The Television Academy Foundation is partnering with Best Buy to offer “Skill-Building and Career Readiness program,” which will provide the academy’s first Production Assistant Training program for high school students in Los Angeles-area communities.

The 10-week program launches at two locations: Best Buy Teen Tech Centers at Weingart East Los Angeles YMCA in Boyle Heights and North Stars YMCA Teen Tech Center in North Long Beach, Calif.

The free, after-school program encompasses a 10-week curriculum beginning this month, providing students with a comprehensive, hands-on introduction to careers in television production with a focus on preparing participants for entry level production assistant (PA) roles and exploring long-term career pathways across the entertainment industry.

Students will learn directly from industry professionals—including PAs, production coordinators, assistant directors, production managers, producers, location managers and production accountants—who will provide insight into day-to-day responsibilities and career advancement. Field trips to both scripted and unscripted television productions will give students an opportunity to experience professional sets firsthand, meet department heads and connect classroom learning to real-world production environments.

Television Academy Board Governor Donny Hugo Herran, a 20-year industry executive, serves as the program’s first instructor. Herran is the author of "The Production Guru: Leadership Principles and Philosophies Across Film, Television and Beyond" and founder of Ellevan Creative Consulting, which includes partnerships with CMG Productions in the U.K.

He is a former senior vice president of physical production at Paramount. Across his tenure Donny acted as executive in charge of production on several landmark scripted series, including Yellowstone, 1923, Landman and MobLand as well as major unscripted franchises, such as The Challenge, Love & Hip Hop, Martha & Snoop's Dinner Party and Siesta Key.

The Production Assistant Training program concludes with a celebration on the Television Academy’s North Hollywood campus where participating students will gather to discuss their newly acquired skills, build professional connections with industry leaders and Television Academy members, and receive a certificate of completion.

Best Buy Teen Tech Centers, an initiative of the Best Buy Foundation, offers young people the opportunity to explore technology, build critical career skills, and learn from supportive mentors. These Best Buy Teen Tech Centers help prepare young people for careers in LA's creative economy.

“We are thrilled to partner with Best Buy to offer this exceptional program to local underserved communities,” said Tina Perry, chair of the Television Academy Foundation. “This curriculum combines industry education, practical production training, professional mentorship and real-world exposure to help students build the knowledge, confidence and connections needed to begin exploring careers in television and entertainment.”

“Every young person deserves the opportunity to build on their strengths and see where their skills can take them,” said Olivia Jefferson, vice president of social impact, Best Buy. “We are proud to support the Television Academy Foundation in connecting more young people in Los Angeles with hands-on experience, mentors and industry relationships that can help them turn their skills into lasting economic opportunity.”

“Opening doors to production jobs helps shape a more dynamic and representative entertainment industry,” said Herran. “I’m proud to lead the inaugural Production Assistant Training program, supported by Best Buy’s generous grant, and to prepare aspiring crew members to help them thrive behind the scenes.”

VANCOUVER—Netskrt, a content delivery network built for high-concurrency streaming events, has joined Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) Global CDN Connect. The planned collaboration is expected to combine dedicated connections to OCI with Netskrt’s global network to help streaming providers deliver content more reliably and keep costs predictable as viewer demand grows.

Netskrt will use OCI Global CDN Connect to retrieve content stored in OCI Object Storage over dedicated connections, reducing exposure to congestion on the public internet. Eligible transfers in supported regions are expected to carry no OCI data egress charges, subject to supported regions and onboarding requirements, which is expected to lower the cloud cost of moving content into Netskrt’s network for delivery to viewers.

“Viewers expect exceptional streaming quality, whether they’re watching a championship game live or catching up on a favorite series,” said Siegfried Luft, co-founder and CEO, Netskrt. “For live sports, millions of viewers can arrive at once, putting enormous pressure on the networks serving them. Netskrt brings delivery capacity closer to those audiences, including inside their internet service providers’ networks. Our expanded collaboration with Oracle is expected to connect that reach with cloud infrastructure to help streaming platforms deliver a reliable viewing experience when demand is at its highest.”

The collaboration is expected to help streaming providers better serve audiences across live sports, event replays, films, and series, according to Netskrt. OCI Global CDN Connect is expected to give providers flexibility to use Netskrt on its own or within a multi-CDN strategy, depending on their audiences and delivery needs.

“Streaming providers need reliable delivery and predictable costs as their audiences grow,” said William Choe, group vice president, networking and edge, Oracle Cloud Infrastructure. “OCI Global CDN Connect is expected to support both through dedicated connectivity and zero egress charges for eligible transfers. Working with Netskrt is expected to bring those benefits even closer to viewers thanks to the company’s deep deployments in subscriber-facing ISP networks.”

The expanded relationship builds on Netskrt and Oracle’s work on Media Over QUIC (MOQ), including their collaboration at IBC 2026 to demonstrate a coordinated delivery path across independently operated infrastructure. Planned participation in OCI Global CDN Connect is expected to extend the companies’ work together to dedicated cloud-to-CDN connectivity and origin transfer economics.

Bridge Technologies has announced it has joined the MXL initiative, with its tools now accessible via Grass Valley’s AMPP operating system.

Developed in collaboration with the EBU, the Linux Foundation, NABA and others, the Media eXchange Layer (MXL) provides a vendor-neutral open-source layer for IP-native, software-defined media production. Aiming to enable access to a wide range of production tools, AMPP provides an open, cloud-native operating system and virtualized media production platform using MXL as a transport layer for low-latency interoperability.

Leveraging MXL, Bridge has containerized a number of components from its suite of production tools, repackaging and delivering intuitive video and audio monitoring scopes. Independent of hardware, these scopes combine with MXL to minimise reliance on constant network read/write cycles, cutting latency, network overhead and infrastructure costs and driving smarter workflows.

Users are able to deploy audio and video scope features as needed and monitor on-demand fluctuations such-as during major global sporting events.

Matt Yates, director of strategic alliances at Grass Valley, said, “Bridge Technologies’ work with MXL is a good example of how an open approach can bring third-party applications into software-based media workflows. With AMPP OS now MXL-native, Bridge’s containerized monitoring tools can be accessed within the AMPP environment, giving users greater flexibility in how and when they deploy these capabilities. It also demonstrates the value of bringing technology partners together around a common approach to media exchange.”

Chairman and co-founder of Bridge Technologies, Simen Frostad, said, “The software we create has always been capable of far more—it just needed the right architecture to unlock that potential at scale without introducing configuration complexities. MXL and containerization provide exactly that: a flexible, efficient way to run our best-in-class scopes across larger, more dynamic production environments, without the overhead of dedicated hardware deployments.

“And we’re particularly proud that this is being done through open standards and shared innovation. That’s always been central to how Bridge operates—we’ve never believed in locking others out to secure our own position. We’ve always held that industry progress enables individual success, not the other way around. The MXL project is a natural expression of that philosophy: building better tools and sharing them with the entire industry.”

AUSTIN, Texas—BeckTV, Beam Dynamics, and Providius have announced a collaboration that connects broadcast system design, asset intelligence, and live network assurance. By linking BeckTV’s BeckFlow system documentation, Beam’s Asset Intelligence platform, and Providius’ network assurance, the collaboration gives broadcasters, production organizations, and system integrators a clearer view of their technology infrastructure, from how equipment is deployed and connected to how it is performing in the live environment.

Broadcast organizations have traditionally kept system documentation, equipment records, and live monitoring data in separate applications. Engineering drawings document equipment relationships and signal paths; asset platforms hold ownership and lifecycle information; and monitoring tools show what is happening in the live environment. Connecting those sources gives engineering and operations teams a more complete view of each asset:

• BeckFlow shows signal routing, device connectivity and technical system relationships.
• Beam provides asset, manufacturer, firmware, warranty, licensing, purchasing, and lifecycle information.
• Providius shows the live performance of the network, devices, and services across IP-based broadcast networks.

For example, when Providius identifies a service issue, users can quickly trace the alert to the equipment involved. BeckFlow shows where the device sits and what depends on it, while Beam provides the operational and lifecycle information needed to investigate, maintain, or replace it.

“Each platform understands a different part of the same asset,” said David Kaszycki, CEO and Co-Founder of Beam Dynamics. “Providius shows what is happening, BeckFlow shows where the device sits and how it connects, and Beam provides the operational, financial, and lifecycle context. Connecting those views gives teams the information they need without requiring them to piece the story together across multiple systems.”

The collaboration also supports planned maintenance and longer-term infrastructure management. Before taking equipment offline, teams can review its connections and dependencies, confirm its support and licensing status, and better understand the potential effect on services.

“Our ultimate goal is to answer a fundamental question: Is the network we are operating the network we intended to build?” said Jamie Horner, Senior Vice President, Corporate Strategy at Providius. “BeckFlow establishes the design intent, NVRT provides visibility into the actual operating environment, and Beam completes the picture with physical asset locations, software and firmware versions, and inventory change history. Bringing these perspectives together enables operators to validate the deployed environment against its intended design, identify discrepancies, and determine whether changes are accurately reflected in the system of record.”

The collaboration also extends the value of BeckFlow documentation beyond system design and delivery. Its centralized view of facility infrastructure remains connected to equipment records and operational information throughout the life of the system.

“Understanding how everything connects is fundamental to supporting complex broadcast infrastructure,” said Matt Weiss, Managing Partner and VP of Business Development at BeckTV. “By connecting BeckFlow with Beam and Providius, the system view remains tied to the equipment and its operational status throughout the life of the facility.”

The companies demonstrated the connected approach at IBC2026, with BeckFlow, Beam, and Providius working together across system design, asset intelligence, and live network monitoring.

DALLAS—Mentoring and Inspiring Women in Radio (NIW) and the National Association of Broadcasters Leadership Foundation (NABLF) are reminding women pursuing broadcast technical careers that applications for the 2026 LAUNCH Mentorship Program close on Friday, Oct. 30.

Established in 2023, LAUNCH pairs a rising woman professional with an experienced engineering leader for one-on-one mentorship, technical guidance and professional development. It offers exposure to key areas of broadcast technology, such as Federal Communications Commission compliance, RF systems, automation, IP-based broadcast systems, streaming and digital audio.

To apply for the program, click here.

This year, eligibility for the program was expanded to include women who work for broadcast technology partners and vendors. The yearlong program is sponsored by radio software and workflow-automation company Mr. Master.

LAUNCH is designed to help women strengthen their skills, build professional relationships and prepare for future leadership opportunities as they pursue technical certification, advance their engineering careers or expand opportunities in broadcast operations, MIW and NABLF said. Selected mentees will also be able to attend the 2027 NAB Show in Las Vegas.

For more information, visit the MIW website.

DENVER—The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation this week committed an additional $10 million to the Public Media Bridge Fund aiming to assist local public media organizations improve their financial wherewithal in the wake of the federal government’s 2025 recission of funding.

“Public media stations are trusted community anchors and essential local information infrastructure. Emergency support gave them time to stabilize. Now the priority is durability,” said Maribel Pérez Wadsworth, president and CEO of Knight Foundation. “The Bridge Fund brings the relationships, expertise and practical know-how to help public media organizations improve operations and build strong local partnerships. That work will help ensure they can continue providing trusted local news, culture, education and emergency information to communities across the country.”

The Public Media Company launched the fund in August 2025 with the Knight Foundation making an initial commitment of $10 million. It also provided an additional $3 million directly to at-risk stations. With the contributions from other donors, the fund distributed $26 million in grants to 74 organizations operating 186 radio and TV stations by December 2025.

To date, it has raised $87 million from more than 1,500 donors and has set a goal of raising an additional $38 million to support its latest phase, which aims to strengthen public media organizations for the long term.

“We’re grateful to Maribel Pérez Wadsworth and Knight Foundation for their steadfast support of public media’s mission and service,” said Tim Isgitt, CEO of Public Media Company. “This renewed investment from Knight Foundation will enable the Bridge Fund to help more local public media organizations sustain and evolve their service in a post-CPB era. Knight Foundation’s support will ensure that millions of Americans will continue to have access to public media that informs, connects and inspires communities.”

More information is available on the fund’s website.

BBC has announced its BBC News Channel will stream live on YouTube in the U.K. and United States.

As part of its wider YouTube strategy to extend audience reach, the corporation will make the BBC News Channel available to stream live on the platform in a trial marking what it said was a “significant step in expanding access to trusted, impartial journalism.”

The BBC News Channel is already carried on YouTube TV in the U.S.

The U.K. and U.S. join a growing list of countries where the channel is available on YouTube, including Australia, Kenya, Nigeria, and Poland, the broadcaster said.

Anjali Kapoor, director, AI, innovation and growth for BBC News said, “Audiences increasingly expect news to be available wherever they are, on the platforms they use throughout their day. Launching the BBC News channel on YouTube in the UK and US is an important step in bringing our trusted journalism to even more people. It will make it easier for audiences to access live coverage of the stories shaping our world, while helping us reach new audiences in the places and at the times that work best for them.”

SAN JOSE, Calif.—Adobe and NVIDIA are expanding their partnership, integrating NVIDIA’s AI technology into Adobe tools like Photoshop, Premiere, Substance 3D, Frame.io and Brand Concierge for faster AI-powered creation, production and personalization.

In March, the companies announced their initial partnership. Today’s announcement builds on that, combining Adobe’s creative and marketing workflows, models and technology with NVIDIA’s open models, libraries, research and accelerated computing.

The collaboration includes GPU acceleration for media ingest and intelligence in Frame.io and work related to Substance 3D, Adobe Firefly Foundry and 3D digital twin workflows for enterprise users.

