GRASS VALLEY, Calif.—AJA Video Systems has unveiled Io Xpand, a high-performance Thunderbolt 5-enabled PCIe expansion chassis for AJA KONA and Corvid video and audio I/O cards, at InfoComm 2026, June 17-19, at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

As demand for higher bandwidth, higher resolution content grows across industries, Io Xpand unlocks the performance of AJA PCIe I/O cards for video professionals leveraging Thunderbolt 5 laptops and mini-PCs on Windows, macOS and Linux.

Io Xpand is well-suited for creative or live production environments where space is limited and portability matters, including on-set, remote production and live switching. Video professionals can pair the new chassis with either a KONA 1, KONA 4or KONA 5 I/O card and a Thunderbolt 5-equipped computer to create a powerful, compact workstation with advanced throughput and video capture/playback functionality. For AJA Developer Partners, most AJA Corvid I/O cards can easily be used with the Io Xpand enclosure to develop smaller-footprint solutions.

The new chassis includes a 0.8-meter Thunderbolt 5 cable, Thunderbolt cable lock, power cable and universal power adapter. It will be offered as a standalone unit or in three bundles that include the Io Xpand and either a single KONA 1, KONA 4 or KONA 5 card. The KONA 5/Io Xpand bundle provides Thunderbolt 5 laptop and mini-PC users with access to the PCIe card’s high-performance 12G-SDI I/O, additional frame stores and full I/O stack, including AES/EBU audio and machine control in a portable, plug-and-play solution.

Io Xpand features include:

• Thunderbolt 5, 4, 3 and USB4 compatibility.
• Windows, macOS and Linux support.
• Support for full height, half length, x4 Gen 4 PCIe cards.
• Compatibility with double-width PCIe cards and PCIe cards with daughter cards.
• Up to 6000 MB/s of bi-directional PCIe bandwidth to the installed card.
• Support for PCIe 4.0, 3.0, 2.0 and 1.1 cards.
• Nearly silent operation via a temperature-controlled fan.
• Thunderbolt daisy-chaining support via a second Thunderbolt port.
• A portable, lightweight and rugged aluminum internal enclosure.
• A two-year warranty.

Io Xpand will soon be available AJA’s reseller network of resellers for $499. Bundle packages that include an Io Xpand chassis and either a KONA 1, KONA 4 or KONA 5 I/O card are also coming soon, with prices ranging from $1,249 to $4,455, depending on the KONA model.

See AJA Video at InfoComm 2026 booth N7744.

More information is available on the company’s website.

Christie Digital Systems USA and Vista PHX, Corp., today announced an agreement in principle to sell the Christie Broadcast and Professional Video business to Vista PHX, Corp., a new corporation created by former Vista Systems owners and industry veterans, Clark Williams and Jeff Wilson.

Financial terms were not disclosed.

The transaction, expected to close by the end of February, would mark the return of some of the industry’s most respected video processing technologies to the innovators who designed, built, and championed them.

Continuing to operate in Phoenix, Arizona, newly formed Vista PHX, Corp., will acquire the Christie intellectual property and essential operational infrastructure for the Spyder, Terra, Phoenix, and Mastering Gateway product lines.

The new owners said this transition will bring these video processing platforms back to their roots, where the products were originally developed and manufactured. In particular, the transaction will help secure the future of the Spyder brand, a benchmark for uncompromising performance in live events, broadcast, and high-end installations worldwide. The Phoenix-branded distributed content management system, Terra SDVoE platform, and Mastering Gateway Series further reinforce Vista PHX, Corp.’s capabilities in delivering end-to-end mission-critical video processing solutions.

“Bringing Spyder and the other innovative video processing product lines back under independent ownership is significant,” said Clark Williams, CEO of Vista PHX, Corp. "For our customers, this acquisition means continuity where it matters and acceleration where it counts. The same team, the same engineering DNA—now with the clarity and autonomy to move faster and invest deeper in the platform our customers rely on."

