008 summer games in Beijing— digital advertising signage, and more. Operating from 37 locations across the globe and catering to both corporate and retail customers, NovaStar is dedicated to delivering pioneering technology, tailored solutions, intuitive products, and dedicated customer support, the company reported. 

"Our solutions are widely implemented across a variety of Pro AV environments, where the transition to video-over-IP as the dominating infrastructure is well under way," said Jason Xiao，director of product development of NovaStar. "With AIMS' IPMX poised to be at the center of that infrastructure, the timing is perfect for NovaStar to become part of the alliance. We're thrilled to contribute to a standard that will advance the whole industry through increased interoperability."

Based in China, CUX is dedicated to delivering products and systems — including AV-over-IP solutions — that prioritize ease of use and are tailored for a broad spectrum of audio and video applications in various markets. The company's commitment extends to supporting the system integration sector from the design stage through implementation, with a guiding principle of "Technology promotes harmony, innovation changes the future," the company said. 

"Through our work supporting system integrators, we've gained a deep understanding of the interoperability hurdles that have plagued the Pro AV industry," said Keven Pang, executive director of CUX. "We couldn't be more excited for the arrival of IPMX as a solution to these challenges and look forward to collaborating with AIMS and its members to champion its adoption."

Headquartered in Oslo, Appear specializes in premium live event contribution solutions that are utilized by an extensive list of rights holders and content providers, remote production products, and modular head-end platforms for IPTV and broadcast, with distribution options for cable, satellite, and terrestrial networks. Pushing the limits of media and entertainment innovation, Appear's primary focus is on delivering exceptional value to its global network of clients by elevating their content delivery to unprecedented levels of success, the company reported. 

"We've maintained a leading position in industry innovation through active partnerships with esteemed trade organizations and technology providers, with the goal of achieving seamless and secure media transport. We are thrilled to include AIMS among them," said Andy Rayner, chief technology officer of Appear. "As the boundaries between broadcast and Pro AV increasingly blur across various applications, we're eager to work with the organization to advance IPMX and bring interoperability to both domains."

More information about AIMS and its work is available at www.aimsalliance.org.

BOTHELL, Wash.—The Alliance for IP Media Solutions (AIMS) has announced that it will be highlighting the global broadcast and Pro AV market's increasing adoption of Internet Protocol Media Experience (IPMX) at ISE 2024, taking place Jan. 30 to Feb. 2 in Barcelona.

IPMX is a set of open standards-based protocols designed to ensure interoperability for AV-over-IP systems. At the show, visitors to booth 5E550 will see IPMX-based hardware and software working together seamlessly in live demonstrations, while presentations held in the AIMS-IPMX Theater will focus specifically on the standard's development and adoption.

"Historically, the broadcast and Pro AV industries have operated independently, with Pro AV lacking the uniform standards prevalent in the broadcast industry. In addition, the need to enable a convergence between live production and presentation systems within the two industries has become increasingly apparent. IPMX was created to address both of these issues and has made great strides over the last year," said Andrew Starks, board of directors member and marketing working group chair for AIMS. "The standard is set to really take off in 2024, and we're excited to get things started at ISE by showing off some of its capabilities at our booth, while providing opportunities to learn more from experts at the AIMS-IPMX Theater. It's going to be a landmark event and we can't wait to see you there."

Created by AIMS in collaboration with VSF and AMWA, IPMX implements a standards-based approach based on SMPTE ST 2110, with features and capabilities that target the specific needs of the broadcast and Pro AV industries. In addition to simplifying the implementation of SMPTE ST 2110 and ensuring interoperability for AV-over-IP systems, IPMX incorporates core features tailored to Pro AV installations. These features include asynchronous audio and video support suitable for both live production and Pro AV presentations, 4K60 transmission over a single gigabit network, and HDCP for content security. IPMX also includes a control layer, provided by AMWA's NMOS specifications, which enhances device interoperability and eases the dependency on a myriad of proprietary control system protocols, AIMS said. 

Throughout ISE 2024, AIMS will be providing demonstrations of IPMX in a multivendor digital signage system; digital signage application featuring HDCP content — utilizing IPMX's HKEP protocol; interoperable HDR application; and an NDI/IPMX gateway. Concurrently at the AIMS-IPMX Theater, end users, industry associations, solutions providers, and technology developers will be sharing their knowledge and perspectives on how the adoption of IP technology and IPMX is transforming all types of media organizations, today and in the future. Presentations will include "Exploring the Foundations and Future of IPMX," "Demystifying CODEC options in AV-over-IP," "Everything You Always Wanted to Know About JPEG XS," and many more.

More information about AIMS and its work is available at www.aimsalliance.org. 

The IP Showcase will return to the 2024 NAB Show, April 13-17 in Las Vegas and it's a must-see for anyone deploying media-over-IP technology for real-time broadcast or Pro AV applications. As always, the presentation of technical papers will be a central element of the IP Showcase, along with technical demonstrations, case studies on media organizations and facilities that have shifted to IP, and other educational opportunities.

Proposals for papers are now being accepted by IP Showcase partners as well as end users, industry associations, solutions providers, and technology developers — all of whom are invited to share their knowledge and perspectives on how the adoption of IP technology is transforming all types of media organizations today and in the future. 

IP Showcase partners include Audio Engineering Society (AES), Alliance for IP Media Solutions (AIMS), Advanced Media Workflow Association (AMWA), European Broadcasting Union (EBU), Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE), and Video Services Forum (VSF).

Proposals are due by Jan. 29, and may be submitted here

Appropriate paper topics include:

• Overview of SMPTE ST 2110, AES67, AMWA-NMOS, or TR-1001
• IPMX IP for non-engineers: What do operations, resellers, management need to know?
• IP Scorecard: How are we doing? Where are the gaps?
• Making the business case for IP standards development
• Updates from an industry body such as SMPTE, AMWA, VSF, OPA, etc.
• How IP-focused standards work is addressing real-world problems such as security across the WAN, ground-cloud operations, and remote production
• End-user case studies on deployments of all sizes, as well as post-deployment considerations
• QC, monitoring, and maintenance in IP-based environments

More information about the event and further details on paper submissions are available at www.ipshowcase.

BOTHELL, Wash.—The Alliance for IP Media Solutions (AIMS) has announced that the AIMS Education Library — a comprehensive online resource designed to facilitate learning about IP technology for the broadcast and Pro AV industries — is now available online at aimsalliance.org/document-library.

The group said that the AIMS Education Library offers an extensive database of all sessions presented or recorded by AIMS' members and partners at the organization's events, dating back to 2018. 

It is continuously updated to include the latest sessions from recent events — such as the Media-over-IP Pavilion at AES New York 2023 — to ensure that users stay up to date with the ever-evolving landscape of IP technology. An search interface allows content to be easily filtered by education category, technical depth, and source, ensuring quick and precise access to relevant information, the group said. 

"Open standards IP media systems offer significant benefits, but to take advantage of them, users require the knowledge to design, deploy, and operate these systems," said Steve Reynolds, chairman of AIMS. "We created our Education Library to meet this need. For industry professionals and anyone else seeking to expand their knowledge on Media-over-IP technology, SMPTE ST-2110, the IPMX standard, or any other related topic, it's an invaluable free resource."

The creation and development of the AIMS Education Library was one of the key projects undertaken by the AIMS Education Working Group, which was launched in early 2022.

More information about AIMS and its work is available at www.aimsalliance.org.

BOTHELL, Wash.—The Alliance for IP Media Solutions (AIMS) has announced its newest members: Brompton Technology, a provider of LED video processing for live events, film and television; Nextera Video, a specialist in the education and development of SMPTE ST 2110, NMOS, and IPMX solutions; and ProITAV USA, a global OEM/ODM company.

"We are thrilled to welcome Brompton Technology, Nextera Video, and ProITAV as the newest AIMS members," said Andrew Starks, an AIMS board of directors member and director of product management for Macnica. "With their extensive experience, these companies will help us continue to drive the adoption of IP and our IPMX proposed set of open standards and specifications in new markets."

Brompton Technology is a manufacturer at the forefront of technology within the LED video sector and launched the Dynamic Calibration approach to LED panel calibration to achieve previously unattainable levels of panel performance. The company has become a globally known and respected brand, winning a Queen's Award for Enterprise: International Trade 2020 and numerous awards for the Tessera SX40 LED processor, including a Lumiere Entertainment Technology Award in 2022 and an Engineering, Science and Technology Emmy in 2023.

