VIDI and Media Links Bring Scalable IP Transport to Germa...

During the 2025 off-season, VIDI completed a major upgrade of the broadcast infrastructure across all 36 stadiums in Germany's 1st and 2nd Bundesliga. The project included a full modernization of network connectivity and media adaptation systems, bringing the leagues production environment up to current IP standards.

To meet the enhanced production and associated IP media connectivity demands of the Bundesliga, VIDI carried out a comprehensive overhaul of its media transport and processing capabilities. The result is a unified, IP-based network designed to support an increased volume of live baseband/IP services across all venues in the league.

The new enabling technology includes the Media Links Xscend Platform. Its modular and programable design allows for flexible deployment across evolving environments, while maintaining compatibility with existing infrastructure. The system was also selected for its reliability and its ability to integrate closely with VIDI's Network Management System (NMS), enabling centralized control and visibility across all locations.

This project shows what's possible with close collaboration between service and technology provider while utilizing advanced media processing and transport capabilities to address live IP based production at scale, comments John Dale, CMO of Media Links. With Xscend, the Bundesliga can move an increased number of media and tunneled data services reliably across multiple locations, while VIDI provides the integration and control layer to manage those workflows centrally. It gives the league the flexibility to expand remote production while ensuring the highest level of reliability live sports demands.

To meet the specific requirements for signal transmission and signal return in collaboration with Sportcast GmbH, additional locations for signal handover were integrated into the network. Signal exchange is also handled using SMPTE 2110 at the central production site.

All stadiums are connected with full redundancy, enabling consistent delivery of video, audio, and data during live matches. The new infrastructure also supports expanded remote production workflows, whereby two matches per matchday in the 2nd Bundesliga are now produced remotely. Furthermore, the already established centralized audio production continues to grow, with Dolby Atmos mixes produced at the Remote Audio Control Room (RACR) in Darmstadt now covering additional matches per matchday.

To reliably manage the large number and variety of signals, VIDI enhanced its NMS with an updated booking interface and automated scheduling for all connections and services. VIDI's Network Operations Center (NOC) in Darmstadt was also expanded to provide stronger centralized support, alongside on-site coordination at the stadium.

The VIDI team successfully completed all these upgrades during the Bundesliga 2025 off-season window, and the system has been fully operational since the start of the current Bundesliga season.

VIDI and Media Links will be available to discuss this deployment and other live production projects at NAB Show 2026 on Media Links Booth W2033.

Seamus Neary, Director of Matchday Operations at Sportcast, explains: VIDI has once again demonstrated its high level of technical expertise and reliability in this project. Our collaboration is characterized by a strong commitment to innovation and professionalism qualities we have come to value time and again over the past few years. The team has once again shown why it is one of the leading service providers in the field of broadcast connectivity.

Karsten Winterberg, CTO of VIDI, adds: We are proud to once again demonstrate VIDI's capabilities through this challenging project. The Bundesliga is undoubtedly one of the most demanding sports leagues in the world. Proving that we can successfully execute a production remotely is something truly special. We are also particularly pleased that our remote audio production at the RACR in Darmstadt has become so well established and has been so well received by the client. I would also like to extend a special thank you to our technology partner Media Links, as the implementation within such a tight timeframe would not have been possible without their active support and on-time delivery.

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