Michael Phipps, president, Christie, added that “The divestiture of the Broadcast and Professional Video group reflects our continued focus on our long-term strategic priorities. We believe that returning the video processing family of products to Clark Williams, Jeff Wilson, and the Vista PHX team will best position them for sustained growth under owners whose core mission is centered on these products. We are committed to ensuring a smooth and responsible transition for employees, customers, and partners.”

The new owners highlighted the following benefits of the deal:

• Customer and service commitment: Vista PHX, Corp, would be committed to a seamless transition, honoring all existing warranties and service agreements while maintaining and strengthening the high standard of technical support customers rely on.
• Return to roots: The Spyder, Phoenix, Terra, and Mastering Gateway video processing product lines would return to their original creators, ensuring focused leadership and a clear product vision.
• Product continuity and quality: Vista PHX, Corp. would own and support the Spyder X80, Spyder X20, Phoenix, Terra, and Mastering Gateway platforms, with an unwavering commitment to quality, reliability, and performance.
• Experienced leadership: Led by CEO Clark Williams and CFO Jeff Wilson, Vista PHX, Corp., brings decades of hands-on expertise in designing, delivering, and supporting mission-critical video systems.

CINCINNATI—Video conversion and AV signal distribution specialist tvONE and Matrox Video have struck a strategic partnership, combining CALICO PRO’s video processing with the Matrox ConvertIP Series of encoder-decoders and converters.

The integration provides users with a means to connect SMPTE ST-2110 and IPMX infrastructures while supporting compressed and uncompressed workflows with pixel-perfect results across broadcast, live event, control room and experiential applications, tvONE said.

“This is the kind of innovation that moves the needle,” Bob Bonniol, director of innovation for video at ACT Entertainment, said. “tvONE and Matrox Video are not just connecting devices; they are connecting creative potential. CALICO PRO’s processing power paired with ConvertIP’s ST-2110 agility gives designers and technologists the tools to build immersive, scalable systems that were previously out of reach.”

With CALICO PRO’s 66 million-pixel engine and Matrox Video’s Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) core, users gain flexibility, fidelity and future-proof performance, the compabny said. Adding ST-2110 workflows to CALICO PRO enables direct integration into broadcast-grade IP infrastructures, allowing the video processor to ingest uncompressed, low-latency video streams with precision, tvONE said.

AMSTERDAM—German manufacturer Guntermann & Drunck GmbH (G&D) has announced that it will present a wide range of KVM and video processing solutions for broadcast and control room environments during IBC2025 between Sept. 12 to 15 at its booth 8.B51.

One of the key highlights of its live demos during the show will be the new VisionVS solution, which was developed in close collaboration with sister company VuWall.

This compact solution combines powerful KVM control with advanced video wall visualization, bridging the gap between two previously separate system worlds. Thanks to dual encoding technology, VisionVS simultaneously transmits two encrypted video streams – one in G&D’s proprietary bluedec™ format and a second in the VuWall format. The solution is particularly well-suited for mission-critical control rooms, where real-time transmission, low latency, and minimal hardware requirements are essential, the company explained.

Another highlight is the PersonalWorkplace-Controller, a flexible multi-viewing tool designed for broadcast environments. It allows users to display and control multiple video and computer signals on one or more screens within a customizable interface – ideal for control rooms, production studios, or master control rooms. The controller enhances clarity, improves workflows, and enables ergonomic operator station setups without compromising image quality or response time, the company reported.

During the show, G&D will also be demonstrating how its space-saving KVM and matrix solutions can be seamlessly integrated into OB vans and live studios. In environments where space is limited and maximum operational reliability is essential, these systems enable centralized, real-time control of technical resources. By relocating high-performance computers, heat and noise levels in the working environment are significantly reduced. At the same time, features such as multi-viewing, 4K resolution, redundant system structures, and encrypted signal transmission support the development of efficient, scalable production setups, the company said.

