Even though Internet Protocol (IP)-based systems are still in a phase where standards need to evolve and necessary features need to be consolidated, the opportunities they offer in terms of remote and centralised production are simply superior, Christian Gobbel, HBS' Chief Technical Officer told attendees at last week's SVG Chairman's Forum in Las Vegas. We will see IP-based broadcast operations being used more and more in the coming months and years.
Kicking off NAB week, the SVG Chairman's Forum panel allowed Gobbel, alongside IMG's David Shield and Alan Bright, to discuss how IGBS, a 50-50 joint venture between IMG and HBS, will take advantage of IP technology to create new ways to handle Master Control Room (MCR) operations and more later this year at the Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan.
However, HBS has already seen the benefit of the evolving technology in an operational environment. Infront, HBS' parent company, together with ORF, were the Host Broadcaster of the 2019 FIS Nordic Championships that took place in March in Seefeld, Austria. HBS, tasked with the technical set-up and MCR operations for the event, commissioned a fully IP-based data transportation network, which allowed for decentralised video and audio switching. The set-up consisted of a central core system (pod), interconnected to multiple distribution pods redundantly via fibre. Once connected, the core and distribution pods functioned as one non-blocking switching unit.
The decentralised switching system was especially apt for the FIS Nordic Championships event, where competition locations Seefeld and Bergisel were separated by about 25 kilometres and production facilities were split across three areas (HB TV compound, RHB compound, IBC). The set-up allowed for easy transport of multiple signals through the existing dark fibre infrastructure provided by Austrian telecom company A1.
Easy fibre transportation of the video and audio isn't the only revolutionary thing about the IP-based switching network. Owing to the decentralised nature of the set-up, individual units can be installed in different physical locations and are interconnected either via dark fibre or WAN infrastructures. Pre-packed IP pods can also be installed much faster compared to a conventional SDI-based system, which requires SDI routers and distribution amplifiers.
With five different competition and production locations, the 2019 FIS Nordic Championships were an exciting engineering challenge, Gobbel explained. The technical infrastructure that was implemented allowed for time-saving, more flexibility in the workflows and will have a positive impact on the production of events of all sizes.
At Seefeld, around 60 VandA circuits were interconnected redundantly over a distance of 800m between the HB facilities and the IBC, with distribution of feeds made available both at the IBC and at the RHB TV Compound next to the IBC. In total, more than 40 feeds and isos were made available to the rights holders taking advantage of the decentralised nature of the IP distribution network.
The deployment at the Rugby World Cup 2019 will be a bigger test, but, as Christian explained at the SVG Chairman's Forum, the cost-effective and future-proof approach using IP-based systems offers a lot of potential benefits to the industry.
Share this page
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
07/10/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, today announced the latest Long-Term Supported (LTS) release of Dalet Flex. Build...
06/09/2026
June 9 2026, 23:00 (PDT) Dolby and MagentaTV Bring Fans Closer to the FIFA Worl...
04/08/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
16/07/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
16/07/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
16/07/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
16/07/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
16/07/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
16/07/2026
Zixi, a leader in live video delivery and workflow orchestration, and Comcast Technology Solutions (CTS) today announced a strategic new integration to deliver ...
16/07/2026
Blackmagic Design Cameras Capture Immersive Flight for New Cirrus App
Brie Clayton July 15, 2026
0 Comments
Leader in Personal Aviation taps URSA Cin...
16/07/2026
XenData Announces LTO Archive Appliances with both File and S3 Object Storage In...
15/07/2026
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is a big deal for DAZN, which has distribution rights in three markets: Italy, Spain, and Japan. Each requires a different editorial app...
15/07/2026
As sports-media organizations manage rapidly growing content libraries and incre...
15/07/2026
HBS director of digital Johannes Franken talks SVG Europe through the operation built to serve FIFA World Cup 2026 rights holders remotely from Stratford, east ...
15/07/2026
IBC has unveiled the conference program for IBC2026, with this year's event ...
15/07/2026
Software-defined wideband RF platform supports 96-kHz monitoring, streamlined fr...