"IP video has the potential to revolutionize workflows both as a means to cope with ever increasing resolutions but also offering new creative flexibility," said Adrian Jeakins, director of engineering, at Brompton Technology. "The work AIMS is doing with the IMPX standards is key to fulfilling this promise by offering the power and flexibility needed for real world systems. We are very excited to join AIMS and contribute our expertise to a standard that will benefit the entire industry."

A professional in guiding equipment manufacturers through the development of IP-enabled products, Nextera Video offers ST 2110, ST 2059, IPMX FPGA Cores, and NMOS control software in addition to a complete and fully interoperable AV-over-IP solution based on ST 2110, ST 2059, NMOS, and IPMX standards. The company is committed to helping customers successfully reposition their products quickly and easily to conform to the IP era of broadcast and Pro AV.

"Our solution provides customers everything they need for turnkey AV-over-IP software including IPMX FPGA cores," said Jed Deame, CEO of Nextera Video. "Now that we have begun to offer our customers the chance to IPMX-enable their products, joining AIMS was an easy decision. We look forward to combining our efforts and expertise to further support our customers' needs, and further the adoption of IPMX within the industry."

A leader in global OEM/ODM solutions, ProITAV designs, develops, and manufactures audio/video products primarily in signal management and unified collaboration and communications, within the AV and IT business networks. The company is dedicated to developing technology that enhances productivity and helps deliver effective and timely solutions to its customers' clients.

"As a manufacturer, ProITAV has the ability to work with customers to create completely customized solutions that help build strong, sustainable relationships throughout the industry," said Keith Kennedy, managing director at ProITAV USA. "With years of experience in AV installation, design, development, and manufacturing, our team is excited to join the alliance and work together to further serve our customers' needs while conforming to leading industry standards."

More information about AIMS and its work is available at www.aimsalliance.org. 

To understand the development of Internet Protocol Media Experience (IPMX)—a set of open standards and specifications for AV-over-IP deployments—we must first delve into the broadcast industry and the implementation of SMPTE ST 2110.

First Steps
The story starts about a decade ago, when it became clear that an IP infrastructure would not only be viable for television broadcasting, it would be the preferred platform. After all, 10 Gb datacenter-scale internet switches were readily available and offered ample bandwidth. 

Furthermore, following Moore’s Law, high-bandwidth switch ports would continue to improve at a rapid pace, and they would become less expensive as they did. This technology trajectory sparked SMPTE, in addition to vendors and other relevant organizations, to explore and advance the use of IP technology in the broadcast industry.

For guidance, the informal consortium closely observed the transition that occurred in the audio industry, which began its shift toward IP-based production around 2010. What they found is that every vendor initially developed its own proprietary solution, which led to a market full of incompatible audio-over-IP systems.

The situation was far from ideal; it didn’t favor the vendors who built the systems, nor was it advantageous for customers who wanted to integrate equipment from different manufacturers. The result was the creation of a chaotic environment that took the audio industry a considerable amount of time to untangle.

To avoid a similar scenario, leading standards bodies in the broadcast industry sought a different approach toward IP-based systems: Establish a common, industry-wide technical roadmap leveraging off-the-shelf commercial networking technologies. This would allow end users to select switches, cameras, multiviewers, replay systems, and other equipment from various manufacturers and seamlessly integrate it into comprehensive systems. 

To achieve this goal, a group of broadcast engineers, technologists, vendors, business executives, and others founded the Alliance for IP Media Solutions (AIMS), a trade organization dedicated to fostering the adoption of industry standards to help facilitate the broadcast and media industry’s transition from SDI to IP.

Next Stop: Pro AVFinal Destination
AIMS was instrumental in promoting the adoption of SMPTE ST 2110—a suite of standards for transporting digital video, audio, and metadata over IP—the Advanced Media Workflow Association’s (AMWA) NMOS specification for networked media, the AES67 standard for audio IP, and other related technologies in the marketplace. 

Through the work of AIMS, SMPTE, AMWA, the Video Services Forum (VSF), and others, the broadcast industry was remarkably successful in establishing a common ground based on these standards. Today, virtually every new project utilizes and builds on these technologies, fostering a more comprehensive and interoperable broadcast ecosystem.

With broadcasters now fully embracing Video-over-IP, AIMS set its sights on the Pro AV industry, which like the audio industry before it, began its journey to an IP infrastructure with proprietary solutions. To address the industry’s need for a common set of standards and protocols in the transition to AV-over-IP—ensuring interoperability across a diverse range of applications, from enterprise conference rooms to digital signage systems in football stadiums—the organization began development of IPMX.

[Why It's Time for Pro AV to Take Digital Twin Metaverse Technology Seriously]

Fortunately, AIMS had a running start in its creation. Not only do Pro AV applications share many of the same requirements as broadcasting, but with the successful establishment of a multi-vendor, interoperable ecosystem in the television broadcast domain, AIMS had a clear path to follow. Established technologies including SMPTE ST 2110, AMWA NMOS IS-04 and IS-05, and others would serve as the foundation within the IPMX framework for the packaging and organization of video content.

However, while the broadcast and Pro AV industries have many requirements in common, Pro AV environments do present some additional ones, and accommodating them has been at the core of IPMX’s development. For example, facilitating extended display identification data (EDID) negotiations over IP networks when connecting displays to sources has been a significant area of focus and development for IPMX. 

In addition, high-bandwidth digital content protection (HDCP) is essential for HDMI applications, but isn’t typically employed in traditional SDI broadcasts. By ensuring the secure handling of protected content, HDCP support holds great significance within the IPMX framework, and was a key priority in establishing a robust and comprehensive standard.

To overcome these technical hurdles, they were parceled out to individual standards groups and trade associations based on their knowledge and experience in certain domains. For example, AMWA was tasked with addressing EDID negotiations and facilitating format chats and negotiations throughout the entire workflow. 

And within the VSF, an IPMX working group addressed the intricate aspects of signal-level details, which encompassed crucial areas such as the functioning of HDCP negotiations and the mapping of formats into the SMPTE ST 2110 standard. Through such advancements and augmentations, IPMX has evolved as a comprehensive solution that expands on existing standards to ensure seamless interoperability and efficient format negotiations within the IPMX ecosystem.

The standard has made significant progress since AIMS began its work. Approximately two-thirds to three-quarters of the components comprising IPMX have already been published, including the initial drafts of VSF’s TR-10 suite of Technical Recommendations, which recently became available for download on VSF’s website. The TR-10 suite outlines the differences between SMPTE ST 2110 and IPMX, with documents covering everything from system time and definitions, to using AMWA NMOS APIs, to the transparent transport of AES3 audio using the RTP protocol.

[Dirty Hands and IPMX]

In addition, ongoing studies are being conducted to determine optimal profiles and levels for specific codecs in various applications. The current focus is primarily on establishing market-facing profiles and levels, and specifying the mandatory and optional features that vendors must adhere to in order to obtain IPMX certification.

The primary goal of AIMS and its members is to ensure that IPMX attains the same level of adoption and widespread implementation in the Pro AV industry as SMPTE ST 2110 has in broadcasting. Currently, IPMX is following a trajectory similar to that of SMPTE ST 2110, and is expected to reach a comparable level of market acceptance in the near future. And as the final stages of standardization are completed, a surge of IPMX-certified products is expected to hit the market, marking a new era of AV-over-IP deployments.

This article originally appeared on TV Tech sister brand Systems Contractor News.

BOTHELL, Wash.—The Video Services Forum (VSF) has made available to the public the initial draft of its TR-10 suite of Technical Recommendations for Internet Protocol Media Experience (IPMX), the Alliance for IP Media Solutions (AIMS) said.

"The release of VSF's TR-10 drafts represents a major milestone in the work on IPMX, and we couldn't be more excited to announce that they are now available for the public to preview and comment on," said Jack Douglass, co-chair of the VSF IPMX Activity Group. "At this stage, several manufacturers have made implementations based on these documents, and those implementations have been tested in multiple labs and interoperability trials. Now we are closing in on the last stages before they are finalized within VSF."

A set of open standard-based protocols designed to ensure interoperability for AV-over-IP systems in the media, entertainment and Pro AV industries, IPMX is based on the SMPTE ST 2110 standard. It was developed through a collaboration between AIMS and the Joint Taskforce on Network Media (JT-NM), which includes VSF, the Advance Media Workflow Association (AMWA), the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and SMPTE.