Whether in live production, broadcast control rooms, or OB vans, the demos will also show how its solution provide reliable access to distributed computer systems and are engineered to offer seamless control, high availability, and user-friendly integration in complex environments. By enabling centralized computer access and reducing heat, noise, and physical footprint at workstations, G&D helps create ergonomic, quiet, and fail-safe environments that are ideal for mission-critical applications, the company said.

More information about G&D’s solutions is available at www.gdsys.com.

AUSTIN, Texas—Media Excel today announced a strategic collaboration with Akamai aimed at delivering video processing capabilities. 

A participant in the Akamai Qualified Compute Partner (QCP) Program, Media Excel’s HERO encoders and transcoders are now optimized to achieve significantly increased density on Akamai’s cloud-based GPU instances. This allows Media Excel to deliver improved performance that enables content providers to process more video streams at the same time without compromising quality, Media Excel said.

The GPU instances also enable the low-cost deployment of AI-based encoding on HERO, which can lower the price of bandwidth for users, it said.

“Akamai’s GPU-enabled cloud instances provide the perfect platform for our DIVA-enabled encoding technology,” said Media Excel CEO Narayanan Rajan. “By optimizing the use of both CPU and GPU resources, we can push the boundaries of video processing, offering our customers superior results while minimizing their TCO [total cost of ownership].”

The partnership introduces new cost efficiencies to the market. Leveraging the competitive pricing of Akamai’s GPU instances, Media Excel and Akamai are able to offer compelling per-channel pricing regardless of scale. This makes high-quality video processing accessible to a broader range of content owners and service providers, Media Excel said.

“Running Media Excel’s high-density video processing solutions on Akamai helps give media companies the control over their workflows that they’re asking for,” said Dan Lawrence, vice president of cloud computing at Akamai. “Together, we’re helping to make high-performance video encoding, transcoding, more affordable at a global scale.”

More information is available on the Media Excel and Akamai websites.

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Sept. 3, 2019 – Cobalt Digital today announced it has signed a master distributor agreement with Plura MEA for sales and support in the Middle East and Africa region. Plura MEA will provide sales and support for Cobalt’s extensive product line of video and audio conversion, processing, and monitoring standalone modules and card-based solutions for openGear® frames.

“This is a major step in the continued expansion of our efforts to provide Cobalt Digital product sales and support across the world,” said Chris Shaw, executive vice president of sales and marketing, Cobalt Digital. “Plura MEA is an ideal company to promote the Cobalt brand in the Middle Eastern region, and we are pleased to work with them to expand our global footprint in this growing market.”

Based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Plura MEA is a subsidiary of Plura Broadcast, Inc., which also has offices in Germany, South Korea, and the United States. Plura is a leading international manufacturer of high-performance video monitors, sync and timing, and calibration solutions for professional media markets.

“This is a tremendous addition to the Plura MEA portfolio of products, backed up with more than 30 years of market experience,” said Hassan Salamah, business development manager, Plura MEA. “Our new alliance with Cobalt presents substantial opportunities for both companies to offer extensive and interconnected solutions to a wide spectrum of market segments.”

“As a big advocate of long-term strategic alliances, I’m convinced this agreement will lead to collaborative prosperity and market development,” added Ray Kalo, president and CEO of Plura. “Our work with Cobalt will provide strength and cohesion in our international business philosophy.”

Cobalt’s product line, including a number of new 4K and HDR card-based workflow solutions, will be displayed next week in Stand 10.B44 at IBC2019 in Amsterdam.

About Cobalt Digital
Cobalt Digital Inc. designs and manufactures award-winning edge devices that help live video production and master control clients transition to IP, 4K, HDR, the cloud, and beyond. As a founding partner in the openGear® initiative and proud member of SMPTE, Cobalt also offers a best-of-breed interoperability platform that simplifies technological adoption. Distributed through a worldwide network of dealers, system integrators, and other partners, Cobalt Digital products are backed with a five-year warranty. Learn more at www.cobaltdigital.com. 