15/07/2026
New AI-powered module enables broadcasters and content owners to extract dialogu...
15/07/2026
Weeklong gathering at EBU headquarters will test new IPMX capabilities and expand certified product ecosystem...
15/07/2026
Force Tech has announced the appointment of Bryan Adams, CTS, as Vice President of Integration. Adams will oversee AV and broadcast integration project delivery...
15/07/2026
USA Sports has announced an exclusive English-language agreement with the Bundes...
15/07/2026
ITV Sport's FIFA World Cup 2026 coverage has been produced from one of the m...
15/07/2026
Program will provide professional camera kits, training, and technical support to participating local newsrooms...
15/07/2026
San Francisco church becomes first U.S. deployment of the 2 M/E production switcher...
15/07/2026
Former ESPN and NFL Network executive to advise startup league on media, distribution, technology, and fan engagement...
15/07/2026
The Houston-based RSN is the live-game home of the Astros and Rockets...
15/07/2026
Launched alongside new FreqSoft installer
Designed to bridge the gap between hardware and software, Freqport's FreqInOut FO1 unit provides a simple way ...
15/07/2026
Save up to 55% on software until 23 July 2026
Expressive E have just launched their Summer Offer sale, with discounts of up to 55% now applied across their ...
15/07/2026
Real-time stem-separation tool updated
zplane have recently released a new and improved version of their real-time stem-separation plug-in which they say ma...
15/07/2026
A new benchmark in bass enhancement
Described as a new benchmark in bass enhancement , Baby Audio's latest release has been designed to augment the lo...
15/07/2026
DMC Production's AR 1 and AR 2 units reverse the conventional OB workflow, keeping all production-critical processing at the venue while operators work remo...
15/07/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
15/07/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
15/07/2026
GigaCloud, a leading Ukrainian cloud service provider, and Cubbit, the first geo-distributed cloud storage enabler, today announced a new Business Alliance Part...
15/07/2026
SMPTE, the global society for media professionals, technologists, and engineers, has announced the launch of the SMPTE 110th Anniversary Campaign, a fundraising...
15/07/2026
Studio Technologies, a leading manufacturer of high-quality audio, video, and fiber-optic solutions, unveils the new StudioComm Model 762 Stereo Level Control, ...
15/07/2026
COW Jobs: Producer, Virtual Events - Hybrid, Full Time, Salaried
Brie Clayton July 15, 2026
0 Comments
Producer, Virtual Events (Hybrid | Full-time | ...
15/07/2026
Brazilian media organization builds nationwide CDN with Broadpeak's high-performance software for low-latency streaming and new content distribution service...
15/07/2026
DHD announces a new utility designed to increase the efficiency of its audio mixing systems during initial installation and subsequent configuration.
Anyone w...
15/07/2026
BCNEXXT Brings Next-Generation Vipe to IBC2026, Breaking the 1:1 Channel-to-Server Ratio New innovations liberate broadcasters from legacy playout infrastructur...
15/07/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
15/07/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
15/07/2026
General-purpose robots and autonomous machines are moving from research labs to ...
15/07/2026
Wednesday 15 July 2026
Screeners and press pack now available: Gomorrah: The Or...
15/07/2026
Trinity's Treasures features Ruth Negga, Eleanor McEvoy, and David Norris, a...
15/07/2026
Join geographer Dr Susan Hegarty, Engineer Tim Joyce and Architect Orla Murphy a...
15/07/2026
Home to leading manufacturers, robotics pioneers, infrastructure builders and iconic gaming companies, of course, Japan is one of the world's centers of AI ...
14/07/2026
South end zone videoboard, cloud-based control system will be ready for 2026 football season...
14/07/2026
Redesigned website, enhanced mobile app unify content, ticketing, and personalized fan engagement...
Even though Internet Protocol (IP)-based systems are still in a phase where standards need to evolve and necessary features need to be consolidated, the opportunities they offer in terms of remote and centralised production are simply superior, Christian Gobbel, HBS' Chief Technical Officer told attendees at last week's SVG Chairman's Forum in Las Vegas. We will see IP-based broadcast operations being used more and more in the coming months and years. 