IPMX gives manufacturers and developers what they need to create low-latency, interoperable, IP-based AV products and applications. The VSF TR-10 suite outlines the differences between SMPTE ST 2110 and IPMX with documents covering everything from system time and definitions for using AMWA Networked Media Open Specifications (NMOS) APIs to the transparent transport of AES3 audio using the RTP protocol, it said.

"The VSF is pleased to have participated with its industry partners in developing IPMX, and we believe it will have a major impact in both the Pro AV and Media & Entertainment industries," said Richard Friedel, president of the VSF.

The draft documents are available online.

More information is available on the AIMS website.

LAS VEGAS—Now in its eighth year, the IP Showcase has evolved into a must-see exhibit for anyone deploying IP technology. Over the years, AIMS and other major technical and standards organizations within the broadcast industry have taken advantage of large industry events like the NAB Show to highlight vendor products, technical presentations, and real-life case studies of IP deployments, while providing attendees with networking opportunities with access to the experts that make open IP standards a reality. 

As the NAB Show celebrates its 100th anniversary, we couldn’t be more excited to be there again, as well as welcoming our newest members—Megapixel VR and NETGEAR—to the IP Showcase.

Demonstrating Interoperability
In the beginning, the IP Showcase started out as a way to demonstrate to the industry that IP standards work and to highlight their interoperability. However, in listening to feedback from attendees on what they’re hoping to see and what they need from the Showcase, we quickly learned that there’s a lot of hunger out there for education on a wide range of topics. 

Part of this need is met by the IP Showcase Theater, where industry professionals give 20-minute presentations on case studies and other topics. As in previous years, this will be a centerpiece of the IP Showcase at the 2023 NAB Show. In addition, the “IP in Action” wall will be back, which will display additional information about different IP installations that have taken place. 

We’ll also have people on the ground to answer questions about today’s hot topics, such as ground-to-cloud, cloud-to-ground, and of course, the IPMX set of open standards and specifications for AV-over-IP deployments being developed by AIMS. 

There’s also been a lot of work going on with codecs in our various groups, and we’ll be there to educate people on the flurry of activity around standards over the last year, including work around JPEG XS, H.264, and EDID. In addition, the Advanced Media Workflow Association (AMWA) recently published its guide for implementing NMOS controllers, and its work on stream compatibility management is moving to the next phase of testing and interoperability. 

The Video Services Forum (VSF) has also released the first draft of TR-10-1 for system timing in IPMX—with revisions active and ongoing—and the HDCP Key Exchange Protocol draft specification. We’re expecting these to be popular topics of discussion at the show. 

Knowledge Sharing
Education is certainly at the forefront of attendees’ expectations for the IP Showcase; however, we’ve also learned that organizations and individual professionals aren’t strictly looking for information and insight, they are also eager to share ideas. 

So, this year at NAB Show, we decided we really wanted to emphasize the social aspect of the IP Showcase and provide attendees with the opportunity to get together and have these conversations. And we’re doing that with the introduction of a new element: the meetup section. This is going to be an open space with flexible seating, where attendees can come in and host conversations revolving around IP media systems that are important to them.

And while we’re normally very selective about who can give presentations at the IP Showcase, we’re opening the meetup space to just about anybody who wants to have a conversation regarding anything related to AV-over-IP, SMPTE 2110, or even other proprietary protocols out there. As long as the topic is centered around IP media systems and making them work, anyone can host a conversation; they don’t need to belong to AIMS or any other organization. 

The reason for this inclusivity is that we envision this new section not only as a place to support our community of open-standards-based solutions, but to also hear from users in general. We want to find out what you’re doing in IP, the problems you’re facing, and your success stories. 

Sharing such information at the IP Showcase is a really exciting prospect, and we’re anticipating that a lot of smaller groups will want to take advantage of it. So, we’ve been casting a wide net for participants, sending out a sign-up sheet via social media and other outlets. All people have to do is fill out a form, and they’re given a time slot for their conversation.

We’ll also have industry experts come in to address groups that want to discuss certain topics. So, for example, if there’s a group that wants to discuss network convergence or issues they’re having when setting up IP systems, we’ll bring in experts from companies in our organization that specialize in those topics, and they’ll be available for those meetups. 

And finally, we’re opening up the space to groups that already meet within standards organizations over Zoom and elsewhere to have face-to-face meetings at the NAB Show. There are so many possibilities to use this new space as an educational opportunity, and we can’t wait to see what people do with it. It’s going to make the 2023 NAB Show 2023 one to remember, and we look forward to seeing everybody there.

Visit us during exhibit hours at Booth W2867 in the West Hall of the LVCC. 

Register for the 2023 NAB Show at nabshow.com/2023.

BOTHELL, Wash.—Network product provider NETGEAR and LED display and video processing developer Megapixel VR have joined the Alliance for IP Media Solutions (AIMS), formally becoming members during ISE 2023 in Barcelona.

"We couldn't be more excited to add NETGEAR and Megapixel VR as our latest members," said Andrew Starks, an AIMS board of directors member and director of product management for Macnica. "Together, both companies bring a wealth of expertise in utilizing IP across a wide range of applications, from mobile solutions to large-scale displays for iconic venues and events. They will be instrumental in helping us drive the adoption of IP in new markets."

The growing status of the IPMX standard in the AV industry makes the timing of NETGEAR’s decision to join propitious, said Laurent Masia, director of product management for managed switchers at the company.

“With AIMS' IPMX proposed set of open standards and specifications set to become the core of new IP infrastructure deployments throughout the Pro AV industry, it couldn't be a better time for NETGEAR to join the alliance," said Masia. "We're no stranger to video-over-IP in these environments and can't wait to see how we can address the interoperability challenges in the Pro AV ecosystem together."

Megapixel VR also sees the growing acceptance of IPMX as an important factor. “We are excited to be at the forefront of bringing IPMX to the LED display industry," said Scott Blair, vice president product/project management at the company.

"With IPMX's lightweight requirements, it greatly simplifies implementation and provides a solid basis for interoperability. We are excited to team up with AIMS in bringing the technology to new markets and empowering innovation for our clients' projects," he said.

More information is available on the AIMS website.

Since its publication in 2017, SMPTE 2110 has been deployed extensively throughout the broadcast industry. Across the globe, the standard has become a staple in IP-based television facilities and many of today’s major sporting and broadcasting events, including the 2020 summer Olympics and 2022 World Cup. This trend shows no sign of slowing in the upcoming year. 

And with so much SMPTE 2110-based equipment already deployed in the field, invalidating existing designs through major changes to the standard is a real concern. Instead, the primary goal for SMPTE 2110 in 2023 and beyond is to provide the highest levels of stability for users. 

To that end, there has been a review of the 2110 documents within the SMPTE over the last few years to ensure they reflect current practices, with minor changes made to address issues that have come up during deployments. This review led to the recent publication of revised versions of the 2110 specs.  

However, delivering stability doesn’t mean the standard’s functionality will remain static. Layers of technical recommendations and operating practices have been — and will continue to be — added that build increased capabilities and address new marketplace requirements. 

JPEG XS
The most recent of these has been the adoption of the JPEG XS standard as a codec used with SMPTE 2110-22. Offering low implementation complexity, JPEG XS specifies a compression technology with an end-to-end latency of a few lines. It’s also optimized for visual lossless compression as defined in ISO/IEC 29170-2 for natural and synthetic images; offers typical compression ratios to 10:1 for 4:4:4, 4:2:2, and 4:2:0 images — or even higher depending on the application’s requirements; supports various pixel formats; allows for precise bit-rate control; provides an end-to-end delay equal to a fraction of a frame; and offers lossless compression of image data with precision to 12-bits per component.

The combination of the JPEG XS standard with SMPTE 2110 addresses increasing interest across the broadcast industry to work with compressed formats. To meet this need, JPEG XS can be utilized in a variety of applications that previously transported uncompressed image data. 

These include professional video links (3G/6G/12G-SDI), IP transport, real-time video storage, memory buffers, omni-directional video capture systems, head-mounted displays for virtual and augmented reality, and image sensor compression. This combination of JPEG XS and SMPTE 2110 is documented by the Video Services Forum (VSF) in its publication TR-08 — a document for JPEG XS over SMPTE 2110 that has played a role in recent global broadcasting events.

A major trend in 2023 will be the increasing adoption of JPEG XS as a payload format within SMPTE 2110-22. It will be especially relevant for Ultra HD video, as it lowers costs in large-scale telecom networks by using less bandwidth for signal transport, while still providing a production-quality signal at very low latency.