“Creative workflows are more multimodal than ever, with many projects spanning images, video, audio, motion and 3D, making performance critical to helping creatives stay focused on their ideas and craft,” Deepa Subramaniam, vice president, product marketing, creative professionals at Adobe, said. “By partnering with NVIDIA to optimize Photoshop, Premiere and Substance 3D for RTX Spark and accelerating Frame.io in the cloud, we’re delivering the performance creatives need to bring their ideas to life.”

Adobe is bringing the power of the NVIDIA RTX Spark superchip, which NVIDIA launched earlier in October, to its agentic creative applications Photoshop, Premiere and Substance 3D. RTX-accelerated and optimized to take full advantage of RTX Spark’s unified memory and AI compute, these applications deliver up to 2 times faster AI processing, editing, color and effects, helping creatives iterate faster and stay in their creative flow, Adobe said.

Adobe rearchitected Photoshop around GPU-accelerated compositing to make it faster and more responsive for creative tasks, such as removing distractions with the Remove Tool and applying effects like Gaussian Blur and Light Leaks directly on canvas.

Some of the most demanding postproduction workflows in Premiere, from playback and rendering to effects, color and AI-powered tools, are RTX-accelerated and optimized for RTX Spark. This results in real, tangible speed gains for popular audio and video features in Premiere like Enhance Speech and Object Mask, the companies said. For 3D artists using Substance 3D Painter, RTX Spark speeds up the heaviest steps around texturing, they said.

Adobe is also using NVIDIA-accelerated computing to speed cloud media processing and intelligent content discovery for Adobe Frame.io, helping production teams find and use growing media libraries more quickly. The updated Frame.io pipeline uses NVIDIA video acceleration, including NVIDIA NVDEC for hardware-accelerated decoding and NVIDIA TensorRT with CUDA for content preprocessing and embedding generation.

Moving compute-intensive video decoding, preprocessing and embedding generation onto NVIDIA GPUs lets Frame.io process media faster and make it searchable sooner, while supporting more responsive discovery across large content libraries.

Early performance results from selected Frame.io transcode and search workloads show:

• About 5x faster embedding generation.
• 4x to 5x improvement in P95 processing latency.
• About 80% smaller search proxy.

These gains mean uploaded content becomes searchable sooner, larger libraries refresh more efficiently and discovery and review stay frictionless as media volumes grow.

Adobe and NVIDIA also worked together to optimize Brand Concierge using NVIDIA Nemotron open models. This version will be available to enterprise customers later this year.

Adobe and NVIDIA will showcase their latest developments at Adobe MAX, Nov. 10–12 at Miami Beach Convention Center in Miami, Fla.

More information is available on the Adobe and NVIDIA websites.

Adobe MAX registration is available online.

PITTSBURGH—NEP Group today announced the availability of TAG Video Systems' software-based multiviewing, monitoring and QC capabilities through NEP Platform.

Customers can deploy TAG alongside complementary software applications through NEP Platform’s single, secure interface, bringing multiviewing, real-time monitoring and quality control into broader production workflows. TAG Core, the software behind TAG Video Systems’ technology, lets production teams view all of their media formats side by side, monitor them in depth in real time, and analyze signal quality with built-in QC tools.

NEP Platform is built around an open approach to software orchestration, running applications from multiple technology providers on commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) servers. This gives customers the flexibility to run different production applications on common infrastructure, deploying and scaling capabilities up or down as production requirements change, the company said.

“We’re excited to bring TAG’s technology to NEP Platform and become part of its growing software ecosystem,” said Michael Demb, vice president, Product Strategy at TAG Video Systems. “TAG and NEP share a common view of where the industry is headed: toward open, software-defined environments that give customers more freedom to choose the technologies and capabilities that work best for them. By bringing TAG to NEP Platform, production teams get multiviewing for all their media formats side by side, in-depth real-time monitoring, and QC analysis in one place, so they can verify what they put on air with confidence.”

COLUMBIA, Md.—LTN has integrated its LTN Schedule Playout with Sony’s Ci Media Cloud, bringing together cloud-based media management and real-time linear playout.

The integration gives media organizations a streamlined way to access, manage and move content between two environments.

Ci provides cloud-based capabilities for storing, organizing, reviewing and collaborating on media, while LTN Schedule Playout enables media companies to originate, manage and automate full-time linear channels and live programming.

Channel creators can leverage the complementary capabilities of both to access their Ci library from within interface of LTN Schedule Playout, preview available media and seamlessly use assets in seconds.

The workflow also enables automatic transfer of file assets and livestream recordings from LTN Schedule Playout into Ci, establishing a bi-directional connection that reduces manual steps and makes content movement more efficient.

“Media companies need technology that works together without adding another layer of operational complexity,” said Rick Young, senior vice president of Global Products at LTN. “By integrating Ci directly with LTN Schedule Playout, we’re connecting best-in-class cloud media management with proven real-time playout and automation capabilities.”

The integration is already supporting real-world broadcast operations through work with joint customer Public Media Management (PMM), demonstrating how cloud-based media management and real-time linear playout can work together within an operational production environment.

Users can visually browse and preview assets stored in Ci without leaving the LTN environment, rather than relying on conventional object-storage interfaces. Selected content can then move directly into the playout workflow, simplifying file handling while preserving visibility throughout the process.

The collaboration addresses demand from broadcasters, public media organizations and other content owners for interoperable technologies that bridge cloud-based media tools with the real-time infrastructure needed to originate and deliver linear channels for broadcast, pay TV, FAST and streaming platforms.

“Ci is built to make media more accessible and collaborative across increasingly cloud-based workflows. Our work with LTN extends that value directly into linear playout, giving mutual customers a more connected and efficient way to move content from media management through to air,” said David Rosen, vice president of Cloud Applications and Services at Sony Electronics.

More information is available on the LTN and Sony websites.

MCLEAN, Va. and BURBANK, Calif.—Tegna and Disney Entertainment Television have struck a comprehensive multiyear deal that renews station affiliation agreements for all of Tegna's ABC stations.

“Our partnership with Disney Entertainment Television offers viewers an incredible programming lineup that includes the NFL, NBA, SEC football and shows like ‘Dancing with the Stars’ and ‘Grey’s Anatomy,’ anchored by strong local news their communities depend on,” Tegna CEO Patrick Paolini said.

“We’re pleased to extend our successful partnership with TEGNA across these outstanding ABC stations,” Susi D’Ambra-Coplan, senior vice president of affiliate relations at Disney Entertainment Television, said. “Together, we remain committed to serving viewers with trusted local journalism paired with the best in entertainment, sports and national news.”

The deal covers the following stations:

• KBMT, Beaumont, Texas
• KIII, Corpus Christi, Texas
• KVUE, Austin, Texas
• KXTV, Sacramento, Calif.
• WATN, Memphis, Tenn.
• WFAA, Dallas
• WHAS, Louisville, Ky.
• WJXX, Jacksonville, Fla.
• WNEP, Wilkes-Barre-Scranton, Pa.
• WOI, Des Moines, Iowa
• WQAD, Davenport, Iowa (Quad Cities)
• WVEC Norfolk, Va.; and
• WZZM in Grand Rapids, Mich.

NEW YORK—Zixi and TAG Video Systems have extended an integration enabling Zixi to leverage TAG's Content Matching technology.

Together, the platforms will help broadcasters and content owners verify that SCTE-35 markers remain intact across delivery paths and confirm that redundant feeds carry the expected content before a switching error reaches air.

SCTE-35 markers carry the ad avails, program boundaries and regional cues that live distribution runs on, but encoders, transcoders and other processing stages can strip along the way, taking revenue with them. Through the SDK, the Zixi Platform can act on TAG Content Matching results, confirming that the output of a processing chain carries the same content as the input, and measuring the latency between the two.

The Zixi Platform will be able to restore the SCTE-35 markers at their precise, frame-accurate times. That adds to the SCTE-35 control Zixi customers already use for downstream compatibility, regional targeting and dynamic ad insertion.Fingerprinting will also give operators an automated check on redundant feeds.

When two sources match, Zixi can merge them for a seamless switch. When they stop matching, operations teams can catch a switching error before it reaches viewers. The work extends an integration that began in 2020 and has so far focused on monitoring and multiviewing.

This step takes TAG's content assurance capabilities into the delivery path itself. Zixi and TAG will discuss the integration at NAB Show New York, Oct. 21-22 and will be participating in the Local TV Strategies Conference.

More information is available on the Zixi and TAG Video Systems websites.

See TAG Video Systems in booth 607 at NAB New York 2026.

BALTIMORE—Sinclair and New Media will launch The National Press, a new subscription digital news brand delivering reports from 1,200 Sinclair local journalists in over 60 content centers across the country to a national audience.

The National Press will launch on Substack with free and paid subscription tiers. It will also distribute programming via YouTube, podcast networks and social platforms.

The new service will draw on the expertise of Sinclair journalists who know their communities, people and institutions, the station group said. The partnership with New Media, a digital media company founded by former journalists and producers at The Free Press, will bring local stories to a broader audience, connect what’s happening and add context, it said.

“Our journalists cover the communities where national stories begin,” said Scott Livingston, senior vice president of news at Sinclair. “They know the people, the institutions and the history behind these stories. The National Press will give that reporting national reach without losing the local knowledge that makes it valuable.”

Led by award-winning journalist and broadcaster Lyndsay Keith, The National Press will debut three original programs:

• “The National Press”: A daily morning program hosted by Keith that goes directly to Sinclair reporters covering the stories shaping the day. 
• “The National Story”: A weekly deep dive that follows one consequential story beyond the headline. 
• “The National Debate”: A weekly conversation centered on informed, good-faith disagreement. 

The National Press is designed for inboxes, phones, podcasts, video and the web. Subscribers will also receive a daily briefing of the most important local stories shaping America, delivered directly to their inbox every morning.

More information is available on The National Press Substack.

LOS GATOS, Calif.—Netflix has named IMG as its production partner for its coverage of the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.

Netflix is the U.S. and Canadian rightsholder for the 2027 tournament, which will run from June 24–July 25, 2027. IMG will produce coverage of all 64 matches in English and Spanish for U.S. audience and in English and French for Canadian viewers, as well as 100 hours of studio programming featuring top-tier talent and Netflix-exclusive in-tournament announcers, the streaming platform said.

IMG will also support Netflix’s live coverage of the soccer tournament’s final draw on Dec. 11.

“The FIFA Women’s World Cup is one of the fastest-growing events in global sport, showcasing the best football and captivating new audiences worldwide,” IMG president Adam Kelly said. “As Netflix makes its live football debut, we’re excited to help bring this tournament and its extraordinary athletes to new and existing fans in the U.S and Canada. Netflix’s scale, discoverability and storytelling, combined with IMG's best-in-class production expertise, make this a huge moment for football and women’s sport.”

More information is available on the Netflix TUDUM website.

LONDON—Telekom Slovenije, Slovenia’s largest provider of telecommunications and TV services is using Synamedia Iris to enable advertising airtime on international channels to be sold locally.

Managed by TSmedia, a wholly owned subsidiary of Telekom Slovenije Group, the service uses Synamedia Iris ad regionalization technology to replace international ad spots with locally sold advertising for Slovenian audiences. This allows TSmedia to monetize advertising opportunities on international channels that were previously unavailable to the local market.

The service currently supports advertising on AMC and BBC. TSmedia can plan and schedule local campaigns using its existing advertising workflows, while Telekom Slovenije can use its existing TV infrastructure with no changes required to viewers’ set-top boxes.

TSmedia chose Synamedia for its experience in delivering tailored advertising solutions for tier-one operators and its ability to integrate ad regionalization into existing broadcast and advertising workflows.

“Our goal is to provide advertisers with access to high-quality audiences and premium content environments,” said TSmedia managing director Igor Gajster. “Synamedia Iris enables us to effectively connect international television content with local advertising opportunities. With AMC and BBC, we are expanding our TV advertising offering and giving brands new opportunities to engage viewers through relevant and effective campaigns. This marks an important step in the development of our advertising ecosystem, bringing together linear television, digital media and targeted advertising solutions.”

More information is available on the company’s website.

MUNICH, Germany—ARRI, a camera brand usually associated with high-end film production, is going down market with the launch of the new HONOR Magic9 Pro Max smartphone. The launch, part of ARRI’s “Cinematic Imaging Partnership” is the second such smartphone with ARRI’s imaging technology, following the launch of the HONOR Robot Phone last month.

The difference with the new smartphone is that selected elements of ARRI Image Science have been integrated into the Pro Max, which also carries ARRI branding on the device and packaging for the first time, ARRI said.

The HONOR Magic9 Pro Max extends the company’s collaboration with HONOR, an “AI device ecosystem company,” into the flagship Magic Series, adding more ARRI Looks and access to the ARRI Look Library to further establish ARRI Image Science within HONOR’s mobile imaging portfolio.

“The HONOR Magic9 Pro Max gives us an opportunity to introduce up-and-coming cinematographers to the ARRI brand at an early stage in their creative journey,” says David Bermbach, Chief Product Officer of ARRI. “By giving them access to ARRI Image Science and a more cinematic image pipeline from capture through postproduction, we are extending what ARRI has stood for for more than a century: enabling inspiring images with tools, workflows, and expertise that serve the creative vision.”

The co-branding extends to the smallest design details, including a dedicated version of the ARRI logo optimized for precise, miniaturized reproduction next to the phone’s cameras. The device therefore represents more than a technology integration: it is a co-branded expression of cinematic image quality that visibly connects ARRI’s professional imaging heritage with HONOR’s premium mobile Platform.

The HONOR Magic9 Pro Max integrates selected elements of ARRI Image Science across capture, color management, real-time preview, and finishing. Native ARRI LogC3 recording in the ARRI Wide Gamut 3 color space is designed to preserve more usable highlight, shadow, and color information for postproduction, while ARRI Looks allow creators to preview distinctive visual styles at the moment of capture.

