NAB 2026: Eastern Kentucky University deploys campus-wide ST 2110 network with Riedel and Bridge Digital

Riedel Communications (Booth C4908) announced that Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) has implemented a MediorNet-based IP production and communications infrastructure, designed and integrated by Bridge Digital.

The deployment transitions the university from SDI to a SMPTE ST 2110 environment, enabling routing of signals across a 100-gigabit campus fibre network linking facilities including Alumni Coliseum, the Perkins Building and the Center for the Arts. The system supports live production across multiple venues and is intended to provide a unified workflow for sports and events.

What we really wanted was consistency and flexibility without throwing away what we already had. By moving to a hybrid ST 2110 approach, we've kept our legacy gear in place while creating a unified system where everything works together. Users can walk into any room and feel comfortable right away. It's simplified training, reduced costs, and set us up for the future, said Dwayne Bolin, Video Systems Engineer at EKU. Having a partner like Bridge was incredibly valuable - they took a lot of the weight off our shoulders. They had already done the heavy lifting, so they could recommend systems and products that worked together seamlessly.

EKU's previous infrastructure relied on point-to-point fibre connections and SDI signal paths, which limited routing flexibility. The new system uses the university's existing fibre backbone with commercial off-the-shelf IP switches and Riedel MediorNet MuoN A processing SFPs, which provide gateway conversion, frame synchronisation and HD-SDI processing.

Production is centred around two main hubs at the Perkins Building and Alumni Coliseum, connected via a 100-gigabit network path. Different sports are routed through these hubs depending on location, with signals transported over the shared network into central control rooms. The system removes the need for additional fibre installation between venues.

The Center for the Arts has also been integrated into the network, supporting events such as commencements and concerts. It uses PTZ cameras, a Dante interface and MediorNet FusioN frames, allowing audio, video and communications workflows to operate within the same infrastructure.

At venue level, MediorNet FusioN frames provide local I/O, multiviewing and integration of SDI equipment, enabling continued use of existing cameras and workflows. The system's multicast addressing and diagnostic tools support monitoring and operational management across the network.

The beauty of FusioN is that it fuses the past with the present, allowing teams to bring legacy signals into a modern IP workflow, said Aubrey Shamel, Systems Design Engineer, Bridge Digital. When we first walked into EKU, they had an extensive fiber backbone that wasn't being fully utilized. By moving to an ST 2110 workflow with MediorNet FusioNs with MuoN processing at the edge, they gained the flexibility to route anything anywhere without changing the operator's workflows - enabling the production team to shift between control rooms without remapping sources or patching cables.

Shamel added: Not having to run new fiber and being able to bring SDI sources into the network anywhere on campus also made the transition smoother, faster, and more cost-effective.

Communications across the campus use Bolero wireless intercom systems, with antenna deployments covering key venues, and PunQtum wired partyline systems in control rooms and engineering spaces.

We use Bolero for field communications and PunQtum throughout our control rooms, and the combination has been incredibly powerful. The clarity, flexibility, and ease of use have made a huge difference in how our crews operate, and the biggest impact has been the increase in quality of our shows, added Katie Adkins, Assistant Director of Broadcasting and Video at EKU. Clearer communication, less troubleshooting, and more time to train students means they're leaving here better prepared for the industry.

Following installation, EKU produced its first football game using the new infrastructure, which has remained in operation since commissioning.

We're proud to support Eastern Kentucky University alongside Bridge Digital as they modernize their production environment, said Julia Rodgers, Southeast Regional Sales Manager, Riedel Communications. MediorNet FusioNs with MuoN processing, and our Bolero and PunQtum intercom systems give EKU a scalable, flexible foundation for daily operations. The new infrastructure adapts easily to different production demands, reduces setup time, and preserves compatibility with their existing SDI equipment.

Riedel is presenting its solutions at NAB Show 2026 in Las Vegas (Booth C4908).

LINK:	https://www.sportsvideo.org/2026/04/22/nab-2026-eastern-kentucky-unive...
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