AIMS' IPMX
Another trend for SMPTE 2110 in 2023 and beyond is the increasing use of the standard in AV-over-IP deployments via IPMX, AIMS’ proposed set of open standards and specifications for the carriage of compressed and uncompressed video, audio, and data over IP networks. 

IPMX was created to address the interoperability challenges in the Pro AV ecosystem, which had previously been dominated by a few proprietary standards from the industry’s top players. Built on TR-08 and leveraging JPEG XS, IPMX is essentially an extension to SMPTE 2110, which serves as its foundation. 

The core requirements of IPMX have been defined through collaboration with leading companies to ensure it serves the needs of manufacturers, integrators, and end users. In 2022, AIMS worked to boost awareness of IPMX through public interoperability demonstrations, including one at InfoComm 2022 in which equipment from a dozen companies was interoperating in a single environment. By the end of the year, IPMX began to see market adoption, with a few early projects being launched. 

In 2023, the stage is set for IPMX to become the core of new IP infrastructure deployments throughout the Pro AV industry. More and more projects will adopt the standard as their foundation, and it will begin to be utilized in bigger rollouts and higher-profile installations. By late 2023 and early 2024, IPMX is expected to really take off, cementing SMPTE 2110’s position in a wide variety of new applications across a range of markets. 

BOTHELL, Wash.—The Alliance for IP Media Solutions (AIMS) has re-elected all members of the AIMS Board of Directors to serve again in 2023.

Steve Reynolds of Imagine Communications will serve again as chair; and Terry Holton of Yamaha will continue as AIMS’ vice chair.

Serving with Reynolds and Holton, the AIMS Board of Directors for 2023 includes Andreas Hilmer of Lawo as CFO; Andrew Starks of Macnica; and Chuck Meyer of Grass Valley. The board members, along with AIMS partner associations, will continue in their ongoing work fostering a standards-based approach to IP in professional media.

In a press statement, Reynolds said, “Year after year, AIMS succeeds in bringing its diverse and growing membership together to extend the boundaries of IP adoption across broadcast and pro AV. The connections I have made with everyone on this board have proved just as steadfast as our mission. I am eager to work with my colleagues in the coming year and to continue our momentum in enabling better and broader access to more flexible IP-based media workflows.”

Further information about AIMS is available at www.aimsalliance.org.

BOTHELL, Wash.—The Alliance for IP Media Solutions (AIMS) has announced that it has expanded its membership access to individuals such as consultants, engineers, and educators including sole employees or sole proprietors of a corporation and individuals who do not formally represent any company within the media industry. 

The new membership level is also open to students, researchers, and others actively associated with an institution of higher education.

"AIMS Individual Membership expands access to the work we're doing to promote adoption of IP-based media workflows across broadcast and Pro AV and gives the alliance the benefit of more diverse participation and perspective," said AIMS Board chairman, Steve Reynolds. "We look forward to welcoming individual members to AIMS and to the valuable contributions these members will bring in helping to facilitate the shift toward standards-based IP media workflows."

Annual dues for an AIMS Individual Membership are $175 U.S. and membership will be subject to approval by the AIMS Board of Directors. Further information and an application form are available at https://aimsalliance.org/join.

Additional information about AIMS is available at www.aimsalliance.org.

BOTHELL, Wash.—ASTRODESIGN, AVPro Edge and Sencore have joined the Alliance for IP Media Solutions (AIMS), the alliance said today.

The announcement comes as SMPTE 2110 gains momentum in the broadcast industry and the alliance’s Internet Protocol Media Experience (IPMX) open standards and specifications garner greater support among those in the AV industry, AIMs said.

"It's exciting to see ASTRODESIGN, AVPro Edge and Sencore become AIMS members, as growing involvement in the alliance reflects the momentum of IP adoption across both the broadcast and Pro AV industries," said Andrew Starks, AIMS marketing work group chair. "We're pleased to welcome our newest members and value their commitment to supporting and simplifying the migration to standards-based IP media workflows."

The role of AIMS is to foster cooperation among members and standards organization to help ensure both the business and technical requirements of broadcasters and AV companies are met with the ultimate aim of promoting development of IP standards that eliminate fragmentation and maximize interoperability, it said.

"ASTRODESIGN is a manufacturer with long experience in designing and developing video equipment, and we are now working hard to add more AV-over-IP products to our roadmap," said Manabe Yoshihito, executive general manager of the business division at ASTRODESIGN. "IPMX is an open standard, and we believe it is an innovative solution that will lead the future."

Observing the AVPro Edge has always emphasized technological advancement, Jeff Murray, president and CEO of the company, said its engagement with AIMS will enable his organization to work with others to converge IT and AV. “Our expanding lineup of AV-over-IP products has been a huge success for us, and we want to ensure our lineup follows the agreed-upon standards for this type of technology," he said.

Membership in the alliance is important to Sencore as it works to advance SMPTE ST 2110, NMOS. IPMX and other IP technologies, said Aaron Doughten, senior product manager at the company. “It’s vital that we participate in the industry group that is promoting these standards to drive what we like to call ‘competitive collaboration’ in our industry,” he said.

More information is available on the ASTRODESIGN, AVPro Edge, Sencore and AIMS websites.

HSINCHU, Taiwan—Lumens Digital Optics has joined the Alliance for IP Media Solutions (AIMS Alliance) and will focus on the development of the IPMX format, the company said today.  

“The industry is moving to IP at a bewildering speed. While the benefits of cost-savings, speed of installation and remote management are clear for all to see, there is a danger that this rush to IP adoption will spawn multiple incompatible production and distribution formats,” said Lumens CTO Gary Zheng. “We at Lumens want to help shape the future of IP standards to be open, interoperable and easy to use. We are therefore delighted to be part of the AIMS family.”

AIMS has invited Lumens to join its IPMX working group to contribute to the format’s development. The IPMX open standard protocol is built on the collaborative effort of various manufacturers and developers. It will support resolutions beyond 8K, deliver sub-frame latency and provide broadcast quality video over 1-gigabit connections.

“We are thrilled that Lumens has joined the open standards effort,” said Andrew Starks, AIMS Board Member and Marketing Work Group chair. “Lumens clearly shares our passion to keep the transport technology that supports every aspect of our industry open to everyone.” 

“Like every member of AIMS, Lumens believes that developing standardized and efficient IP protocols is the best way to grow the pro AV industry and to serve the market," he continued. "That's why we're thrilled to count them as a member.”

Steve Liang, vice president of product development at Lumens noted that until now different IP formats have been used by broadcasters and the AV industry. “IPMX is being developed as a single protocol that will meet the needs of everyone from unified communications and digital signage, to live event production and broadcast television. Lumens is very excited to be part of the IPMX development program at AIMS,” he said.

More information on the Lumens Digital Optics and the AIMS Alliance is available online.

LAS VEGAS—The IP Showcase, which returns to an in-person format at the 2022 NAB Show this April, is asking for proposals for technical papers to be delivered during the Showcase. 

The IP Showcast is designed to be a must-attend event for anyone deploying media-over-IP technology for real-time broadcast or Pro AV applications. 

The presentation of technical papers will be a central element of the IP Showcase, along with technical demonstrations, case studies on media organizations and facilities that have shifted to IP, and other educational opportunities.

Proposals for papers are now being accepted by IP Showcase partners, which include Audio Engineering Society (AES), Alliance for IP Media Solutions (AIMS), Advanced Media Workflow Association (AMWA), European Broadcasting Union (EBU), Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE), and Video Services Forum (VSF).

Proposals are due by March 15, and may be submitted here.

Appropriate paper topics include:

• Overview of SMPTE ST 2110, AES67, AMWA-NMOS, or TR-1001.
• IPMX IP for non-engineers: What do operations, resellers, management need to know?
• IP Scorecard: How are we doing? Where are the gaps?
• Making the business case for IP standards development.
• Updates from an industry body such as AES, AIMS, AMWA, EBU, SMPTE, VSF.
• How IP-focused standards work is addressing real-world problems such as security across the WAN, ground-cloud operations, and remote production.
• End-user case studies on deployments of all sizes, as well as post-deployment considerations.
• QC, monitoring, and maintenance in IP-based environments.

The IP Showcase will take place at the Las Vegas Convention Center in the new West Hall, Booth W3925. More information about the event and further details on paper submissions is available at www.ipshowcase.org.