The device combines dual 200MP cameras with the HONOR Imaging Chip H1, APV 10-bit 4:2:2 recording, cinematic video functions, cinematic directional microphone, and optional creation accessories including the HONOR Teleconverter G200, HONOR Teleconverter G500, and the HONOR SmallRig Mobile Video Kit, supporting a more consistent path from mobile acquisition to professional postproduction.

ARRI says the launch supports the company’s expansion into Content Creation alongside its established Motion Picture and Live Entertainment businesses.

The HONOR Magic9 Pro Max will initially launch in China, with more markets following shortly thereafter. Product specifications, pricing, color variants, memory configurations, channel availability, and further market information will be announced by HONOR.

NEW YORK—Optimum Communications, Inc. and A+E Global Media have announced an expanded, multi-year distribution agreement that will continue to make A+E’s programming available to Optimum TV customers across the cable operator’s 21-state footprint.

The new deal spans A+E’s full linear portfolio, including A&E, The History Channel, Lifetime, Lifetime Movie Network, FYI, VICE, MHC (Military History Channel), CI (Crime +Investigation), Lifetime Real Women, and The History Channel en Espanol.

“Optimum is committed to delivering a best-in-class entertainment experience that gives customers the content they love with the flexibility, accessibility, and value they expect,” said Keith Bowen, president of news, programming and business services, Optimum. “This new agreement helps us build on that commitment by preserving access to A+E’s entertainment programming that our customers want to watch.”

"Optimum has been a valued partner for many years, and we are pleased to continue our longstanding relationship and bring its customers the distinctive storytelling, trusted brands, and premium entertainment that define A+E Global Media,” added Jane Rice, co-president, distribution, A+E Global Media. “Together, we are committed to delivering high-quality programming wherever and whenever audiences choose to engage.”

AMSTERDAM—Ceeblue, a Dutch-based provider of ultra-low-latency video streaming technology and Australian media technology company Layercake, today announced the expansion of their partnership with the full production rollout of an advanced Digital Rights Management (DRM) framework alongside revolutionary Server-Side Ad Insertion (SSAI).

Building directly upon the integration of Ceeblue’s sub-second WebRTS streaming with Layercake’s orchestration and workflow management platform, Streamcake, the two companies now support studio-grade content protection in live production on sub-second streams.

The upgraded feature set supports both major industry encryption schemes, CENC and CBCS, which unlocks full coverage across the Widevine, PlayReady, and FairPlay DRM ecosystems over DASH, HLS/CMAF, Low-Latency HLS, and WebRTS delivery channels.

Engineered for efficiency and extreme security, the DRM architecture introduces three strategically vital innovations:

• Encrypt Once at Ingest: Encryption metadata is computed and persisted at the origin, eliminating redundant processing and ensuring content is encrypted only once rather than per-output;
• Passthrough at the Edge: Edge and relay nodes forward protected streams without ever holding decryption keys, drastically lowering edge compute costs while materially reducing the key-exposure attack surface, and
• Open Integration Architecture: Built-in trigger hooks allow seamless interoperability with self-managed or third-party KMS/DRM backends, currently supporting Google Secret Manager.

This production capability directly addresses contractual content-protection requirements, unblocking deals for premium tier-1 live sports and entertainment streaming that were previously relegated to much higher latencies by the limitations of HLS/DASH streaming.

Alongside robust content protection, the expanded integration delivers Server-Side Ad Insertion (SSAI). Until now, operators had to choose between latency and monetization. But now, the combination of sub-second delivery, full-fledged DRM, and seamless SSAI running on standard CDNs gives sports and live broadcast operators a huge incentive to go ultra-low latency.

By coupling Streamcake’s automated cloud control plane, which makes management and scaling intuitive and reliable, with Ceeblue’s WebRTS origins, the combined solution delivers targeted value across core verticals:

• OTT Sports & Betting: Eliminates the "spoiler effect" by aligning digital delivery precisely with live play. Feeds delivered under one second expand live-betting windows, combat courtsiding, and protect high-value rights with DRM;
• iGaming & Live Auctions: Provides real-time interactivity to thousands of global users at the same time, allowing hybrid on-site and remote play / bidding. The immediacy of real-time interactivity maximizes Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) and engagement, and ensures auction integrity, and
• Corporate Comms & Live Commerce: Drives interactive corporate town halls over HTTP, which easily traverses strict enterprise firewalls, while empowering live commerce platforms to handle massive viral traffic surges with automatic edge scaling.

The production DRM framework capabilities are available immediately across the integrated Ceeblue and Streamcake deployment options. Customers can deploy the unified solution across major CDNs, including Akamai, Orange CDN, Fastly, and many more.

Visitors to the 2026 IBC Show can see demos at Ceeblue (5.C43) and Layercake Partner Pod on the Grass Valley Stand (9.A01).

CLEVELAND and HILVERSUM, The Netherlands—Telos Alliance and Pluxbox have formed a new partnership that brings Minnetonka Audio ARC (Audio Realtime Control) technology, directly into Pluxbox CoreOC, its software-based operational platform for broadcast and media workflows.

The integration gives Pluxbox users access to ARC, which provides real-time software-based audio processing, within their existing CoreOC environment, using MXL to connect the applications.

This allows broadcasters and media organizations to add advanced audio processing to software-defined workflows without introducing a separate processing layer or changing the way operators work.

“We’re very pleased to work with Pluxbox to bring ARC into the CoreOC platform,” said Markus Hintz, vice president of Business Development at Telos Alliance. “Integrating ARC with Pluxbox via MXL gives broadcasters access to sophisticated audio processing directly within a modern software-based workflow. It’s a practical example of how interoperability can make it easier to build flexible media facilities without adding unnecessary complexity.”

The ARC integration is the first step in a broader collaboration between companies. Other Telos Alliance capabilities planned for integration with CoreOC include Minnetonka Audio UPMAX upmixing, Omnia Forza audio processing and Telos VX broadcast VoIP.

“Integrating Minnetonka Audio ARC into Pluxbox was straightforward because ARC supports MXL, enabling real-time exchange of uncompressed video, audio and metadata within software-defined broadcast and live production environments,” said Caspar Adriani, chief technology officer at Pluxbox. “For our customers, that means access to advanced audio processing without disrupting the workflows they already know. We’re excited to continue working with Telos Alliance and expand what we can offer through CoreOC.”

Caspar Adriani, CTO, Pluxbox, added: “Integrating Minnetonka Audio ARC into Pluxbox was straightforward because ARC supports MXL, enabling real-time exchange of uncompressed video, audio, and metadata within software-defined broadcast and live production environments. For our customers, that means access to advanced audio processing without disrupting the workflows they already know. We’re excited to continue working with Telos Alliance and expand what we can offer through CoreOC.”

The ARC integration is the first step in a broader collaboration between Telos Alliance and Pluxbox. Additional Telos Alliance capabilities planned for integration with CoreOC include Minnetonka Audio UPMAX upmixing, Omnia Forza audio processing, and Telos VX broadcast VoIP.

MONTREAL and NEW YORK—Haivision has announced that it is integrating Chyron LIVE into its live video contribution ecosystem, simplifying camera-to-cloud live production. Chyron LIVE is Chyron’s cloud-native platform for vision mixing, broadcast-grade graphics, data display, remote commentary, and illustrated replay. The joint solution will be showcased at IBC2026.

The combined solution will allow broadcasters to capture, transport, and contribute high-quality live video from virtually any location into Chyron LIVE, streamlining live production workflows while delivering the performance, reliability, and ease of use required for professional broadcasting.

Built for sports, news, and live event productions, the integrated workflow combines Haivision's live video contribution products, including Haivision mobile video transmitters (Falkon, Pro, and Air) and Makito video encoders and decoders, with Chyron LIVE, powered by Chyron’s PRIME Platform which is developed natively on AWS. The combined solution enables broadcasters to reliably contribute live video over cellular networks, the internet, satellite, and IP networks directly into cloud-based production workflows, according to the companies.

“Broadcasters are increasingly looking for flexible, cloud-native production workflows that simplify live content acquisition,” said Nikole McStanley, senior vice president of product, Chyron. “Together with Haivision, we're enabling customers to bring high-quality live video into Chyron LIVE more efficiently, giving production teams greater flexibility to produce live content from anywhere with ease.”

Visitors to IBC2026 can see the integrated workflow firsthand at Haivision (2.B32) and Chyron (7.A23) .

ATLANTA—The Orlando Magic NBA franchise and Gray Media have announced a deal that will see Gray stations in Gainesville, Panama City, and Tallahassee broadcast about 70 games during the 2026-27 season.

All regular-season games, excluding exclusive national telecasts, will be broadcast over-the-air on digital subchannels of WTGB (Channel 34.3) in Gainesville, WJHG (Channel 7.6) in Panama City, and WCTV (Channel 6.3) in Tallahassee.

Each subchannel is affiliated with the 365BLK network and is also available on local cable systems.

In addition, select games will air on Gray’s ABC, NBC, CBS, and MyNetwork stations in these markets. A complete station lineup and broadcast schedule will be announced later.

“We are excited to partner with Gray Media to bring Magic basketball to Gainesville, Panama City, and Tallahassee,” Magic President of Business Operations Charlie Freeman said. “Adding Gray to our lineup will provide Magic fans a direct connection to the team all season long.”

Added Gray Chief Operating Officer Sandy Breland: “Gray knows that Orlando Magic fans in Gainesville, Panama City, and Tallahassee will love watching the full season of the Magic free, over-the-air. This relationship with the Magic builds on Gray’s other successful NBA partnerships and we look forward to continuing to build on this relationship with the Magic.”

The Magic’s broadcast team will comprise full-time play-by-play announcer Dante Marchitelli; analyst Jeff Turner, a former Magic forward; and Kendra Douglas, who is entering her fourth season as team reporter.

The Magic said that they will also announce a direct-to-consumer streaming partner in the near future.

LIEGE, Belgium and MONTREAL—EVS and Matrox Video are combining their respective platforms to accelerate the broadcast industry's transition to software-defined live production. Aligned with the European Broadcasting Union's Dynamic Media Facility (DMF) initiative, the collaboration pairs EVS's orchestration and workflow management capabilities with Matrox ORIGIN’s software-defined media transport and processing to help broadcasters build more flexible, resource-driven production environments.

DMF architectures enable production resources to be provisioned and assigned according to operational needs rather than permanently tied to individual workflows or dedicated hardware.

Matrox ORIGIN gives EVS a software-defined media processing foundation designed to run broadcast workloads on standard compute infrastructure, while supporting open, interoperable approaches including the EBU’s Media eXchange Layer (MXL) and IPMX. Its scalable architecture allows media processing resources to be deployed and allocated dynamically, aligning closely with the resource-driven principles of the DMF. As an OEM building on Matrox ORIGIN, EVS can focus its engineering investment on the orchestration, automation, and operational layers where it delivers differentiated value to broadcasters.

EVS provides the orchestration and operational layer that enables broadcasters to align infrastructure resources with evolving production requirements. Through Production Resource Manager (PRM), a key component of EVS's Flexible Control Room solution, processing resources can be dynamically deployed, configured, and reconfigured based on the specific needs of each production. This allows broadcasters to maximize infrastructure utilization, increase operational agility, and reduce total cost of ownership, according to the company.

Complementing this approach, EVS’s Tactiq UI provides a modern, workflow-driven user experience that abstracts the complexity of the underlying technology stack, allowing operators to focus on producing content rather than managing infrastructure. In parallel, Cerebrum delivers the same simplification for engineering and operations teams, providing a unified control layer across SDI, IP, on-premises, and cloud environments.

Today, EVS' Cerebrum broadcast control and orchestration platform integrates with Matrox Video's Avio 2 IP KVM extenders and ConvertIP baseband to IP converters and encoders/decoders, enabling centralized control and routing across IP-based production environments.

The companies said they will continue collaborating on technologies that advance the industry's transition "toward more dynamic, scalable, and software-defined production infrastructure."

BERLIN—TiVo today unveiled significant enhancements to its TiVo OS media platform, expanding generative AI-powered content discovery experiences, more free streaming content, enhanced sports experiences, interactive commerce capabilities and platform optimizations that the company says could reduce costs for smart TV manufacturers.

TiVo, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Xperi, also announced the appointment of Tal Bone as senior vice president and general manager of TiVo OS. Bone, who brings more than a decade of experience building and scaling global smart TV and entertainment platforms most recently served as vice president of global product and chief technology officer at VIDAA, Hisense's smart TV operating system.

The company made its announcements in advance of the the IFA 2026 tech show, which takes place Sept. 4-8 in Berlin.

Expanded TiVo Channels Offering
TiVo announced that it has added hundreds of new global and local FAST channels to its TiVO Channels platform and added a new mini guide for faster channel navigation and personalized content carousels that offer relevant programming based on viewers’ preferences.

TiVo has also enhanced sports discovery across search, recommendations and the home screen on its OS, allowing viewers to more easily discover, follow, and access live games and sporting events through improved surfacing of sports content and real-time event promotion directly within the TiVo OS experience.

And in a nod to expanding its presence overseas, particularly in Europe, TiVo also announced that its OS now supports DVB-I, a protocol that adds IP capability to the DVB standard. DVB-I enables broadcasters to deliver television content over the internet while simplifying access for consumers. The enhancement allows viewers to discover and watch local broadcast channels without requiring a traditional aerial or antenna.

TiVo has also significantly reduced the TiVo OS memory footprint, enabling deployment on devices with as little as 1 GB RAM and 4 GB eMMC. These improvements are designed to help reduce bill-of-material costs, allow for more efficient hardware configurations, and expand deployment opportunities across a wider range of smart TVs and connected entertainment devices, the company said.