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – June 10, 2019 – Cobalt Digital today announced the promotion of Kyle Wilken to vice president of firmware. Wilken joined the company in 2013 as a senior FPGA engineer, and was previously promoted to embedded systems development manager in 2015.

“Over the past six years, Kyle has become an invaluable member of the Cobalt Digital engineering department. His contributions to the development of Cobalt equipment in many groundbreaking technologies, specifically HDR, are seen daily by millions of viewers across the world,” said Ryan Wallenberg, vice president of engineering. “In this position, Kyle will continue to provide the vision and engineering management required to help drive our amazing product pipeline and bring our designs to market.”

“Kyle is a strong team player and provides the strength in engineering that is vital for the future of Cobalt,” added Gene Zimmerman, president and CEO of Cobalt Digital. “We are pleased to promote from within and have him as part of our engineering management team.”

Wilken is based in the company’s main headquarters in Champaign. Contact him at 217-344-1243 or via email at kyle.wilken@cobaltdigital.com.

About Cobalt Digital
Cobalt Digital Inc. designs and manufactures award-winning edge devices that help live video production and master control clients transition to IP, 4K, HDR, the cloud, and beyond. As a founding partner in the openGear® initiative and proud member of SMPTE, Cobalt also offers a best-of-breed interoperability platform that simplifies technological adoption. Distributed through a worldwide network of dealers, system integrators, and other partners, Cobalt Digital products are backed with a five-year warranty. Learn more at www.cobaltdigital.com. 

Cypress, CA, February 26, 2019 – After introducing the world’s first single link 12G-SDI production switcher at last year’s NAB convention, FOR-A® forges ahead with a showcase of working 12G technology at the upcoming NAB Show. Production switchers, video servers, keyers and test signal generators that support both 12G-SDI/4K and 3G-SDI/HD resolution will be booth highlights for FOR-A (NAB Booth #C5016.) The 2019 NAB Show will be held from April 8-11 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

“With the HANABI HVS-6000, we are the first to create a production switcher with enough bandwidth to carry the signals all the way through using a single coaxial cable,” said Takaaki Imoto, Senior General Manager of FOR-A Overseas Sales & Marketing Division. “This ability to process 4K video signals that input from a single cable of 12G-SDI is a big step, particularly as we advance toward even higher resolution formats for production. With four times the bandwidth of HD, 12G is the current ideal for high-resolution 4K production. We’re moving forward aggressively with this technology, incorporating it into our existing and developing product range.”

Offering 12G-SDI capability on all inputs and outputs, the 3 M/E HANABI HVS-6000 uses a single cable link. Video signals are processed throughout as a single image. The HVS-6000 is a 12 RU switcher, with a maximum of 80 inputs/32 outputs or 64 inputs/48 outputs. It also offers frame synchronization, frame buffer, 3D DVE, and 4 keyers per M/E with DVE function + 4 DSK’s. Its optional board-mounting SFP connector that supports an IP interface will debut at NAB 2019.

The HANABI HVS-1200, a compact 4K/HD compatible switcher, will be on display as a package supporting 12G-SDI, with the MFR-1000 routing switcher. The integrated HVS-1200/MFR-1000 combination creates a compact and affordable 12G-SDI/4K production system. This switcher builds on the features of the HANABI HVS-490 video switcher and adds 12G-SDI support as standard. The switcher also utilizes a single cable for image processing and is configurable as both a 12G-SDI/4K and as a 3G-SDI/HD switcher. In HD mode, the switcher accepts up to 40 inputs, and in 4K mode it accepts up to 10. In 4K mode, the switcher provides 2 ME performance (1 ME + 1 MELite™), and in HD mode it’s a 6 ME (2 ME + 4 MELite) switcher virtually.