For more information on the NAB Show, April 23-27, please visit nabshow.com/2022

BOTHELL, Wash.—The Alliance for IP Media Solutions (AIMS) has announced that Alun Fryer of Ross Video will serve as chair of the new AIMS Education Working Group (EWG) and that AIMS board member Andrew Starks of Macnica will serve as the chair of the AIMS Marketing Working Group (MWG). Reena Mathews-Rutherford of Imagine Communications will continue in her role as MWG deputy chair.

"Alun has been one of the key contributors in the formation of the EWG, which is already building considerable momentum, and we're pleased to welcome him as the group's inaugural chair," said AIMS chairman of the Board Steve Reynolds. "AIMS board member Andrew Starks has also taken on new responsibilities in the MWG leadership position, offering an energetic agenda that will certainly help drive a lot of interest at the 2022 NAB Show and beyond. This should be an exciting year for AIMS, and I'm confident that Alun and Andrew will help the alliance continue its remarkable progress in fostering adoption of media over IP."

Fryer is technical marketing lead for HyperConverged Solutions at Ross Video, where he provides leadership across product roadmaps, customer insights, industry, and technology trends. In addition to providing internal guidance at Ross, Fryer also contributes his time and expertise to broadcast media industry organizations and initiatives. As the new EWG chair, he will oversee work to define what is needed to improve training and expand educational opportunities. The AIMS group also will collaborate with other industry organizations to develop programs and certifications to rapidly expand the base of qualified engineers and operators to meet the growing demand for IP expertise.

"As the IP technology stack has come of age, education and training of industry professionals is crucial to drive successful deployment," said Fryer. "I'm excited to be part of the AIMS initiative to remove barriers and enable professional development of IP media networking expertise."

Starks serves as the director of product management for Macnica, where he leads the company's standards efforts. In addition to being an AIMS board member, he has been a significant contributor to the IPMX initiative, including the development of the IPMX roadmap and its marketing plan. As chair of the Marketing Working Group, Starks will continue AIMS' efforts to make the broadcast and Pro AV communities aware of the resources and events being made available by the alliance and its membership.

"I'm honored and excited to take on this new role," said Starks. "My goal is to continue the great work of past MWG chairs and to explore new ways to bring standards-based IP technology to more industries."

Further information about AIMS is available at www.aimsalliance.org.

BOTHELL, Wash.—The Alliance for IP Media Solutions (AIMS) has announced that all members of the AIMS Board of Directors have been reelected to serve once again in 2022.

Shortly after the election, Michael Cronk announced that he will step down from the AIMS Board and as chairman of the board due to a change in his employment that disqualifies him from serving. 

Steve Reynolds of Imagine Communications, who previously served as vice chair, takes over as chair, and Terry Holton of Yamaha will serve as AIMS' new vice chair. Chuck Meyer of Grass Valley will join as a new board member replacing Cronk's open position.

AIMS Board of Directors members for 2022 thus include AIMS chairman of the board Steve Reynolds, vice chair Terry Holton (Yamaha), chief financial officer Andreas Hilmer (Lawo), Andrew Starks (Macnica), and Chuck Meyer (Grass Valley). Their terms start immediately, as does their ongoing work toward fostering a standards-based approach to IP in professional media.

"Michael Cronk has been instrumental in the formation and success of AIMS," said Reynolds. "His commitment of time and energy during the past six years has made the AIMS mission of IP adoption a reality. Under his leadership, programs such as the IP Showcase were created and are still seen today as the source of industry education and advancement. And his efforts on behalf of AIMS have been recognized around the world. He will be missed!"

"Working alongside our partners including SMPTE, AWMA, VSF, and EBU, and with organizations such as the IABM, AIMS has served as a catalyst to galvanize the industry toward both standards like SMPTE ST 2110 and also open specifications such as AMWA IS-04, AMWA IS-05, and JT-NM TR 1001-1," said Cronk. "We've made a difference, and it's been a privilege to serve with so many talented individuals across the industry in pursuit of the AIMS mission. While I will miss being part of this important work, I'm confident that AIMS will continue to make important progress in the months and years ahead. Chuck will be immensely valuable in guiding this ongoing work, and AIMS is fortunate to be welcoming him as a new board member."

Chuck Meyer, the newest member to the AIMS board of directors, is a technology fellow at Grass Valley who has had a rich career developing advanced products for the worldwide consumer, semiconductor, and media markets. The most recent efforts have been focused on developing a cloud technology platform offering real-time performance yet incorporating, and accommodating, the statistical nature of cloud computing and transport.

Samuel Recine recently stepped into the role of Pro AV Working Group chair at AIMS, a position previously held by David Chiappini, who was a colleague of Recine's at Matrox. Recine joined Matrox in 1997 amid the rise of PC-based standards and surging PC sales. Recine has held commercial and product management roles at Matrox and is currently focused on contributing to the growth of performance media over IP markets.

Further information about AIMS is available at www.aimsalliance.org.

BOTHELL, Wash.—The Alliance for IP Media Solutions (AIMS) has published free educational resources about media over IP for the broadcast and Pro AV industries. 

The collection includes presentations, papers and solutions now available on the AIMS website. The resources underscore the progress being made in achieving an all-IP ecosystem using open standards, provide perspectives on IP workflow and examine practical solutions to migrate smoothly to IP, AIMS said.

Videos recorded during the AIMS TechFest 2021 Presents: IP Showcase are also now available. The presentations from end users, industry associations, solution providers and technology developers, cover topics like IP video/audio taxonomy, live production, IPMX for Pro AV and broadcast and NMOS, AIMS said.

The alliance also has published and is maintaining a vendor guide of products from companies proven to support the principles of AIMS and to follow the AIMS roadmap. 

AIMS also announced that Andrew Starks, AIMS board member and director of product management for Macnica, has posted an article to the IPMX website. In his article, “Internet Protocol Media Experience,” Starks explains IPMX and touches on development of the emerging open-standard protocol and how it addresses the needs of the Pro AV industry.

More information is available on the AIMS website. 

The Alliance for IP Media Solutions (AIMS) today extended its deadline through Aug. 23 for presentation proposals for its IP Oktoberfest 2021. 

The online event, Sept. 28-30, will offer educational presentations to assist broadcasters and Pro AV professional as they move towards an IP-based ecosystem for media production, AIMS said.

The event will place an emphasis on real-world IP implementations and demonstrate how the SMPTE ST 2110 suite of standards and AMWA NMOS technology stack are improving media workflows. The event also will offer a look at the IPMX set of proposed open standards and specs.

AIMS is seeking proposals for presentations from end users, industry associations, solution providers and technology developers who wish to share their knowledge and perspectives on development of IP-based workflows. Submissions should support the AIMS roadmap, the alliance said.

Presentations will be made live –not pre-recorded—during the three-day event, it said.

More information is available on the AIMS website. 

BOTHELL, Wash.—The Alliance for IP Media Solutions (AIMS) has set the presentations for its two-day AIMS TechFest 2021 Presents IP Showcase free online event. Set for May 25-26, AIMS TechFest 2021 aims to educate broadcast and Pro AV industries on the latest progress in achieving an all-IP ecosystem using open standards.

Presentations will take place live from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. ET on both May 25 & 26. Here is the list of May 25 presentations:

• “IP Systems: The Big Picture,” Brad Gilmer, executive director, AMWA and VSF
• “Live Media Production—The Ultimate End Game,” Andy Rayner, chief technologist, Nevion 
• “A Review of the IP Live Core Implementation in BBC Cymru Wales—Central Square, Cardiff,” Mark Patrick, lead architect, BBC; Mike Ellis, head of production architecture, BBC; and Dan Ashcroft, senior project manager, BBC 
• “Bridging the Gap Between Broadcast Network Monitoring and Measurement,” Michael Waidson, application engineer, Telestream 
• “A Frank Discussion of NMOS” panel discussion moderated by Brad Gilmer 

And here are the presentations for May 26:

• “IP Video/Audio Taxonomy—A Field Guide,” Wes Simpson, founder, Learn IP Video
• “The Once and Future Impact of Moore’s Law on Networking,” Robert Welch, principal engineer, Arista Networking 
• “IPMX for Broadcast Installations,” Jean Lapierre, senior director, Advanced Technologies, Matrox 
• “ST 2110 Over WAN—The Conclusion of Act 1,” Andy Rayner, chief technologist, Nevion 
• “ST 2110 Monitoring the Future of Live Remote Production,” Kevin Salvidge, European regional development manager, Leader Europe Ltd. 
• “Automated Inventory Discovery and Management for Hybrid NMOS Compatible & Proprietary Broadcast Infrastructure,” Thomas Gunkel, global market director, Broadcast, Skyline Communications 

In addition to the presentations, AIMS TechFest 2021 will feature face-to-face discussions on current approaches to standards-based IP deployment across the broadcast and Pro AV markets.