AI Enhancements
TiVo is also collaborating with IRCODE in a partnership that now combines AI and computer vision technologies to recognize on-screen content and enable immediate viewer interaction on its OS, unlocking “new opportunities for commerce, content discovery, advertising and companion experiences, allowing consumers to engage with content in entirely new ways while creating new monetization opportunities for partners,” according to the company.

TiVo said it plans to implement the soon-to-be released AI-powered discovery product, Agent TiVo, which is designed to enable consumers to navigate entertainment through natural conversation and help them discover content more intuitively and efficiently. Rather than relying on traditional keyword searches, viewers will be able to describe what they're looking for and receive personalized recommendations and guidance, creating a richer and more engaging content discovery experience, the company said.

SAN ANTONIO—The San Antonio Spurs have announced a deal with the sports entertainment platform DAZN that will make it the team’s new direct-to-consumer media partner.

As part of the deal, which begins with the 2026-27 season. DAZN will serve as the exclusive direct-to-fan destination for Spurs games, airing all regular season games not selected exclusively for national broadcast, plus all preseason contests and team-produced original programming.

The Spurs also reported that they will also offer 22 games over-the-air through a soon-to-be-announced local broadcast partner.

“Partnering with DAZN gives Spurs fans an easy and innovative platform to follow Spurs game action and additional behind-the-scenes highlights,” said Frank Miceli, chief commercial officer at Spurs Sports & Entertainment. “This partnership expands access to Spurs basketball and original content across our home broadcast market while creating more ways for fans to connect with the team. We’re excited to work with DAZN to deliver an engaging viewer experience beginning with the 2026-27 season.”

“The San Antonio Spurs are an iconic sports brand with deep roots in their community,” added Shay Segev, CEO of DAZN Group. “DAZN’s partnership with the Spurs is another important step in our strategy to build the leading entertainment destination for sports fans in the United States. Across the country, we’re partnering with top-tier teams and rights holders to help them strengthen direct relationships with their audiences through a modern, flexible viewing experience. The Spurs share our commitment to innovation and fan engagement, and together, we look forward to bringing Spurs basketball and premium team content to local fans."

As part of the deal, the Spurs will oversee and manage the full production of all games.

The subscription service, which will launch in the coming weeks, will be available throughout the Spurs home broadcast market, which includes full coverage across Central, South and West Texas.

DAZN noted that fans who become Official Spurs Fan Club members by Wednesday, Sept. 9 are eligible for an exclusive subscription discount. A Monthly Pass will be available for $19.99, while a Season Pass will cost $119.99. Spurs season ticket members will receive a 20% discount on Season Pass subscriptions.

DAZN will also offer its Ultimate Tier with incremental benefits including a 25% off one-time discount code to the Spurs Fan Shop in addition to alternate feeds and camera angles, and multi-view capabilities, enhancing the fan viewing experience.

Monthly Pass Ultimate will be available for $24.99 and Season Pass Ultimate will be available for $139.99.

DAZN will also distribute select Spurs Sports & Entertainment programming, including San Antonio FC matches and NBA G League Austin Spurs games.

More information more about the San Antonio Spurs on DAZN and to sign up to be notified when subscription access becomes available can be found at DAZN.com/Spurs.

EverPass Media has announced a multi-year distribution agreement with Netflix that will bring Netflix's NFL content to commercial establishments nationwide.

The agreement builds on the existing agreements between EverPass and Netflix, which has delivered NFL Christmas Day games on Netflix over the past two seasons and distributed other Netflix-exclusive live boxing events to bars and restaurants.

Through the expanded agreement, commercial venues will have access to Netflix's full NFL slate.

The 2026 lineup includes the NFL's Week 1 Melbourne game, the first-ever Thanksgiving Eve game, two Christmas Day matchups, a Week 18 game and NFL Honors, the league’s annual awards show during Super Bowl week.

“Netflix continues to bring some of the NFL’s biggest moments to fans, and we're excited to expand our partnership to make those events available to commercial businesses across the U.S.,” said Alex Kaplan, CEO of EverPass Media. “Digital distribution has fundamentally changed how audiences access content, and EverPass was built to help commercial businesses keep up with that evolution. By providing a simple, authorized way to access premium live events, we help bars, restaurants and other venues deliver the games that matter most to customers. Adding Netflix’s NFL live events to EverPass further strengthens our offering, giving establishments access to even more must-see events that drive engagement and create memorable experiences.”

Through EverPass, commercial businesses will have access to the following NFL games and events on Netflix during the 2026 season:

• Week 1 (Melbourne): San Francisco 49ers vs. Los Angeles Rams – Thursday, September 10, 2026
• Week 12 (Thanksgiving Eve): Green Bay Packers vs. Los Angeles Rams – Wednesday, November 25, 2026
• Week 16 (Christmas Day): Green Bay Packers vs. Chicago Bears – Friday, December 25, 2026
• Week 16 (Christmas Day): Buffalo Bills vs. Denver Broncos – Friday, December 25, 2026
• Week 18 (Final Week of the Regular Season): Saturday, January 9, 2027
• 2027 NFL Honors: TBD Super Bowl week

Under a separate multi-year agreement with EverPass, DirecTV for Business will market, sell and distribute these NFL games and events, along with other premium sports programming available through EverPass, to commercial customers.

The deal comes in the wake of recent news that EverPass has agreed to be acquired by the sports entertainment platform DAZN.

The acquisition, announced August 26, will bring together EverPass' leading U.S. commercial sports distribution capabilities with DAZN's global scale, premium content portfolio, established international commercial distribution and technology capabilities. The transaction is expected to close following receipt of required regulatory approvals.

CLEVELAND—Telos Alliance will highlight its latest product line for TV, streaming, and radio at the 2026 IBC Show, Sept. 11-14 at the RAI Amsterdam.

Visitors to Stand 8.D37 will find two European product debuts as well as major updates and additions across intercom, live production audio, and file-based audio workflow tools.

New this year for Jünger Audio flexAI, is flexAI CastCompanion. Powered by JAIC, the Jünger Audio Intelligent Companion, flexAI autonomously manages live voice sources that may arrive at very different levels, with varying quality and background noise. JAIC analyzes the incoming audio and helps optimize parameters, while Jünger’s deterministic algorithms handle the actual processing, delivering predictable latency and broadcast reliability. CastCompanion combines automixing, AI-assisted de-noising, voice enhancement, and loudness management to create consistent, intelligible mixes without an operator constantly riding levels.

Telos Alliance will show new flexAI support for 12G-SDI and NDI and will demonstrate how flexAI now integrates with the TVU MediaMesh cloud-native live production platform, allowing producers to extend Jünger’s powerful processing ecosystem across hardware, server, IP, partner, and cloud workflows.

The company will also highlight new Infinity MK2 hardware panels for the Telos Infinity IP intercom range. Designed for use in the studio and in the field, the larger buttons feature bright TFT displays, programmable colors, flexible Talk/Listen controls, three shift pages, a Reply to Last Caller function, and four-way “compass” controls.

For sports commentators, Infinity VCP Virtual Commentator Panel now integrates directly with Elgato Stream Deck+, adding compact physical controls to its browser-based commentary environment without requiring a traditional dedicated commentary box. VCP also uses adaptive bitrate control to help maintain contribution audio intelligibility and network reliability.

Also making its debut in Europe is Axia Pulsar, a compact AoIP console, that features an 8-fader Master Module that uses dual operating layers to provide access to 16 inputs; an optional Expansion Module gives physical access to all 16 faders. Axia Pulsar features bright TFT displays, touch-sensitive encoders, spill-proof 100mm motorized faders, programmable controls, Show Profiles, and integrated EBU R128 loudness metering. Powered by the 2RU StudioCore engine, the compact Pulsar integrates directly into all Livewire and AES67 environments. Optional Pulsar Soft browser-based control also makes remote operation possible from a computer, tablet, or smartphone, according to Telos Alliance.

Minnetoka AudioTools Server v7 will debut at IBC, with new A.I./machine-learning modules that include Language Detection, Dialog Intelligibility, and a powerful new tool, AudioTools Source Separation by AudioShake. This new subscription module can extract dialogue, music, and effects from finished program audio to give broadcasters, studios, streaming providers, and content owners new ways to work with existing material when original multitrack sessions are unavailable or incomplete.

Dialogue can be isolated for dubbing or intelligibility enhancement, music can be replaced for creative or licensing reasons, and clean M&E tracks can be created for alternate-language versions and new distribution opportunities. Because source separation runs inside AudioTools Server, it can also be combined with existing loudness, QC, transcoding, language, and delivery processes to create repeatable, automated workflows at scale.

For radio, the Omnia XII will mark its European debut at the show. Its new processing architecture combines wideband AGC, five bands of intelligent multiband AGC and compressors, six bands of multiband limiting, smart dynamic EQ, refined bass management, and a new “Clemenza” clipper, designed to deliver competitive loudness without the distortion and listener fatigue that can come with aggressive processing.

Along with products featured at IBC, Telos Alliance will showcase its work with industry partners to advance interoperability and more consistent audio workflows.

As part of the IBC Accelerator “Crystal Clear” project, Telos Alliance is collaborating with Nugen Audio, RTW, Steinberg, Fraunhofer IDMT, Channel 4, BBC, ITV, and others on standardized dialogue intelligibility measurement across the industry.

Telos Alliance will take part in Grass Valley's AMPP demo, with Minnetonka Audio ARC loudness processing and UPMAX up/down/cross-mixing interconnected via MXL to enable higher-quality, lower-latency audio processing within AMPP workflows.

Telos Alliance will also participate in Qvest’s Dynamic Media Facility demonstration, a portable, multi-vendor production environment handling live feeds, real-time audio and video processing, Dolby Atmos upmixing, signal monitoring, and multiviewing. Telos Alliance processing will operate alongside tools from other vendors, with MXL providing the common connection between applications. The demo shows how MXL can simplify integration and reduce latency across on-prem and cloud workflows.

Telos Alliance will be in Stand 8.D37.

OSLO, Norway—Bridge Technologies has announced that its flagship VB440 production probe now supports monitoring of Blackmagic Design's IP10 codec and will provide demos in its booth as well as Blackmagic’s booth at the upcoming 2026 IBC Show, Sept. 11-14 at the RAI Amsterdam.

IP10 is Blackmagic's lightweight, low-latency codec designed to address a specific challenge in ST 2110 environments: fitting high-frame-rate Ultra HD video through a 10 GigE connection while maintaining broadcast-quality, 10-bit 4:2:2 colour performance.

With a latency of just eight-pixel samples and an extremely small FPGA footprint, IP10 is license-free and open, allowing broadcasters to deploy ST 2110 workflows without the expense of 25GE or 200GE switching infrastructure. For broadcasters operating in OB trucks, remote locations, or smaller facilities where high-speed network infrastructure is not available, IP10 offers a pragmatic path to uncompressed-quality IP production over widely available 10GE links, Bridge said.

The VB440 itself is equipped with dual 200 GigE interfaces, capable of handling uncompressed ST 2110 streams at the highest data rates. But in contexts where the wider network infrastructure is operating on smaller bandwidth channels—with IP10 being used precisely to address that limitation—the VB440's native support for the codec means engineers can monitor IP10-encoded streams with the same depth of visibility they expect from uncompressed workflows, according to the company. This ensures that even in bandwidth-constrained environments, the VB440 remains a viable and powerful monitoring presence.

Facilities using IP10 as an underlying codec will thus have full access to the extensive range of tools present within the VB440, which itself represents a uniquely powerful production tool that combines both network monitoring and a full suite of practical production tools within a single RU appliance, thus drastically truck roll weight, energy consumption and the cost and space associated with screens and cabling, Bridge said.

The demos will take place at Bridge Technologies stand (Booth 1.A71) and Blackmagic’s (7.C49) during the show.

MONTREAL—Encompass Digital Media has launched Altitude Playout Plus, a software-defined channel origination platform it has developed with Grass Valley to help broadcasters manage live, late-changing and complex programming.

Encompass Digital Media provides managed media services to broadcasters, networks, sports leagues, federations, and OTT platforms worldwide, supporting channel origination, content processing, live event distribution and delivery.

The new service combines Encompass’s managed services, Media Cloud and Altitude Flow, with Grass Valley AMPP and Playout X, creating an integrated workflow from media supply chain operations through to channel origination and transmission. Channel 4 has selected Altitude Playout Plus to support its channel portfolio under a new multi-year managed playout agreement, with services scheduled to launch in 2027. Channel 4 is the second major U.K. public broadcaster to select the Encompass and Grass Valley platform, following the successful launch this month, according to the companies.

Altitude Playout Plus has been developed for channels where schedules and content can change close to and during transmission, such as live sports, news and entertainment. Alongside playout, the architecture supports live contribution, event management, recording and fast-turnaround workflows.

Grass Valley’s AMPP provides the software-defined production and playout foundation, with Playout X supporting channel origination. Encompass integrates these capabilities with Altitude Flow, its media supply chain and control platform, while its web-based Playout Director brings together the operational data needed to manage live programming and late changes.

This distributed architecture can be deployed across cloud and on-premises infrastructure and operated from multiple Encompass locations, the companies said. Services for the UK public broadcasters will be delivered from Encompass facilities in London and Riga, providing geographic diversity while giving operational teams flexibility over where resources are deployed.

The architecture also gives Encompass access to additional AMPP applications when specialist capabilities are required. Resources can be introduced according to the requirements of a channel or event rather than maintained permanently for workflows that may only be used periodically.

