NEP Group has launched NEP Platform, a new software orchestration system that unifies the deployment of critical, multi-vendor production applications within a single, secure interface.On a briefing call, NEP Platform VP Dan Murphy explained how, after several years examining how software is reshaping the media industry, NEP set out to rethink workflows to better support content delivery and audience engagement in an increasingly digital landscape.
As broadcasters, rights holders, leagues, and streamers navigate a hybrid world blending software and hardware, the need for more integrated, flexible solutions has become clear. Danconcept that future of live production will not be defined by hardware or software alone, but rather by how effectively both types of solutions integrate with each other
In response, NEP launched NEP Platform, a software orchestration system designed to unify critical production applications from multiple vendors within a single, secure interface. The result of significant long-term investment, NEP Platform aims to help media companies future-proof operations and adapt to the evolving demands of modern production.
How do you see NEP Platform being used in the live sports market, particularly given the industry's heavy investment in hardware-based mobile units?Dan Murphy: For a long time, we've been able to offer customers choice in the size of mobile unit or FlyPack, but those are long-term investments - 10 to 15 years - and because of that, generally speaking, we have been limited in the amount of flexibility we can offer.
What we see in the sports market is the different requirements from our customers changing dramatically, and we see our customers embracing software today.
There are very few even major sporting events today that don't have some kind of software processing workflow involved , it's just not necessarily as integrated as it used to be when it was all hardware and it was all licensed self-contained. And the transition's been really rough. We've seen customers struggle with software versioning, security, how to actually make that interoperable with existing hardware workflows.
What the NEP platform is going to do is help our customers take advantage of the software workflows that they already have, or to expand their software workflows or provide the ability to do more in ad hoc ways and just be more flexible with software while still integrating with hardware.
If you look at some of the biggest sporting events on the planet, they are being driven by software workflows. And today, it's not exclusively software. Of course, we still have some hardware being used, but very quickly we're seeing a dramatic shift. And there have been major international sporting events in the last two years that have been done a hundred percent in software with our technology. So, we've proven this out at the very top tier of sports in the world.
And for us, it's about making sure that our customers have the right workflow and that they have the flexibility that they need and that they're future proofed with whatever technology they're investing in.
So that's why we are focused on - how to make software work today, as well as with an eye to the future and all the things that software can unlock, making sure that we are first to market providing those workflows and solutions to our customers.
Where does NEP Platform sit within NEP's broader evolution, alongside developments like Andrews Hub and TFC?Dan Murphy: I believe this is bigger than TFC. TFC allowed us to create an orchestration layer across hardware, but this is about transforming the technology itself and unlocking true scalability.
It's exciting because it removes constraints that have existed since the beginning of television, which has always been hardware-driven. Other industries have been able to adopt virtualization and cloud much earlier because they don't have the same complexity as live television.
This is the biggest change our industry will go through, and we're just at the beginning. We want to ensure NEP - and our customers - are fully transitioned into a software-driven future.
The platform has already been used at several live events. Can you share any details?Dan Murphy: It's currently running on three of our mobile units, one in Australia and two in Europe, including one in Norway. We've also used the platform on multiple major international events this year, including in Paris and Italy, with another major event in the US later in the year.
For us, software enables us to deliver greater value to customers, and the platform is how we bring that to life.
How can customers start using the platform?Dan Murphy: We encourage customers to speak with their local NEP representatives. The platform can be deployed in multiple ways; on-prem, in data centres, or in shared environments, with software applications layered on top.
Importantly, we're not just offering a simple install. We understand the transition from hardware to software is complex because we've been through it ourselves.
So alongside the platform, we provide proven workflows and NEP support to ensure infrastructure is as reliable as customers need. It's about working together to find the right approach, especially for those considering a hardware refresh or looking to scale more flexibly.
Will NEP help customers determine the right software approach for their needs?Dan Murphy: Yes. A key goal is to maintain familiar workflows, especially in the control room for operators, directors, and producers. We want to deliver the flexibility of software without disrupting what already works.
We can guide customers on application choices and workflow migration, but this isn't an instant switchover. Most companies have significant hardware invest