For more information, or to register for AIMS TechFest 2021, visit AIMS’ website. 

BOTHWELL, Wash.—The Alliance for IP Media Solutions (AIMS) has opened registration for the AIMS TechFest 2021 Presents: IP Showcase, a free, live virtual event that will take place from May 25-27.

The event, hosted by AIMS in partnership with Advanced Media Workflow Association (AMWA) and the Video Services Forums (VSF), will provide the latest updates on achieving an all-IP ecosystem using open standards.

The IP Showcase will feature live presentations and case studies demonstrating how the SMPTE ST 2110 of standards and the AMWA NMOS technology stack are improving media workflows for deployments of all sizes. Face-to-face breakout sessions with presenters and networking opportunities to discuss current approaches to standards-based IP deployment across broadcast and Pro AV markets will also take place.

For more information, or to register for the AIMS TechFest, visit aimsalliance.org/techfest-2021. 

BOTHELL, Wash.—The Alliance for IP Media Solutions (AIMS) has announced election results for its 2020-2021 board of directors (and without any recounts).

Michael Cronk of Grass Valley has been re-elected as AIMS Chairman of the Board. Also re-elected to their positions were Vice Chair Steve Reynolds of Imagine Communications and Chief Financial Officer Andreas Hilmer from Lawo.

There were two newly elected members to the board: Terry Holton, who has served as AIMS audio chair and currently represents Yamaha in AIMS, and Andrew Starks, director of product management for Macnica.

“With the pace of IP adoption and innovation accelerating, our work to educate the broadcast and Pro AV markets is as—or more—important than ever,” said Cronk. “Terry and Andrew have both contributed enormously to the success of AIMS in promoting a common set of standards for IP media transport across the media and entertainment industry. We are pleased to welcome them to the AIMS board, where they will be invaluable in helping us to carry on this critical work.”

Terms for the board members begin immediately.

For more information, visit www.aimsalliance.org.  

BOTHELL, Wash.—AIMS is set to be a partner with AES on the virtual AoIP summit that is going to take place during the AES Show Fall 2020 Convention.

The AoIP summit, scheduled for Oct. 13, is the first of a series of audio networking summits designed to provide the opportunity to learn from experts and ask questions about audio over IP and related technologies, standards and workflows.

In past years, AIMS has partnered with AES on Audio Networking Pavilions at AES Conventions. But an advantage to the virtual component of this year’s convention, as a result of COVID-19, is that the online event will enable attendees from all over the world to participate, according to AIMS Audio Group Chair Terry Holton.

To participate in the AoIP Summit, an add-on registration to the AES Show Fall 2020 Convention is required. Registration information is available online.

For more information on the AES Show, visit www.aesshow.com.  

BOTHELL, Wash.—The schedule is set for the Alliance of IP Media Solutions’ (AIMS) IP Oktoberfest 2020 virtual event. IP Oktoberfest, taking place from Sept. 29-Oct. 1, will highlight the industry’s progress toward an all-IP ecosystem to support real-world media productions.

AIMS stresses that IP Oktoberfest is not a webinar, but a live event that will provide participants with opportunities for education, interaction and networking in an online environment, which includes a live presentation stage, a virtual pub and meeting and networking areas.

“As a dynamic real-time event, IP Oktoberfest 2020 will offer informative presentations with plenty of opportunity for discussion” said AIMS Chairman of the Board Mike Cronk. “We have built an impressive presentation lineup, with experts from leading technology suppliers and forward-looking media organizations sharing their insights and experiences. We’re confident that any operation moving toward IP will benefit from the remarkable knowledge and expertise our presenters bring to the table.”

The IP Oktoberfest 2020 schedule includes:

• “NMOS—Ready, Steady, Go!” with Gareth Sylvester-Bradley, principal engineer, Sony Europe; Felix Poulin, director, Media Transport Architecture and Lab, CBC/Radio Canada; and Richard Hastie, senior director, Business Development, NVIDIA 
• “Proper Network Designs and Considerations for SMPTE ST 2110” with Robert Welch, principal architect, Arista 
• “Case Study: Dropbox HQ ST 2110” with Kevin Gross, media network architect, David Carroll Associates; and David Carroll, founder, David Carroll Associates 
• “Underpinning the Pyramid: Security in NMOS Systems” with Jonathan Thorpe, principal engineer, Sony 
• “Radio France Transforms Maison de la Radio with Next-Generation IP Technology with BCE France and Orange” with Philippe Mauduit, CEO, BCE France 
• “IEEE Std 1588-2019 (PTP v2.1)—Must-Have or Deal-Breaker?” with Andreas Hildebrand, technology evangelist, ALC NetworX 
• “ST 2110 in the Cloud: Audio Workflows for Mixing, Processing, Communications and More” with John Schur, president, Solutions Group, Telos Alliance 
• “PTP/ST 2059 Best Practices Developed from PTP Deployments and Experiences” with Leigh Whitcomb, architect, Imagine Communications; Mike Waidson, application engineer, Telestream; and Robert Welch 
• “Virtualizing ST 2110—How We Need to Interface ST 2110 in a Virtualized Soft Future” with Andy Rayner, chief technologist, Nevion 

The sessions will run daily Sept. 29-Oct. 1 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. ET. There is no cost to participate.

Register online, or find out more information at AIMS’ website. 

BOTHELL, Wash.—IP Oktoberfest 2020, which AIMS will run this year as a virtual event, is now open for paper presentation proposals, with a submission deadline of Aug. 31.

IP Oktoberfest highlights the progress made toward an all-IP ecosystem that supports today’s real-world media productions. Live presentations will demonstrate how the SMPTE ST 2110 suite of standards and the AMWA NMOS technology stack are improving media workflows. The IPMX set of open standards are also expected to be covered.

“IP Oktoberfest 2020 will give the broadcast and professional AV communities a much-needed opportunity to delve into recent advances in leveraging a common set of IP standards for real-time professional media applications," said AIMS Chairman of the Board Michael Cronk. "The disruption of conventional workflows has accelerated innovation and the deployment of IP-based installations. We anticipate a diverse array of presentations showcasing the many ways that IP infrastructure is being used to achieve critical efficiency and agility in supporting flexible production and playout."

End users, industry associations, solution providers and technology developers are open to pitch presentations that share their knowledge and perspectives on IP developments for today and the future, AIMS shares. All submissions should support the AIMS roadmap.

Final selection will be presented during a live three-day online event, Sept. 29-Oct. 1, hosted on the AIMS virtual platform.

For more information, visit www.ipshowcase.org. 

BOTHELL, Wash.—The Alliance for IP Media Solutions (AIMS) has launched a website for its new Internet Protocol Media Experience (IPMX) proposed set of open standards and specifications.

IPMX is meant to address the Pro A/V industry’s need for a single set of common, ubiquitous, standards-based protocols that ensure interoperability for A/V over IP, according to AIMs. It proposes open standards and specifications built on SMPTE ST 2110 and designed to enable carriage of compressed and uncompressed video, audio and data over IP networks. The proposed roadmap also includes specifications like AMWA NMOS IS-04 for discovery and registration and AMWA NMOS IS-05 for connection management.

Features of the website include outlining the fundamentals of IPMX and its benefits, like the proposed IPMX roadmap, as well as offering up-to-date information on related events and presentations by industry experts.

“This is a one-stop shop for those interested in finding out more about IPMX and how it can be implemented within their operations,” said David Chiappini, working group chair, Pro AV Workgroup at AIMS.

Visit the IPMX website at www.ipmx.io.  

BOTHWELL, Wash.—The Alliance for IP Media Solutions (AIMS) is welcoming a new member to its ranks in the form of Magewell.

Magewell was founded as a manufacturer of video capture devices, but has expanded its technology portfolio to include live streaming, encoding, decoding, conversion and embedded systems for video processing.

“One of our key strategic initiatives is making the transition to IP workflows practical and affordable for our customers,” said Nick Ma, CEO and CTO of Magewell. This includes the adoption of such AIMS supported standards as SMPTE ST 2110 and the new Internet Protocol Media Experience (IPMX) set of open standards, which will be showcased during the upcoming virtual InfoComm conference.

“Increasing AIMS participation by leaders such as Magewell signals a growing understanding of the value that IP brings to both the broadcast/production and Pro AV markets,” said David Chiappini, chair of the AIMS Pro AV Working Group.