Grass Valley says the deployment demonstrates how its Dynamic Media Facility approach supports established broadcast services across hybrid, geographically distributed infrastructure. AMPP applications can operate alongside existing systems and Encompass technology without requiring the service provider or its customers to standardize operations around a single deployment location.

The two companies have completed extensive design work ahead of the Channel 4 transition to ensure the platform meets the broadcaster’s technical and operational requirements.

Visitors to the 2026 IBC Show can learn more about Grass Valley AMPP, Playout X and the Dynamic Media Facility at the company’s booth (9.A01), Sept. 11-14 at the RAI Amsterdam.

NEW YORK—Elon Musk’s social media platform X has launched "NFL Gametime on X," a new fan experience that brings real-time scores and stats, official team content, news, creators and the ongoing NFL conversation together into a single destination that is integrated throughout the platform.

“For years, X has been a key platform for NFL fans to connect, react and engage around every NFL moment,” said Brent Lawton, vice president of media strategy and business development, NFL. “We’re excited to deepen our partnership with NFL Gametime on X, allowing our fans to have official scores and stats, team content, and the conversation together in one place.”

Developed in partnership with the NFL and designed by Musk’s SpaceXAI, NFL Gametime on X is designed to bring fans closer than ever to this season’s on-field action. It features two complementary experiences built for avid NFL fans:

• NFL Timeline pinned alongside For You and Following tabs at the top of the timeline, fans can follow news, highlights, creator takes and fan reactions all in one prominent feed for the entire season.
• Gametime Hub delivers official NFL data alongside the conversation in the NFL Timeline. Fans can track scores and key stats in real time while staying connected to everything happening on X.

The social media platform noted that two out of three U.S. users are already on X and that NFL Gametime on X opens powerful new opportunities for brands and advertisers to reach highly engaged fans.

“NFL Gametime on X turns football fandom into a seamless opportunity for brands,” said Monique Pintarelli, head of global advertising, SpaceXAI. “Advertisers can now reach highly passionate fans across the entire funnel, from awareness and cultural conversation to real-time engagement during live games, all on X. Together with the NFL, we’re giving brands a powerful, authentic way to show up throughout the season.”

NFL Gametime on X is now live. Follow @Sports and @XBusiness for more updates.

OAKLAND, Calif.—Truthset announced an agreement with FreeWheel, a global technology platform for CTV advertising, that will allow advertisers to activate its independently validated Data Rated Audiences (DRAs) across the FreeWheel CTV advertising ecosystem.

The agreement provides advertisers with more accurate and consistent audience activation, while reducing wasted impressions and improving outcomes, the two companies said.

"As CTV continues to scale, the industry needs a more reliable way to connect high-quality audience data to premium video inventory without adding complexity for advertisers or publishers,” said Michelle Eule, executive director of Data and Measurement at FreeWheel, which is owned by Comcast. “This integration helps solve that challenge by giving advertisers and publishers greater accuracy and higher quality audience data across their campaigns.”

The integration allows advertisers to match Truthset’s Data Rated Audiences or DRAs, which are multi-sourced from participating members of its Data Collective and independently scored, to FreeWheel Identity Network. By embedding Truthset’s DRAs into the identity matching and activation process, advertisers can achieve more accurate targeting across premium CTV inventory. Ultimately, advertisers gain greater confidence they're reaching the right people and households to drive stronger campaign performance.

Initially, the integration will support audience activation through FreeWheel's Advertiser Suite, including FreeWheel Buyer Cloud (formerly Beeswax), and Curation Hub, , with broader availability across FreeWheel's unified audience marketplace planned.

This direct integration builds on Truthset's recent partnerships with The Trade Desk, Magnite, Yahoo and Databricks, where Data Rated Audiences are being 1:1 matched to IDs to ensure accuracy is maintained throughout platform and publisher activation. Together, these integrations advance the open web toward end-to-end validation, enabling advertisers to achieve walled garden-level performance while retaining the flexibility of programmatic advertising.

"Premium CTV inventory commands premium pricing, making audience accuracy more important than ever," said Gregg Galletta, President of Truthset. "We’re seeing a shift towards creating a more validated path between audience creation and media activation, to bring walled garden accuracy to the open web."

PARAMUS, N.J.—Sony Electronics and Vitec today announced a strategic global collaboration targeting corporate environments, entertainment venues, hospitality, healthcare, and public facilities by integrating Sony’s Bravia professional displays with Vitec’s IPTV and digital signage platform. The collaboration delivers an end-to-end IPTV and signage ecosystem that enhances visual experience and eliminates the need for external media players, offering a simpler-to-deploy, native Android-based app for Sony’s displays, the companies said.

By integrating Sony’s Bravia professional displays with Vitec’s Avedia IPTV and digital signage platform, the combination offers a player-less IPTV solution directly to the display’s system-on-a-chip (SoC). The Android-based Bravia professional display’s deployment tools offer smooth deployment of Vitec’s Avedia player software directly onto Sony displays without the need for additional hardware. This all-in-one approach reduces installation complexity, streamlines management, and lowers the total cost of ownership for end users, the companies said.

The combined technology, orchestrated by Vitec’s CMS can support thousands of displays—covering a wide range of screen sizes—while maintaining centralized control. From live IPTV channels to interactive signage and targeted advertising, users can adapt content in real time to maximize engagement and revenue opportunities.

“By combining Sony’s world-class display technology with Vitec’s powerful IPTV and signage platform, we are delivering a game-changing solution across many verticals,” said Rik Willemse, Head of Professional Display Solutions Europe, Sony Europe. “This collaboration allows operators and end users to create dynamic, engaging environments while simplifying installation and reducing operational complexity,” said Rich Ventura, Vice President, Professional Display Solutions America, Sony Electronics Inc.

This integration provides robust performance even in large-scale deployments with demanding requirements. Centralized content control, redundancy features, and support for the latest security standards ensure that any setup can rely on the system for mission-critical operation with end-to-end content protection.

“This strategic global collaboration between Vitec and Sony marks the beginning of an evolving collaboration focused on delivering innovative, secure, and scalable IPTV and digital signage solutions worldwide. By integrating our technologies and expertise, we are committed to providing customers with seamless, future-ready platforms and workflows that address the diverse needs of modern organizations,” said Eli Garten, Senior Vice President, Global IPTV and Partner Solutions for Vitec.

In addition to IPTV and digital signage solutions, Vitec’s end-to-end offering includes head-end encoding and streaming, IP gateways and video wall systems to manage, distribute and display content across using any network.

GENEVA, Switzerland—GlobalM today announced that it is integrating its GMX software-defined media platform with Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI), bringing together Oracle’s global cloud infrastructure with GlobalM’s technology for live media contribution, processing, and distribution.

The integration will enable GMX Cloud services to run across OCI regions, giving broadcasters, sports organizations, and media companies access to a significantly expanded global footprint for live media workflows, GlobalM said.

At enable improved automation, GMX creates a software-defined media network on OCI, automatically deploying the compute, networking, media processing, and routing resources required for each service. Infrastructure is spun up and configured on demand, point to multipoint contribution and distribution paths are established automatically, and resources can be scaled as requirements change before being automatically released when services finish.

This allows broadcasters to schedule and consume OCI infrastructure dynamically without having to manually build and configure the underlying cloud environment for every production, the company said.

OCI is particularly well-suited to professional broadcast applications because of its high-performance networking and flexible compute architecture. OCI Flexible Shapes allow compute and memory resources to be configured according to individual workload requirements, enabling GMX to optimize infrastructure for applications ranging from SRT and RIST gateways to transcoding, remultiplexing and high-throughput media distribution.

Oracle’s global cloud footprint also complements GlobalM’s distributed architecture. GMX processing and routing nodes can be automatically deployed across OCI locations, allowing contribution feeds to enter the cloud close to their source and receiving broadcasters to connect through infrastructure close to their destination. This helps keep the unmanaged first and last miles as short as practical while the core media workflow operates across managed cloud infrastructure.

The collaboration will also extend GlobalM’s hybrid capabilities. GMX1 processing and routing nodes deployed within customer facilities will be able to operate alongside GMX Cloud resources running on OCI. Combined with Oracle’s hybrid cloud capabilities, this will allow broadcasters to integrate existing facilities with dynamically deployed cloud processing, international distribution, additional capacity, redundancy, and disaster recovery.

GlobalM (1.A11) and Oracle (5.A21) will showcase GMX running on Oracle Cloud Infrastructure at their booths during the 2026 IBC Show, Sept. 11-14 at the RAI Amsterdam.

The Walt Disney Co. and TikTok have struck what they call a first-of-its-kind global content-sharing deal that allows users of the social media platform to create content utilizing memorable scenes and moments from Disney movies and shows.

The agreement, which will pilot in the U.S. in the coming months with plans for other markets to follow, will bring a collection of what the two companies describe as “thoughtfully curated Disney-centric fan-created content” from TikTok to the Disney+ app.

At launch, short-form videos from participating creators will be live on both TikTok and Verts on Disney+, and will feature characters and stories from across Disney’s brands including Pixar, Marvel, “Star Wars,” FX and others.

The deal comes as content companies are scrambling to expand their offerings of vertical and short-form video content, which dominate viewing on social media. It also represents a notable embrace of fan-created content by Disney, which has a long history of protecting its brands from unauthorized use by creators, and a push by Disney to expand its connections to the creator economy.

As part of the deal, TikTok will offer participating creators access to assets related to hundreds of films and series from Disney’s library of franchises. Videos created through the program will be refreshed regularly on the Disney+ Verts feed, providing subscribers with another means of discovering Disney-related content.

“The best storytellers are fans first,” Asad Ayaz, Disney chief marketing and brand officer. “That has always been true at Disney, and today, fans are celebrating our stories in entirely new ways. This collaboration creates a new bridge between the stories we tell and the creativity they inspire, giving creators a bigger stage to share what they’ve made, and audiences more to discover on Disney+ every day.”

Added TikTok Global Head of Entertainment Dawn Yang: “Creators are at the heart of everything we do at TikTok. Their creativity extends the life of films and shows into conversations that fans discover and share. Together with Disney, we’re bringing the authentic creator expression of the TikTok community to Disney+, inviting audiences to experience the shared creativity that makes fandom so powerful.”

Through the jointly run Disney Creator Ambassador Program, Disney and TikTok will also help creators unlock special rewards and provide increased visibility, access to exclusive events and career development pathways, the companies said.

Disney said that this tiered program reflects its commitment to building relationships with the next generation of creative talent in partnership with TikTok.

In announcing the deal, Disney noted that fan-created content continues to play an increasingly important role in how audiences discover, engage and celebrate entertainment.

According to internal TikTok data, fans shared an average of 6.5 million film and TV-related posts on the platform each day last year. Nearly half of users said they went on to watch a movie or TV show on a streaming service or television after discovering it on TikTok, according to the platform.

LENEXA, Kan.—The National Content & Technology Cooperative (NCTC) has announced a new agreement with Minerva, a provider of cloud-based IPTV and OTT platforms, that will expand the range of technology solutions available to independent operations and to work to improve their video offerings and strategies.

Minerva powers video services for Tier 2 and Tier 3 operators, delivering a comprehensive platform that integrates subscriber management, content aggregation, and user experience into a single, cohesive solution.

The deal will give NCTC members access to a cloud-native platform that serves as the control and experience layer between video infrastructure and end-user devices. It enables operators to deliver a unified, branded viewing experience across live TV, on-demand content, streaming services, and more.

“Our role is to ensure members have access to the right partners and solutions to stay competitive in a rapidly changing video landscape,” said Lou Borrelli, CEO of NCTC. “Minerva brings a strong track record of supporting broadband operators with modern IPTV and OTT solutions, and this partnership expands the options available to our members as they evolve their video strategies.”

Minerva’s platform is designed to allow operators to maintain ownership of the customer experience, with tools to customize the user interface, integrate multiple content types into a single experience, and deliver consistent viewing across devices— including smart TVs, streaming platforms, mobile, and web. It also includes built-in capabilities such as cloud DVR, catch-up TV, and AI-driven content discovery, designed to increase engagement, improve retention, and unlock new monetization opportunities.

“We are excited to partner with NCTC to support its members as they modernize their video offerings,” said Mauro Bonomi, CEO of Minerva Networks. “Our platform was built to help operators deliver a seamless, high-quality entertainment experience while maintaining full control of their brand and customer relationships. Together with NCTC, we look forward to helping members accelerate their transition to next-generation TV services.”

Minerva and the NCTC said that the partnership will be particularly valuable for operators transitioning from legacy video platforms to IP-based delivery, as well as those looking to launch new OTT offerings like NCTC Broadband TV. Minerva’s cloud-based approach supports faster deployment timelines and reduces operational complexity, while providing a scalable foundation for future growth.

The National Content & Technology Cooperative (NCTC) is a Kansas-based, not-for-profit corporation comprised of more than 650 independent broadband and cable operators serving one-third of the connected households in all 50 United States and territories. The NCTC negotiates content, connectivity, and technology solutions for its member companies that create operational efficiencies, new products, and revenue streams for sustainable growth. For more information, visit: nctconline.org.

WALTHAM, Mass. and PHILADELPHIA—Zixi and Comcast Technology Solutions (CTS) today announced a strategic new integration to deliver C-band replacement solutions for linear broadcasters and content distributors. The collaboration brings together the end-to-end video management capabilities provided by Comcast Media360 with the Zixi Software Platform to give operators a direct migration path from C-band satellite to IP-based content distribution, they said.

With the C-band satellite transition underway, programmers and distributors are exploring solutions to migrate linear workflows to IP while maintaining the kind of reliability, rights compliance, and affiliate distribution control that C-band has historically provided. At the core of the joint Zixi and CTS solution is a technical integration between the Zixi Software Platform and Comcast Media360, which provides customers with a 24/7 managed service backed by the proven reliability and scale of Comcast Technology Solutions.