Making its introduction at the show is the new DSK-4800 4K downstream keyer. The DSK-4800 accepts mixed 12G-SDI and quad link 3G-SDI input. It includes frame synchronization for all fill/key inputs. Up to 10-channel keying is supported, with 8 fill/key channels, + still + DVE (optional). Using the optional DVE, operators can enlarge, reduce, or move input signals from one input (including line) over other signals.

The ESG-4200 12G/IP test signal generator will also be on hand in FOR-A’s NAB booth. The ESG-4200 supports 12G-SDI, Video-over-IP SMPTE 2022-6 interfaces and provides a range of audio and 4K video testing.

A 12G-SDI/IP multi-channel video server will be at the FOR-A booth. The MBP-1000VS is ideal for 4K editing environments, offering multi-input/output 4K and HD support and ingest, playout and 4K recording functionality. Users can choose from four SSD capacities with maximum 15TB to meet their system needs and can add an LTO option for immediate archiving of captured 4K material or extended recording.

In addition to single-link 12G-SDI, FOR-A will also demonstrate products that support 4K, IP and HDR. 4K-supporting switchers in the FOR-A NAB booth will include the powerful HANABI HVS-2000, which offers the performance of a 7 M/E switcher; the compact, affordable HVS-490; and the HVS-100, which offers exceptional performance in a portable unit.

IP video introductions include: the SOM-100 media orchestration platform, the USF-10IP IP Gateway, and the MBP-1000VS-IP video server. An integrated baseband/IP control and monitoring system, the SOM-100 is designed for use in a mixed SDI/IP environment. The SOM-100 offers seamless operation of a variety of video equipment, monitored centrally from its interface.

The new version of FOR-A’s popular FA-9600 multi-purpose signal processor supports 3D LUT for advanced color grading and Sony’s SR Live workflow for live HDR production. The dual-channel unit provides HDR and Wide Color Gamut support and conversion of multiple formats, such as: 12G, 4K (UHD), 1080p, and SD/HD. Each of the FA-9600 processor’s two HD/SD inputs includes a frame synchronizer. Because the multi-purpose signal processor features 12G-SDI terminals, optional software opens the door to 4K(UHD) production.

The entire USF-Series of universal system frames, including the USF-106UDC-12G 4K up/down converter (which offers interlace/progressive and up/down conversion for a range of signals from SD and HD to 4K), will be on hand at the FOR-A NAB booth. Other USF series supporting 12G, such as the USF-105FS-12G frame synchronizer, USF-105UC-12G up converter, and USF-101MDX4-12G/101MDX8-12G audio multiplexer/demultiplexer, will also be introduced.

Additionally, FOR-A will demonstrate efficient HD integration with third party graphics, replay systems and production servers, including partner products such as: the ODYSSEY Insight video server; the ClassX content creation and graphics playout solution; Variant Systems Group’s Envivo Replay sports and live event replay solution; Media Links’ IP Media Gateway, Fujitsu’s IP-HE950 H.265/HEVC real-time video encoders; and InSync's frame synchronizer, frame rate converter, and up/down converters. 

LAS VEGAS—Ericsson has announced the debut of its new media processing system, the Ericsson MediaFirst Video Processing unit. Combining a suite of processing capabilities and video compression research, as well as the ability to compliment the MediaFirst TV Platform, the MediaFirst Video Processing system provides a “cloud-centric” TV experience, according to the company’s press release.

There are three main elements to Ericsson’s new system: software-defined management and workflow is used to manage video processing configurations and architectures that cover multiple compute platforms; a suite of video coding algorithms and processing functions to build head-end functions to deliver video; and support for any compute environment to deploy MediaFirst Video Processing across private and public clouds and on Ericsson custom platforms.

Ericsson says that this is the first offering to come from the integration of its compression software with Envivio’s software-based encoding portfolios. Ericsson acquired Envivio in the fourth quarter of 2015.