For more information, visit www.aimsalliance.org.  

BOTHELL, Wash.—The Alliance for IP Media Solutions (AIMS) said it will showcase the new Internet Protocol Media Experience (IPMX) set of open standards and specifications and how they are apropos for addressing the Pro AV Industry’s need for common, standards-based protocols to ensure interoperability for AV over IP during InfoComm 2020 Connected, June 16-18.

"IPMX is the first and only open-standards approach to AV over IP, and this alone makes our virtual booth at InfoComm 2020 Connected worth a visit," said David Chiappini, working group chair of the AIMS Pro AV Work Group.

"As the Pro AV world increasingly moves toward IP, IPMX provides a flexible, future-proof framework that ensures the interoperability and long-term utility of Pro AV systems. We encourage attendees to stop by to chat live with our experts, learn about the benefits of IPMX and consider joining AIMS and helping to shape the future of AV over IP."

IPMX enables transport and control of compressed and uncompressed video, audio and data over IP networks. Features of special importance to Pro AV installations include support for protected content via HDCP, simplified timing requirements and support for Pro AV signaling like EDID and DisplayID.

InfoComm 2020 Connected is a virtual event that will feature audio-visual product information, training, keynotes and networking opportunities. Registration is available online.

More information is available on the AIMS website.  

With SDI environments under pressure from the need to support higher resolutions and simultaneous delivery to all platforms, broadcasters and production companies are turning to open standards-based IP as their future-ready infrastructure. Not only does IP underpin the smarter workflows needed to meet fast-evolving consumer demands, it also is key in delivering the agility and scalability needed to handle a wide range of applications. From live sports production to fixed facilities, IP infrastructures bring the efficiency and OPEX-based operational models needed to build successful media businesses.

OPEN IP IS CENTRAL TO FUTURE-READY INFRASTRUCTURES

In today’s mediascape, content creators have a growing need for operational and business flexibility and IP allows them to spin up channels and services far more rapidly, providing a level of responsiveness that was previously unavailable.

The work on open standards-based IP interoperability by industry bodies like SMPTE, AIMS and AMWA has gone a long way towards addressing interoperability, price and the need for comparable functionality to SDI environments, contributing to the accelerated deployment of IP-based solutions. New specifications such as JT-NM TR-1001-1 promise to enable much more streamlined and straightforward configuration of SMPTE ST 2110-based systems, making the power of IP more accessible to smaller installations and facilities as well as large ones.

A wide range of products are now available from vendors that offer native IP connectivity—from cameras to production switchers, processing to multiviewers, routers and servers. Broadcasters and media organizations can flexibly select solutions from multiple vendors with the assurance that all products will be compatible with one another.

By deploying open standards-based IP infrastructures, broadcasters, outside broadcast (OB) companies and service providers can deliver the quality of service that clients have come to expect from SDI—with the added benefit of greater scalability and format flexibility. Major OB providers, such as Mobile TV Group (MTVG) have already deployed glass-to-glass open standards-based infrastructures for new trucks and this trend will continue.

THE HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE

Meeting consumer demand for more live content, while budgets remain static, means having to deliver first class content with greater efficiency. The real potential of IP lies in transforming the way production teams work—especially in the live production environment; it can open up smarter ways of working, regardless of where staff are located. Remote/at-home production is just one way that IP can radically shift broadcasters’ approach.

Using IP connections allows cameras and base stations to be separated by very long distances. Once signals are received in the production center, operators can match the cameras using operational control panels (OCPs) and switch the program as they would in a standard live production set-up.

Rather than acting as a like-for-like replacement for SDI, IP opens up new ways of working. Distributed production models, for instance “At-Home” production, allow the cameras to be located at the venue while directors may be on location with the vision mixer, other processing equipment and the rest of the crew in the production studio. IP also makes truly collaborative live production workflows a possibility, allowing production staff to work from any location, even if it’s their home. As smarter, more efficient workflows free staff to focus on higher-impact creative tasks, broadcasters and production companies can leverage the best talent—wherever they are in the world.

As well as bringing the majority of the live sports and event production infrastructure and workflow back to the home studio, this approach allows the same production team and on-screen talent to support multiple, back-to-back games in a day. While the cost savings and ability to ensure consistency across multiple productions is undeniably alluring, the reduction in environmental impact—from sending less kit and crew out on location—is significant and of growing importance to media companies.

THE IP FUTURE IS NOW

Now a maturing technology, price points are coming down and open standards-based IP is no longer a solution reserved for large facilities or premium events with big budgets. A growing number of strong use cases demonstrates that the benefits of IP extend beyond supporting new higher resolutions—without compromising on speed.

The full potential of open standards IP will come to light as it becomes embedded in broadcast and content production infrastructures. Rather than using a new technology to do things in the same way, customers are already beginning to look at how to create new and innovative workflows underpinned by scalable, agile IP infrastructures.

BOTHELL, Wash.—The AIMS roadmap to IP technologies in broadcasting has received an update with the addition of JT-NM Tech Stack Part 1, also known as JT-NM TR-1001-1, the Alliance for IP Media Solutions announced today.

“The JT-NM Tech Stack Part 1 is a critical link in the continuum of standards that are easing the broadcast industry’s transition to IP operations. Now that the industry is seeing broader and more mainstream IP deployments, JT-NM TR 1001-1 will play a key role in making IP installation and operation easier and more straightforward,” said Andy Warman, board member, AIMS.

The JT-NM Tech Stack Part 1, developed by the Joint Task Force on Networked Media (JT-NM), is intended to automate installation and eliminate complexity by providing specifications and guidance aimed at making SMPTE ST 2110 systems easier to deploy and operate, AIMS said.

Using the stack, media and entertainment companies are able to connect new recommendation-compliant equipment to their networks and configure it with less human interaction.

JT-NM TR-1001-1 covers four areas, including:

• The network environment, which defines use of the Precision Time Protocol for time synchronizing IP flows on the network, DHCP for IP address assignment, LLDP for devices to identify themselves to media network switches and DNS-SD for service discovery when using AMWA NMOS IS-04.
• Discovery and registration using AMWA NMOS IS-04 to discover devices on a network and register them with a central registration server.
• Connection management via AMWA NMOS IS-05 for switching control between IP network flows.
• System resource, which defines system-wide constants.

The JT-NM Tech Stack Part 1 will be highlighted at the IP Showcase during IBC 2019, Sept. 13-17, at the RAI Amsterdam. The showcase will be held in Room E106/E107.

More information is available on the AIMS Alliance website.

BOTHELL, Wash.—The Alliance for IP Media Solutions is taking an educational role at InfoComm 2019, announcing that it will have representatives from member companies giving presentations on adopting open standards for AV over IP. The presentations will take place over three days at the AIMS Theatre at booth 375.

AIM will host the educational presentations from 10 a.m.-3:15 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday of the conference and from 10-11:30 a.m. on Friday. The scheduled presentations, which will be repeated throughout the three days, are:

• “Who is AIMS and What is SMPTE ST 2110?” from Andre Testa, director of ASIC/FPGA Engineering at Matrox;
• “NMOS: The Open AV Over IP API” from Andrew Starks, director of product management, Macnica;
• “How Open Standards Like AES67 and ST 2110 Drive Innovation” by Bill Rounopoulos, business development manager, OEM & Partnerships, Ross Video;
• “ST 2110 and Intercomm” from Martin Dyster, vice president of business development-TV for The Telos Alliance

In addition, AIMS members are also slated to participate in the session “Audio and Video Streaming Using Established IP Standards” that will be held on Tuesday, 1-3 p.m., during the show. AIMS members participating in the session, and their topics of focus, are:

• “The Origins of Audio Over IP and the Need for Standards” from Richard Zwiebel, vice president, systems strategy, QSC;
• “There’s Nothing to Be Afraid of With SMPTE ST 2110” by Andrew Starks;
• “The Open Standards-Based Methodfor AV Over IP,” Scott Barella, chief technology officer at Pesa and deputy chairman of AIMS ProAV Working Group;
• “Next-Gen IP for Networked Media—Collision or Convergence?” from Karl Paulsen, CTO, Diversified

InfoComm 2019 takes place from June 8-14 in Orlando, Fla.

LAS VEGAS--This year’s IP Showcase at NAB Show has announced a call for presentations for the event.

The IP Showcase is a joint venture between the Alliance for IP Media Solutions (AIMS), the Advanced Media Workflow Association (AMWA), European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the Society of Motion Picture and Technology Engineers (SMPTE), and the Video Services Forum (VSF).