“The C-band transition is not a distant deadline for our customers. It is a decision they are making now. Working with Comcast Technology Solutions means that we can offer broadcasters a solution that does not ask them to trade rights compliance and reliability for IP flexibility. The integration between the Zixi Software Platform and Comcast Media360 is the kind of joint engineering that makes a real operational difference," said Marc Aldrich, CEO, Zixi.

"Broadcasters are looking for ways to operate their linear channels more efficiently while continuing to scale distribution as part of their C-band transition efforts,” said Bart Spriester, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Streaming, Broadcast, and Advertising at Comcast Technology Solutions. “Comcast Media360 helps make that possible across broadcast and IP workflows and, together with Zixi, delivers a satellite replacement option that gives programmers and distributors a manageable path to IP and unlocks new monetization opportunities."

Notably, CTS’ linear rights management normalizes rights metadata using the SCTE 224 standard, enabling content providers to manage alternate content delivery, ad insertion windows, and audience-based content restrictions across broadcast and streaming destinations. Zixi ZEN Master orchestrates the live video workflow across cloud or hybrid network environments, with native support for SCTE-35/224 signaling, blackout enforcement, and schedule-driven source switching.

Together, the integrated platforms can provide broadcasters a single, intelligent, rights-aware distribution chain that combines signal orchestration, affiliate distribution, and rights enforcement enabling new monetization and distribution capability, while removing the dependency on satellite infrastructure and maintaining compliance and control.

As C-band satellite capacity is reclaimed and transition deadlines approach, the need for end-to-end IP workflows has become a near-term business imperative for broadcasters, the companies said, adding that the combined Zixi and CTS solution gives broadcasters a migration path that preserves existing investment in rights management infrastructure while moving to the flexibility and cost structure that IP distribution offers and simplifying the path from ingest to monetization.

LONDON—Gravity Media, a global provider of production, content, media services and facilities, is powering an innovative reverse remote production setup for ITV’s FIFA Football World Cup coverage, connecting Gravity Media’s London Production Centre with ITV Sport’s live studio operations in New York through a fully integrated workflow.

In this three-hub production model, match feeds are received via the International Broadcast Center in Dallas and transmitted to Gravity Media’s London Production Centre, where production galleries are operated and enhanced with live editorial and presentation content.

Meanwhile, ITV Sport’s presenting team based in New York delivers the live studio segments, creating a seamless workflow across three international locations rather than a traditional single-site production. The result is a highly resilient, flexible production model that brings together transatlantic collaboration and state-of-the-art infrastructure.

The production also incorporates venue injects, with game-side presentation elements seamlessly integrated into Gravity Media’s London galleries, elevating storytelling and live coverage.

This project highlights Gravity Media’s continued investment in advanced remote production technologies and its ability to deliver complex, multi-location workflows at scale for major international sporting events, according to Kate Rendle, Global Sales Director at Gravity Media.

“This is a perfect example of how Gravity Media is redefining what’s possible in remote production. By integrating our London Production Centre with live presentation in New York, we’re able to deliver a seamless, resilient and highly creative workflow for one of the world’s biggest sporting events. Our investment in infrastructure ensures that we can support our clients with true operational flexibility and continuity, no matter what challenges arise. It’s about delivering innovation and reliability at scale, and we’re proud to be doing that for ITV.”

ITVX says it achieved its strongest monthly performance to date in June, crossing the 400 million monthly streams milestone for the first time in its history.

ITV Sport showed seven out of the top ten biggest matches in the group stages, including England's two winning games, with peak audiences of 16.4 million and 13.8 million respectively, as well as the opening match of the tournament, Mexico vs South Africa, Norway vs France, Netherlands vs Japan, Scotland vs Morocco, and Germany vs Cote D’Ivoire.

WUPPERTAL, Germany—Riedel Communications says it's expanding its partnership with SKAARHOJ, a Danish provider of tactile controllers for media production, bringing official SKAARHOJ panel support to SimplyLive production workflows. Enabled through the latest SimplyLive 2.1 release, the integration expands SimplyLive’s control options with a tactile switcher panel experience, complementing both its touchscreen interface and existing RCU-based workflows.

The integration addresses customer demand for dedicated hardware control in live production environments where operators want the speed, confidence, and familiarity of a classic switcher panel, Riedel said. With SKAARHOJ panels, SimplyLive users can control key live production functions such as source switching, program output switching, transitions, auxiliary output control, keying, graphics, and macros.

“SKAARHOJ was the obvious partner for this integration because of their strong reputation for high-quality products designed with the user in mind,” said Paul Macklin, Senior Product Manager, SimplyLive at Riedel Communications. “Their collaborative approach allowed us to tailor the solution around the specific needs of SimplyLive operators, especially in single-operator environments where speed, confidence, and ergonomics are essential.”

This operator-focused approach extends beyond the panel integration itself. To support fast deployment, Riedel and SKAARHOJ said they provide a curated starting configuration that helps customers get up and running quickly while preserving the flexibility to adapt the setup to their preferred production workflows.

“We're excited to expand our collaboration with Riedel through the SimplyLive integration,” said Kasper Skårhøj, CEO, SKAARHOJ. “Having previously integrated with Riedel SmartPanels and MediorNet, this is another great example of how our technologies can come together to create new and flexible workflows. While the solution is tailored for the Master Key 48, users can choose any SKAARHOJ panel that best fits their production needs.”

SimplyLive 2.1 introduces official support for SKAARHOJ panels through a gRPC API, enabling responsive communication between the panel and the SimplyLive ViBox application. Alongside a range of other enhancements and new features, the release also adds a new Venue Gateway license for SimplyLive Production Suite Flex customers, allowing the same server hardware to support Venue Gateway applications in addition to All-in-One, Replay, Ingest, and Review workflows.

Additional SimplyLive resources, including the curated starting configuration, are available via the MyRiedel portal. Further guidance on SimplyLive 2.1 workflows, including instructions for implementing the SKAARHOJ configuration, is available in the SimplyLive 2.1 user guide.

VIENNA—Bitmovin, a provider of video streaming solutions, is collaborating with Simplestream, a provider of OTT and broadcast solutions, and technology provider Xperi, to extend playback to TiVo OS smart TVs and devices.

Under the new partnership, Bitmovin and Simplestream have created a fully integrated streaming platform combining Simplestream’s content management and application framework with Bitmovin’s advanced playback technology.

The consolidated platform enables video providers to deliver a consistent, high-quality user experience to viewers with TiVo OS devices, the companies said. Bitmovin’s automated testing system uses AI analysis to process and analyze over a million tests each week to pinpoint root causes of playback issues faster and with greater accuracy to ensure the highest quality viewing experiences. Bitmovin first extended support to include TiVo OS in October 2025.

The companies claimed that the joint solution will help media companies and operators simplify their technology stack to reduce operational complexity and integration risk, while ensuring consistent and reliable playback across devices. It also enables flexible monetization capabilities including support for a range of ad formats such as pre-roll ads and pause ads, as well as standardized accessibility features that support inclusive viewing experiences.

“This collaboration represents an important step forward in simplifying and modernizing OTT delivery for our customers,” said Ashley Reynolds-Horne, Technical Director for Simplestream. “By combining Simplestream’s end-to-end platform capabilities with Bitmovin’s proven playback technology, we’re enabling media companies and operators to deliver reliable, scalable streaming experiences while unlocking new opportunities for monetization and service growth.”

James Varndell, Senior Director of Product Management, Bitmovin, commented: “Video providers want their service to be accessible by as many viewers as possible including those running TiVo OS, which is rapidly gaining traction. By extending support to include TiVo OS and collaborating with Simplestream to simplify launching on TiVo OS, we’re supporting customers to reach more viewers across a wider range of devices.”

Stephane David, Senior Director, Content Partnerships and Business Development EMEA, Xperi, added: “TiVo OS is designed to put great content front and centre. Collaborating with Bitmovin and Simplestream will help more streaming services to launch on TiVo OS with a high‑quality, consistent playback experience, so audiences can find, watch and enjoy more of what they love.”

Developed by Xperi and launched in 2022, TiVo OS is a content‑first operating system designed to make it easier for viewers to find, watch and enjoy great television. The platform powers smart TVs from leading brands, as well as a range of smart TV devices including set‑top boxes.

READING, Pa. and CHESTERTON, In—Miri Technologies has just signed a new distribution partnership with Midwich, a distributor of audio-visual and unified communications solutions for the United States and Canada. The agreement reinforces Miri's channel partnership strategy for meeting the rapidly growing demand for the X510 dual-cellular bonding router and the new V410 4K live encoder/decoder in the world’s largest commercial market.

The Miri X510 router enables resilient internet connectivity anywhere by forging multiple wired and wireless links—including Ethernet, Wi-Fi, 4G, 5G and satellite—together to overcome speed limitations and withstand network disruptions even in challenging environments, according to the company. Powered by Speedify channel bonding technology from Connectify, the X510 bolsters internet connectivity for any type of data and supports use cases ranging from live streaming and remote broadcast contribution to trade shows and disaster response.

The Miri V410 live 4K encoder/decoder combines intuitive interfaces with rich functionality, robust connectivity and flexible format support for live streaming, IP-based production and AV-over-IP distribution. It can encode one 4K Ultra HD output at 60FPS or two simultaneous QHD (2560x1440) channels, and can also transcode from NDI® sources to streaming formats. As a decoder, the device can decode two 4K Ultra HD streams concurrently from most supported source formats.

Midwich sees Miri as a great addition to its offering in the Broadcast & Media/Entertainment sector.

“The channel partners we service are constantly looking to create the most complete solutions that solve problems, simplify workflows and open the door to new revenue streams,” said Rich D’Angelo, Midwich executive director of business management for Media & Entertainment. “Miri solutions will complement our existing brands in helping our resellers and integrators achieve these goals. Miri's approach to resilient connectivity and the powerful yet simple interfaces in their products combine with class-leading levels of flexibility and insight that truly set them apart.”

“We’re excited to expand the availability of our solutions by partnering with Midwich,” said David Cohen, vice president of sales and business development at Miri Technologies. “We see tremendous opportunities for synergy between Miri and the many brands that Midwich represents and we're looking forward to growing our footprint across the continent with their support.”

NEW YORK—Nielsen has announced a new integration with Mediaocean’s Prisma platform that will improve audience measurement and allow marketers to maintain a single, consistent audience definition throughout the campaign lifecycle.

This integration and its resulting capabilities will officially launch in September, just in time for the fall TV season, Nielsen said.

Prisma is an enterprise-level, end-to-end media management and campaign execution platform that acts as a central “system of record” for advertising agencies and brands, that is designed to unify workflows across digital, linear (TV/radio), print and out-of-home (OOH) channels.

As part of the integration, Nielsen will provide reporting on advanced audience segments for data-driven linear (DDL) national TV campaigns to expand the integration of its Big Data + Panel audience measurement solution directly within Mediaocean’s Prisma platform.

This will help drive greater industry interoperability by allowing marketers to maintain a single, consistent audience definition throughout advertising campaigns. Clients can define advanced audience segments (first- and third-party and Nielsen-owned) within Nielsen Audience Builder and then see the corresponding measurement metrics directly within Mediaocean.

This will allow marketers to move beyond traditional age and gender based demographics by enabling more advanced audience definitions to be applied consistently across ad planning and measurement workflows.

The collaboration also brings greater continuity and visibility into data-driven linear campaigns, giving advertisers a better way to understand and evaluate multi-screen ad performance.

“Advertising’s next frontier will be built on true interoperability — not just data sharing, but a consistent audience definition that travels from planning all the way through to measurement,” explained Nielsen Chief Product Officer Akhil Parekh. “Together with Mediaocean, we're giving marketers exactly that: the ability to define audiences once and then to carry that precision across the entire campaign lifecycle.”

“The big theme here is consistency,” said Prisma Chief Product Officer Drew Kane. “As the advertising ecosystem becomes increasingly fragmented, maintaining a consistent audience definition across planning, activation, and measurement has become a challenge. By teaming up with Nielsen, we are helping to create a more connected workflow that brings greater visibility and alignment across the marketing journey.”

In addition, Nielsen announced that S&P Global Mobility is integrating insights from its Polk Automotive Solutions Portfolio, a leader in automotive advanced audiences insights, so that marketers can better reach customers in this sector. (Polk intelligence encompasses nearly 35 years of vehicle owner history, more than one billion vehicle transactions annually, and more than 650 million vehicles tracked daily.)

That means marketers and agencies can now leverage Polk Audiences across Nielsen’s planning and measurement products, including Nielsen Audience Builder, Nielsen Media Impact, Nielsen ONE Planning and Nielsen ONE Ads. These audiences will also be available against Nielsen's Big Data+Panel data and integrated into Nielsen's digital planning/measurement solutions.

In addition, MRI-Simmons and S&P Global Mobility are expanding advanced audience capabilities into Nielsen ONE.

MRI-Simmons, a leading provider of survey-based insights about American consumers, is expanding its relationship with Nielsen to deliver new, research-driven audience insights within Nielsen ONE planning and measurement tools.

Taken together, these developments mean improved campaign performance, via even better data-driven planning, measurement, and optimization capabilities, Nielsen reported.

Montclair State University has been selected as the operator of NJ PBS, New Jersey’s network of four state-owned public TV stations, ending a period of uncertainty about the broadcaster’s future in the wake of federal funding cuts.

New Jersey State Treasurer Aaron Binder and the university announced the five-year deal to make the university the programming and management operator of NJ PBS. The state legislature now has 15 days to review the contract between the New Jersey Public Broadcasting Authority and the university. Lawmakers have expressed strong support for NJ PBS to continue operations.

Montclair State was one of four bidders for the management contract, which follows months of uncertainty over NJ PBS’s future. The WNET Group, parent of WNET New York and WLIW Garden City, N.Y., had operated NJ PBS since 2011, but said last fall that it wouldn't renew its contract with the NJBPA, citing significant state and federal budget cuts.

WNET Group’s contract is set to expire June 30. That prompted fears NJ PBS might shutter at the end of this month.

“Public broadcasting is a vital public service that ensures New Jersey families have access to trusted news, educational programming, and information about their communities,” said New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill, a Democrat. “At a time when local journalism faces growing challenges, today’s action keeps this essential service alive in New Jersey.”

The five-year agreement includes two five-year extensions and makes Montclair State responsible for programming the network and providing at least six hours per week of New Jersey-centric programming, including a nightly newscast on weeknights and other public-affairs programming; live broadcasts of the governor's State of the State Address and budget message; and New Jersey election coverage.

Public television has long held importance to government officials in New Jersey, who argue the state is underserved by commercial and public TV stations in nearby New York and Philadelphia. In 1968, the state established the NJPBA to launch and operate the four stations, known on-air as New Jersey Network (NJN) until former Gov. Chris Christie ended direct state involvement and inked the deal with WNET Group in 2011. The NJPBA still holds the station licenses.

“New Jersey’s public television stations exist to serve every resident of this state, and this selection reflects our commitment to ensuring that mission continues on a sustainable, long-term foundation,” said Rick Williams, NJBPA executive director. “Montclair State University brings broadcast-ready infrastructure, deep community ties, and a demonstrated commitment to New Jersey journalism. We look forward to working with the University and the Legislature as this transition moves forward.”

In announcing the deal, MSU said it plans to reimagine public media and expand the value public broadcasting can provide to New Jersey residents. As part of that effort, it said it plans to draw on the state’s 300-plus news organizations, its colleges and universities and its diverse communities to create and inform programming made stronger through collaboration and shared expertise.

In addition to a robust broadcast presence with daily newscast and discussion programming, NJ PBS said it will focus significant efforts on digital and social media content as well as in-person events and public engagement.

MSU’s proposal used existing university assets to create an operational budget that reflects the difficult financial climate for public media in the wake of the Trump Administration's push to end federal funding.

Montclair State has committed to providing $1.2 million annually of in-kind contributions, including studio access, engineering expertise, IT infrastructure, human resources, finance, legal, and facilities management. It also includes teaching and internship opportunities for students.

The station will be housed in MSU’s College of Communication and Media. The college has a production facility, complete with professional broadcast studios and film stages, multiple control rooms, a multimedia newsroom and engineering infrastructure built for network-level production. Faculty and staff bring extensive professional experience in the New Jersey and national media landscapes, and the college has been nationally recognized for its work while preparing the next generation of New Jersey media professionals.

More than 20 full-time employees will initially operate NJ PBS, including three reporters and a production team of 11. Students will also participate through internships and supervised experiential learning opportunities.

In addition, MSU said that the Center for Cooperative Media, housed within its College of Communication and Media, will help build the backbone of NJ PBS’s statewide journalism model.

The university said the center’s longstanding relationships with hundreds of New Jersey news organizations provide NJ PBS with an existing statewide journalism ecosystem to support collaborative reporting and community-informed storytelling across all regions of the state. Montclair’s operation of NJ PBS will also include content partnerships, including collaborative agreements with other New Jersey colleges and universities as well as civic, arts and news organizations, ensuring network content reflects the diversity and talents of New Jersey’s residents and communities.

MSU plans to produce a daily newscast and discussion program, a weekly public affairs roundtable, and sports coverage, including a formal partnership with the New Jersey Athletic Conference.

WASHINGTON—The National Association of Broadcasters has launched Merkhet Solutions, an independent company focused on commercial deployment of the Broadcast Positioning System (BPS).

BPS is a terrestrial timing and positioning technology that uses the NextGen TV (ATSC 3.0) broadcast standard to deliver precise time and location signals over the existing network of U.S. broadcast towers.

First conceived by the technology team at NAB in 2021, the patented terrestrial, GPS-independent timing and positioning technology is designed to leverage the high-power, geographically diverse broadcast infrastructure already covering the United States.

"BPS represents a powerful intersection of innovation, public safety and opportunity for broadcasters,” NAB President and CEO Curtis LeGeyt said. “Launching Merkhet Solutions is the next step in commercializing this technology and ensuring it reaches the critical infrastructure operators who need it most, while continuing to create meaningful long-term opportunities for local stations."

BPS has been designed to address the more than $1 billion-per-day economic and national security risk posed by overreliance on GPS. To push forward the commercial deployment of BPS, Merkhet Solutions is engaging across critical infrastructure sectors, including energy, data centers, telecommunications and financial services where a loss of precision time can trigger grid instability, outages and lost trades.

“BPS solves a problem we can no longer afford to ignore: an entire economy and national security posture resting on a single, contested signal from space,” said Merkhet Solutions CEO Sam Matheny. “We built BPS at NAB because broadcast infrastructure is uniquely suited to deliver assured terrestrial timing at scale. We're launching Merkhet Solutions because the time to operationalize this technology is now."

Under Matheny’s leadership at NAB, BPS advanced rapidly from research concept to real-world deployment.

NAB demonstrated the first BPS prototype to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) in 2022, followed by the first live broadcast demonstration in 2023. In 2024, NAB entered into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and Nexstar Media Group.

In 2025, NIST concluded in a peer-reviewed paper presented at the Institute of Navigation International Technical Meeting that BPS was “comparable to or better than GNSS” for time transfer stability and a “viable complementary PNT solution.” Later that year, the U.S. Department of Transportation awarded NAB a contract to deploy a BPS field trial with critical infrastructure partner Dominion Energy.

BPS is designed as a terrestrial complement to GPS, providing operators with an additional resilient source of timing and positioning that can be used alongside GPS or relied upon when satellite-based services are disrupted by jamming, spoofing, cyberattacks or natural events. The federal government recognized the need for terrestrial complements to GPS through the National Timing Resilience and Security Act and Executive Order 13905.

NAB said Merkhet Solutions intends to serve customers across all critical infrastructure sectors, with an emphasis on the lifeline sectors of energy, telecommunications, data centers and financial services, where timing precision is mission-critical and GPS vulnerability is an unacceptable risk.

Learn more at the Merkhet Solutions website.

SIEGEN, Germany & NEW DELHI, India—Guntermann & Drunck GmbH (G&D), and CT Square have agreed to establish a new joint venture company in India.

The new company will serve as the exclusive distribution platform for G&D and VuWall solutions across India, bringing advanced KVM, video wall management, visualization, and control room technologies closer to one of the world's fastest-growing infrastructure and technology markets.

The agreement was concluded during NAB 2026 in Las Vegas and takes effect immediately. The formal establishment of the joint venture office in New Delhi is expected to be completed in the coming months. A dedicated location for the future showroom and office has already been secured.

The agreement will allow G&D and VuWall to significantly strengthening their presence in India, creating a local operation to support customers, consultants, system integrators, and partners working in mission-critical environments, including energy, transportation, public safety, broadcast, government, defense, utilities, and industrial control rooms.

"India is one of the most dynamic and promising markets for mission-critical control room technology worldwide," said Thorsten Lipp, CEO, Panoptec Technologies Group, which owns G&D and VuWall. "With CT Square and Chandresh Shah, we have found a highly experienced partner who understands the market, the technology, and the operational requirements of control room customers. This joint venture is an important milestone in our international growth strategy and a strong commitment to India."

The joint venture will provide customers with local access to G&D’s high-performance KVM solutions and VuWall’s video wall management and visualization solutions, along with expert consulting, product demonstrations, technical support, and project-specific solution design.

"Establishing this joint venture is a decisive step in our international growth strategy,” said Eric Hénique, CRO of G&D and VuWall. “India is a market with exceptional momentum, and we are committed to supporting our customers and partners there with the full depth of our technology portfolio, local expertise, and long-term commitment."

In addition to its focus on India, CT Square will also act as a preferred partner for G&D and VuWall in the Middle East. For these activities, CT Square will leverage the existing Panoptec Group showroom and office in Dubai, creating an immediate regional hub for demonstrations, customer meetings, and project support.

Chandresh Shah brings extensive experience in control room technology, with particular expertise in KVM systems and mission-critical infrastructure. His market knowledge and technical expertise will play a central role in positioning the joint venture as a trusted platform for customers and partners across the region.

"I am delighted to join forces with G&D and VuWall to bring world-class control room technology to the Indian market," said Chandresh Shah, CEO, CT Square. "Together, we are creating a powerful offering for customers who require reliable, secure, and future-ready control room technology. This is an exciting moment for India, for the Middle East, and for the entire control room community."

NEW YORK—Major League Soccer (MLS) has announced the 2026 list of companies that will be participating in its MLS Innovation Lab.

The initiative, which is focused on identifying, deploying and scaling the next generation of sports technology and is now in its third year, brings together leading startups from around the world to actively test and prove cutting-edge solutions in three areas of focus: player performance, fan engagement, and media production.

This year's cohort is focused on testing AI solutions that league said are pushing the boundaries of how soccer is played, analyzed, and experienced.

"With each new cohort, MLS Innovation Lab continues to surface technologies that have the potential to meaningfully impact how the game is played, experienced, and consumed," said Chris Schlosser, MLS senior vice president of Emerging Ventures. "This group represents a strong mix of real-world AI technologies that can have immediate impact across athlete performance, television production, and fan-focused innovation, and we look forward to working with each of them to drive important outcomes for our players, fans and Clubs."

The MLS Innovation Lab aims to give participating companies the opportunity to build and test their technologies in real-world MLS environments such as the 2026 MLS All-Star Game presented by Chime, as well as elite youth competitions like MLS NEXT Fest and Generation adidas Cup and premier events including MLS NEXT Cup and the MLS NEXT All-Star Game presented by Allstate.

This real-world testing gives MLS an early look at emerging AI technologies that can shape the future of the industry for years to come.

After a competitive global selection process, the five companies chosen for the third MLS Innovation Lab cohort will deploy solutions designed to address real challenges across the soccer ecosystem. The league described the companies as follows:

• Springbok Analytics: Springbok Analytics uses AI to transform MRI data into detailed 3D muscle analytics, enabling the precise tracking of muscle health, performance, and injury risk which supports data-driven decision-making for teams, leagues, and clinical research.
• Orreco: Orreco is a global leader in sports bio-analytics, using AI, computer vision, and biomarker data to optimize athlete performance, predict injury risk, and accelerate recovery, trusted by elite teams and athletes across major leagues worldwide.
• Fit:match: Fit:match.ai is a player identification and assessment platform that uses mobile devices, AI, and computer vision to capture detailed body data. It generates a full 3D avatar with measurable physical insights in seconds, providing clubs with standardized information to support talent evaluation, inform development decisions, and enable more consistent comparisons across players.
• Advanced Image Robotics (AIR): AIR makes broadcast-grade sports video production radically more accessible. Their AI-powered robotic camera systems combine automated tracking with remote operator control — enabling leagues, teams, and broadcasters to capture dynamic game and player footage at a fraction of the cost and complexity of traditional production.
• WMT AI Ticketing: WMT AI Ticketing optimizes pricing and distribution in real time by analyzing fan behavior, demand and market dynamics. These capabilities help sports and entertainment organizations move beyond static pricing, maximize ticket revenue and make faster, data-driven decisions.

For more information on MLS Innovation Lab, or to be considered for future cohorts, visit MLSSoccer.com/InnovationLab.

CHAMPAIGN, Ill.—In a move that could make TV programming both accessible and engaging, Cobalt Digital announced a partnership with SineSix Media that will integrate SineSix’s vocalVision audio description solution into Cobalt’s 9922 frame synchronizer family.

The combined solution brings real-time audio descriptions of on-screen graphics directly into the broadcast workflow ensuring visually impaired viewers don’t miss critical information. Demonstrations of the collaborative solution will be conducted at 2026 NAB Show at Cobalt’s Booth # N 1340.

“By integrating vocalVision with our 9922 family, we’re enabling broadcasters to meet regulatory requirements while delivering a richer, more inclusive viewing experience,” said Suzana Brady, senior vice president of worldwide sales and marketing for Cobalt Digital. “This collaboration goes beyond regulatory compliance to provide an environment that supports greater audience engagement, trust, and promotes safety.”

Designed to help broadcasters comply with the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (21CVAA), vocalVision ensures that visually impaired audiences can fully access critical information that is often conveyed visually during live and recorded broadcasts.

The solution goes beyond traditional compliance tools by providing automated, real-time narration of graphical content such as lower-third headlines, weather radar maps, election data, sports graphics, and more. Integration with Cobalt Digital’s 9922 enables visual and audio accessibility tools to be combined into a unified workflow, ensuring that critical visual information is both seen and heard, improving accessibility for visually impaired audiences while enhancing overall viewer engagement.

The integrated workflow allows broadcasters to trigger audio description events directly from existing graphics systems via SineSix’s Watchman API, or through a user-friendly browser-based interface.

The system also provides flexible control options, allowing operators to manage alerts and descriptions manually, on scheduled intervals, or via automated triggers. Shared watch folders enable seamless ingestion of text and image assets, while Cobalt’s +TTS functionality converts text to speech and inserts audio into the program stream in real time. Cobalt’s +EAS option supports emergency alert delivery, and +LOGO enables on-screen graphic insertion, creating a unified and efficient accessibility solution.

Additional capabilities include AI-assisted image description for elements such as weather radar maps, customizable pronunciation dictionaries for accurate text-to-speech output, and multilingual support for broader audience reach.