The submission deadline for speaking proposals is Feb. 25. Speaking times are limited during the four-day exhibition; the selection committee is looking for the following types of presentations:

• Tutorial (basic, intermediate, advanced)

• Case study

• Panel discussion

• Market/business case analysis

• Point-of-view/advocacy

• Standards progress/update

Preference will be given to presentations related to the following technology areas on the Joint Task Force on Networked Media (JT-NM) Roadmap:

• AES67

• SMPTE ST 2110 suite of standards for Professional Media Over Managed IP Networks

• AMWA NMOS specifications such as IS-04, IS-05, IS-07, and IS-08

• Timing and synchronization using SMPTE ST 2059-1/2

• JT-NM TR-1001-1 framework for installing, configuring, and interconnecting equipment

More details and the submission form are available at the IP Showcase’s website.

BOTHWELL, WA.—The Alliance for IP Media Solutions (AIMS) today announced its newly elected 2018-19 board of directors.

Returning for another term are: Michael Cronk, VP of Core Technology at Grass Valley, as AIMS board Chair; Steve Reynolds, Imagine Communications division president, as deputy board chair; Andreas Hilmer, Lawo director of marketing and communications, as CFO; and Andy Warman, Harmonic director of playout solutions. Larissa Görner, CTO-Office & Strategic Products at Net Insight, joins the board as a newly elected member.

In her role as an AIMS board member, Görner will help to foster the adoption of standards-based protocol interoperability over IP in the M&E industry.

AIMS board members are selected annually. Their terms start immediately.

More information is available on the AIMs website.

GLENDALE, CA.—National TeleConsultants (NTC) has joined the Alliance for IP Media Solutions (AIMS), a nonprofit industry group working to foster the adoption of open standards for moving from SDI- to IP-based media networks.

NTC provides strategic technology and operations consulting, engineering design, software development, and systems integration to the media and entertainment industry. Clients rely on NTC's industry expertise to select, customize, develop, and deploy innovative advanced technology solutions. 

AIMS comprises broadcast and media companies and technology suppliers working together to promote industry standards for transmitting video, audio, and ancillary information over IP infrastructure in professional applications, as well as products based on those standards.

"Open standards developed by SMPTE, AES, EBU, and AMWA and promoted by AIMS are an important foundation for the transition to all-IP workflows in television production and distribution," said Ken Long, NTC principal consultant, who led an NTC team that provided systems-integration support for the IP Showcase interoperability demonstration at the 2018 NAB Show and who will represent NTC in the AIMS Technical Working Group. "We believe strongly in the AIMS roadmap, which seeks to tie all those standards together into a single system that benefits all of us."

NTC is expanding its participation in industry-wide activities to accelerate the IP transition.

"We see IP technology as fundamental to our clients' efforts to meet increasing audience expectations for technical quality while improving flexibility and reducing costs," said Laurie Morse, head of corporate strategy at NTC. "That's why we found it so important to be a part of the charge toward an all-IP world."

AMSTERDAM—The IP Showcase will return to the IBC for the third year in a row, according to several broadcast technical and standards organizations.

The Audio Engineering Society (AES), Alliance for IP Media Solutions (AIMS), Advanced Media Workflow Association (AMWA), European Broadcasting Union (EBU), Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE), and Video Services Forum (VSF) will again host the IP Showcase at the annual IBC Show in Amsterdam, Sept. 14-18.

The Showcase, which started out as the “IP Interoperability Zone” at the 2016 IBC Show, will feature vendors and broadcasters who will provide instructional and case-study presentations and an array of IP-based product demonstrations highlighting the benefits of, and momentum behind, the broadcast industry’s move to standards-based IP infrastructure for real-time professional media applications.

[Read: IP Showcase Returns To IBC2017]

Organizers say the event has been instrumental in helping the industry to galvanize behind the standards-based approach to IP. This is the first IBC show since the publication of documents within the SMPTE ST 2110 Professional Media Over Managed IP Networks suite of standards, the foundational standards for essence-based transmission of video, audio, and metadata.

“The broadcast industry reached a crossroads when it faced the choice of pursuing a standards-based approach to IP or pursuing multiple alternatives and directions,” said Brad Gilmer, executive director of the IP Showcase. “Almost unanimously, the industry chose the standards-based approach, uniting behind SMPTE ST 2110/ST 2059, AES67, and AMWA IS-04/IS-05. As we move from watching the progress of the early adopters into seeing how the industry as a whole will move into the IP transition, the IP Showcase is more important than ever.”

The IP Showcase will feature equipment displays and product demonstrations that emphasize everything industry vendors have achieved in support of IP standards and specifications. The displays will showcase the benefits IP can bring to an operation and will comprise equipment from an estimated 50 vendors — one of the most massive assemblies of interoperable IP products ever. Displays will highlight the benefits of IP signal transport and focus on SMPTE ST 2110-10/20/21/30/31/40, the SMPTE ST 2059 Broadcast Profile for IEEE 1588 Precision Time Protocol (PTP), AES67, and AMWA IS-04/IS-05.

The IP Showcase Theatre will provide an education resource of information about the phases of IP adoption. Vendors, broadcasters, service providers, and integrators alike will highlight their solutions to technical challenges related to the transition from SDI to IP. Choosing from a full slate of presentations on IP technology and installations, professionals ranging from broadcast/IT engineers and CEOs to TV producers can learn how to unlock the full potential of using IP for real-time professional media.

The IP Showcase will take place in rooms E106 and E107 at RAI Amsterdam during the show. More information is available at www.ipshowcase.org.

BOTHELL, WA.—Membership in the Alliance for IP Media Solutions (AIMS) has climbed to 96 companies following the alliance’s merger with the Media Networking Alliance (MNA) late last year, AIMS announced today.

[Read: AIMS And MNA Merge]

"Like AIMS, MNA members were committed to adopting a standards-based approach to interoperability. In their case, it was interoperability between various IP-based audio networks via the use of AES67, and they made tremendous strides toward that goal," said Michael Cronk, AIMS chairman of the board.

[Read: 

More than 20 companies have joined AIMS since the merger, including:

· ALC Networx

· Attero Tech

· Alteros Inc.

· Axis

· BBC

· Bosch

· Digigram

· Direct Out

· DongGuan 3G Audio Technology Co. Ltd.

· Focusrite

· Genelec

· Hangzhou Linker Technology

· Luminex

· LYNX- Technik

· Mellanox

· Merging Technologies

· Ningbo Soundking

· QSC

· Suzhou FITCAN

· TOA

· Ward-Beck Systems

· Wheatstone Corp.

· Yamaha

The AIMS-MNA merger came after nearly two years of collaboration. The merged organization will continue to be called AIMS and will be governed by the AIMS bylaws, the alliance said. AIMS continues to work on common methodologies for transport, registration and discovery, connection management and other areas related to interoperability.

"By merging with AIMS, these companies are having even broader impact on the industries they serve — and they're a driving force behind true industry-wide AV IP interoperability across the broadcast, installed systems, and live sound markets,” said Cronk.

BOTHELL, WASH.—The Alliance for IP Media Solutions will set itself down at the IP Showcase in the Central Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center for the duration of the 2018 NAB Show. As one of the showcase’s sponsor, AIMS will highlight progress on the move toward uniform IP interoperability.

The IP Showcase is being set up as a one-stop shop for NAB attendees to understand using IP for real-time media. The booth will highlight key technologies and offer seven demonstration areas focused on IP workflows: format flexibility from SD to UHD; simplifying discovery and registration with AMWA IS-04 and IS-05; compatibility between AES67 and SMPTE ST 2110-30; audio/video lip sync and handling of multichannel audio; design of deterministic IP systems with COTS IP switches using SMPTE ST 2110-21; SDI and IP conversion and harmonized timing with SMPTE ST 2059; and system resiliency and protection from data loss using SMPTE ST 2022-7.

AIMS’ additional plans for showcasing IP include an “IP in Action” wall, which will display information about reference sites that use IP technology on the AIMS roadmap. The organization also plans to demonstrate IP’s real-world power with an all IP-production room broadcasting live during the show. AIMS members will also be making presentations in the IP Showcase Theater.

Furthermore, AIMS members are slated to present 10 papers during the NAB Show covering a range of topics for media-over-IP workflows. Thirty AIMS members will also have AIMS-branded sections of their booths.

AIMS will be located at booth C12634 during the 2018 NAB Show, which runs from April 7-12 in Las Vegas.