“vocalVision was designed to make accessibility seamless and meaningful,” said Taylor Hightower, CTO for SineSix Media. “Working with Cobalt allows us to bring this capability directly into the broadcast signal chain, making it easier than ever for broadcasters to serve all audiences effectively.”

SAN JOSE, Calif.—Netgear has announced a global technology partnership with EVS Broadcast Equipment to deliver certified, interoperable AV–over–IP solutions for broadcast and live production teams. The companies have validated EVS live production systems on Netgear AV switching platforms, giving customers a pretested network foundation for IP–based workflows.

The partnership focuses on open, standards–based deployments that help customers adopt SMPTE ST 2110 and related IP workflows with less integration effort and more predictable results in real–world productions, the companies said.

“When productions shift to IP, the network can’t be an afterthought,” said Dieter Backx, Vice President of Control and Orchestration at EVS. “We’ve validated our media infrastructure solutions on Netgear’s AV switches so customers can spend less time tuning infrastructure and more time running shows. It’s a practical and efficient path to SMPTE ST 2110 workflows, or any other IP transport mechanism such as NDI or Dante, whether on site, remote, or distributed environments.”

Netgear and EVS jointly tested EVS technologies—including Cerebrum, Neuron and Strada—across Netgear M4350 and M4250 series switches. Netgear also provides supported configuration guidance and Netgear Engage Controller profiles, backed by AV–focused technical support services, so teams can bring validated configurations online faster.

The validated approach supports fully IP–based live production workflows and improves day–to–day deployment consistency. Customers can use out–of–the–box configurations designed to shorten setup and reduce risk. The result is more predictable behavior across key network requirements such as broadcast–grade timing, QoS, and bandwidth handling, the companies said.

Beyond lab testing, the partnership includes joint work on customer deployments, training, and global technical support. Netgear and EVS are focused on helping broadcast teams build interoperable AV–over–IP environments that scale as production needs evolve. The partnership is global in scope, with no geographic limitations, and becomes effective upon the joint announcement.

“As live production continues its transition to IP, customers want proven solutions they can deploy with confidence,” said Richard Jonker, Vice President of Commercial Business Development at Netgear. “By validating EVS live media infrastructure solutions on our AV switches, we’re providing a reliable, standards–based network foundation that simplifies deployment while delivering the timing accuracy and performance required in mission–critical broadcast environments.”

Lawo and swXtch.io, a provider of software-defined networking for media workflows, have announced that groundSwXtch, swXtch.io’s software-defined multicast overlay for on-prem and hybrid ground/cloud networks will be integrated into Lawo’s HOME management platform for IP media infrastructures.

This integration integration “enables high-performance multicast IP networking across hybrid cloud and on-premises environments, delivering greater flexibility, scalability, and efficiency for live production, remote workflows, and compact infrastructure deployments,” the companies said.

groundSwXtch extends swXtch.io’s cloudSwXtch technology to physical, ground-based networks, providing software-based multicast capabilities, protocol flexibility, and low-latency media transport without reliance on traditional hardware switches.

“Partnering with swXtch.io allows us to further enhance the software-based capabilities of our HOME ecosystem and deliver even more agile solutions to our customers,” said Axel Kern, Senior Director of Cloud and Infrastructure Solutions, LAWO. “By integrating groundSwXtch, we hope to turn on-prem and cloud networking into a unified fabric, empowering broadcasters to handle dynamic production demands.”

The envisaged partnership supports several key customer use cases that will be highlighted during the NAB Show:

Use Case 1: Private Cloud-Based Production with Remote Contributions. Building on private-cloud-centric workflows, this scenario incorporates contributions from external remote sites such as arenas, town halls, or mobile production units.

Essences generated at remote locations feed into the local production environment, which is orchestrated and controlled from a central site. Program-ready signals are distributed to the main facility for final output and dissemination. The integration of groundSwXtch ensures reliable, low-latency transport between remote sites, cloud resources, and on-prem infrastructure.

Use Case 2: Peak Utilization and Cloud Bursting. Customers facing sudden spikes in demand — such as breaking news coverage or major sports events — can rapidly provision additional compute resources. Lawo HOME Apps run in the cloud with management and workflow control from the main site.

Media essences (audio and video) feed production tools including DSK/switchers, multiviewers, and video processors. IP streams return program signals and visualizations to the main facility, and finished program feeds route directly to distribution channels.

“groundSwXtch brings the power of software-defined multicast and hybrid networking directly to on-prem media operations,” said Brent Yates, CEO of swXtch.io. “Our collaboration with Lawo demonstrates how combining our virtual overlay technology with Lawo’s renowned open HOME platform create powerful new possibilities for broadcasters transitioning to IP and cloud-native workflows.”

Details about the LAWO-swXtch.io integration will be given at the NAB Show in Las Vegas (April 18–22, 2026). Interested visitors are invited to contact Axel Kern (Lawo, booth C2108) or Jerry Schall (swXtch.io, booth W1377HS).

For more information, visit www.lawo.com and www.swxtch.io.

PLANO, Texas—Diversified has announced that it is working with Comcast Technology Solutions (CTS) to support the expansion of CTS’s new global Broadcast Operations Center at its Dry Creek facility in Colorado.

The initiative reflects the growing need for an advanced centralized, fully IP-based infrastructure to support modern content delivery across broadcast, streaming and live sports, the two companies said. The expansion will help CTS offer clients scalable, cost-effective, next-generation media operations for its clients.

This initiative focuses on scaling CTS’s playout infrastructure to meet increasing customer demand for outsourced content management while improving operational efficiency, speed to deploy and system resilience.

As part of that, Diversified has worked alongside CTS’s engineering and operations teams to modernize and expand its playout environment, including the integration of SMPTE ST 2110-based IP infrastructure, advanced monitoring technologies and centralized network operations capabilities.

The result is a new unified monitoring and control environment that consolidates multiple workflows, businesses and clients into a single operational view—enabling more efficient staffing, automated and swift issue resolution and improved scalability, they reported.

The expanded facility is designed to serve as both an operational hub and a showcase environment for clients and partners, highlighting the next generation of playout and distribution technologies in a live environment, the companies said.

“This expansion represents more than a facility upgrade. It reflects where the industry is going,” said Jason Kornweiss, senior vice president of advisory services at Diversified. “As playout and distribution operations become more critical to growth, media companies need partners who understand both the technical complexity and the operational realities of these environments. Diversified has been investing in that exact capability, and this collaboration with Comcast Technology Solutions is a strong example of the impact.”

To support ongoing growth, Diversified has also established a dedicated on-site presence at the Dry Creek facility, embedding engineering and delivery teams directly alongside CTS operations. This model enables real-time collaboration, accelerates decision-making and ensures continuous optimization as the environment scales—allowing CTS to stay focused on client engagement, workflow optimization, 24/7 operational support, scale and reliability that CTS provides sports leagues, teams and premier media entertainment companies.

“As demand for next-gen playout services continues to grow across broadcast, streaming and sports, having the right team in place is critical,” said Bart Spriester, senior vice president and general manager, streaming, broadcast & advertising at Comcast Technology Solutions. “Our collaboration with Diversified allows us to continue scaling, innovate confidently and deliver the level of performance our clients expect.”

The collaboration reflects a broader industry shift toward centralized, IP-based media operations. As content distribution expands across streaming, live event platforms and FAST channels, playout is evolving from a standalone technical function into a scalable service layer—one that must support increasing channel volume, multi-platform delivery and real-time audience engagement. In response, media organizations are consolidating operations, outsourcing non-core functions and investing in infrastructure that can adapt quickly without increasing operational overhead.

Attendees of the 2026 NAB Show in Las Vegas will be able to get a deeper diving into some of these trends from executives at Diversified and Comcast Technology Solutions for a deeper look at these trends.

On Monday, April 20 at 2 p.m., Kornweiss will join Comcast Technology Solutions’ Director of Sports Management Solutions Kyle Eichman and Anthony Brock, vice president of business strategy and analytics for the Philadelphia Flyers, for a featured session titled “From Playout to Platform: How Comcast Technology Solutions Is Evolving Media Operations for Scale.”

The session will examine how media organizations are connecting playout, distribution and direct-to-consumer experiences to create more responsive, data-driven engagement models—and why the link between operational infrastructure and fan experience is becoming a critical competitive advantage.

NEWARK, NJ—Panasonic Video and Audio Systems North America has announced a partnership with NEP Group, integrating Panasonic’s Kairos IP live production system with NEP’s recently announced NEP Platform, a new software orchestration system.

The companies said the integration enables media companies and live events service providers to deploy flexible and scalable production workflows that bridge traditional and IP-native infrastructure without vendor lock-in.

“Media, broadcast, and streaming companies are rapidly shifting to software-defined, IP-based production architecture. Operators face mounting pressure to reduce infrastructure footprint, increase workflow agility, and support hybrid cloud–on-premises models without compromising the frame-accurate reliability live production requires,” said Steve Milley, Vice President, Professional Video and Audio Systems at Panasonic. “Our partnership with NEP marks a meaningful step forward for Kairos’ open-platform vision, giving customers a clear, validated path to IP. With flexible, scalable workflows, Kairos is designed to eliminate the integration challenges that have slowed adoption of software-defined production.”

NEP Platform allows broadcasters to customize and optimize their production environment, saving valuable time and resources. By achieving certified interoperability with Kairos, the two platforms share a unified control and data plane that allows operators to dynamically allocate production resources, trigger Kairos' multiviewer and production switching events, and synchronize metadata from a single interface.

The integration between Panasonic and NEP delivers operational advantages for production teams by streamlining control, scaling flexibility, and reducing deployment time, according to the companies. Operators can manage Kairos production switching, NEP routing, and resource orchestration through a single unified interface, eliminating the need for constant context switching. Additionally, the pre-validated integration was created to significantly reduce system commissioning time, with the goal of a faster, more efficient deployment.

“Through our ongoing partnership with Panasonic, we've been able to bring together best-in-class technologies into a unified, software-driven ecosystem,” said Dan Murphy, VP of NEP Platform. “Integrating NEP Platform with Kairos demonstrates how open, standards-based innovation can simplify complex workflows and deliver the performance and reliability live production demands.”

The collaboration builds on Kairos’ open architecture and established use across broadcast and live production environments worldwide. The platform exposes fully documented APIs through the Kairos Alliance Partners program, enabling third-party integrations and interoperability. Built on standards including SMPTE ST 2110 and NMOS, Kairos supports true software-defined workflows without legacy SDI constraints. The platform also aligns sustainability goals through its COTS-based, software-first approach, designed to reduce power consumption and physical infrastructure requirements.

The companies will showcase a joint demonstration at NAB Show 2026 in Las Vegas from April 19-22 at Panasonic’s booth (#C3509).

NEVADA CITY, Calif.—Telestream has announced a strategic collaboration with Grass Valley to enable deeper interoperability between Telestream’s workflow automation, processing, and monitoring solutions and Grass Valley’s AMPP (Agile Media Processing Platform).

Telestream Vantage for file-based workflow orchestration, Pulse for end-to-end observability and Telestream UP for cloud-native media processing are being integrated with AMPP, Grass’s software-defined production platform enabling live and distributed workflows across on-prem, cloud or hybrid environments. The integration supports modern media operations, giving customers greater flexibility to build scalable, hybrid infrastructures without vendor lock-in.

The collaboration builds on existing integrations between Telestream Vantage, DIVA and Grass Valley solutions, extending these capabilities to include Telestream UP and Pulse within AMPP-based workflows.

“Media workflows that were created 10 years ago are now becoming a constraint to forward progress,” said Charlie Dunn, vice president of Product, Telestream. “By working with Grass Valley, we’re helping customers bridge live production and file-based processing within a unified, open architecture. This collaboration is about giving media organizations the power to streamline existing workflows and deploy them in the most cost-effective environments, with the flexibility to scale as the business grows."

“Open, interoperable workflows are now a requirement for modern media operations,” says Adam Marshall, chief product officer for Grass Valley. “Our continuing collaboration with Telestream further extends the AMPP ecosystem, enabling customers to connect live production, playout and file-based workflows within a unified, hybrid architecture. By integrating capabilities such as orchestration, processing, and monitoring, we are giving media organizations the flexibility to build workflows that scale, adapt, and operate efficiently across any environment.”

The companies said their strategic partnership “ensures robust interoperability within customer environments, combining Grass Valley’s leadership in live production, content management, and playout solutions, with Telestream’s strength in workflow automation and observability.”

Grass Valley’s Framelight X plays a central role in this vision, enabling the full content lifecycle—from capture and access to editing, collaboration, and publishing—within a browser-native, story-centric environment. Rather than relying on fragmented toolsets, Framelight X brings content into a unified workspace where stories can be shaped and delivered faster, with less friction.

Built on AMPP’s open and extensible architecture, Framelight X integrates with best-of-breed technologies across the content lifecycle—storage, graphics, AI services, automation, and distribution. Telestream’s workflow automation, processing, captioning, and quality control capabilities extend this ecosystem, ensuring that content moving through Framelight X can be automatically processed, quality-controlled, and delivered across platforms, at scale.

Telestream’s ability to integrate across the media supply chain, from ingest and processing to QC, metadata, and delivery, positions it as a key enabler of hybrid workflows that span multiple systems and environments. Grass Valley AMPP enables flexible deployment models, allowing customers to optimize for performance, cost, and operational requirements. This alignment ensures that workflows can scale dynamically while maintaining visibility, control, and consistency across distributed environments.

Both companies are aligned around a hybrid-first approach to infrastructure, recognizing that media organizations must operate across a mix of on-premises systems, private infrastructure, and public cloud environments.