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 ...
09/10/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
09/10/2026
COW Jobs: Visual Storyteller - Emeryville, CA
Brie Clayton October 9, 2026
0 Comments
Visual Storyteller
October 7, 2026 COW Jobs: Cinematographer...
09/10/2026
Master 3-Point Lighting in After Effects With an Orbiting Light Rig
Graham Quince October 9, 2026
0 Comments
Ever wondered why your 3D renders in Afte...
09/10/2026
nxtedition will exhibit for the first time at Asias Broadcasting & Infotainment Show (A.B.I.S) in Mumbai, bringing its integrated production platform and latest...
09/10/2026
Today's AI Isn't the Answer
Andy Marken October 8, 2026
0 Comments
Let's say you're telling the truth, and this is all a dream. - Do...
09/10/2026
Ikegami to Introduce New UHK-X700VN Camera at NAB New York, Offering Advanced Cr...
09/10/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
09/10/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
09/10/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
09/10/2026
Witness world firsts, new arrivals and the work that goes on behind the scenes a...
09/10/2026
September 10 2026, 06:00 (PDT) Dolby Expands Dolby OptiView Platform with New Capabilities at IBC 2026
New Sports Intelligence helps providers better unders...
08/10/2026
Modern venues have come a long way since the tinny, echoing audio of the mid 20t...
08/10/2026
ESPN's first Super Bowl production will stream in English and Spanish on Disney+, while the ESPN App carries the full slate of game, ManningCast, studio, an...
08/10/2026
From high-school videoboards to War Eagle Productions, the Opelika native is learning how to lead shows and capture big moments
The future of live sports produ...
08/10/2026
The Television Academy and Prime Video have announced a six-year agreement making Prime Video the exclusive global home of the Emmy Awards beginning with the 20...
08/10/2026
Techex will exhibit at NAB Show New York 2026 (Booth 623, Javits Center, October...
08/10/2026
X Games has announced the appointment of Steve Rogers as Chief Operating Officer. Rogers previously served as COO of World Supercross and spent nearly a decade ...
08/10/2026
Fonn Group has appointed Trevor Spielmann as Sales Director for Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Spielmann joins from EVS, where he held sales and business de...
08/10/2026
The flagship program will originate from major PG events with a four-camera production, live distribution across PGTV, social platforms
Perfect Game is bringin...
08/10/2026
Innovation rarely happens in a vacuum. More often, it happens at the point of collision: when worlds that have run on separate tracks begin to converge. That is...
08/10/2026
For decades, the production and broadcast services business has run on a familia...
08/10/2026
Uplynk, Zixi, BroadView Software, and Grass Valley have published The IP Converg...
08/10/2026
The NFL has announced the return of the Big Data Bowl, the league's analytics competition, now in its ninth year and again powered by AWS. Registration is o...
08/10/2026
Eutelsat has renewed its partnership with T l diffusion d'Alg rie (TDA), Algeria's national broadcasting network operator, for continued distribution of...
08/10/2026
Disney will livestream Super Bowl LXI on February 14, 2027, alongside the game's broadcast on ESPN and ABC. All Disney subscribers in the United States wi...
08/10/2026
RHStv and Red House Streaming have announced an expansion of their partnership w...
08/10/2026
Gray Media has announced a distribution agreement with TEGNA and DAZN to simulca...
08/10/2026
SVG readers can save 10% on registration and receive a complimentary Solutions H...
08/10/2026
PROTON Camera Innovations GmbH has been named a recipient of a 2026 Technology a...
08/10/2026
Industry leaders discuss real-world cloud workflows for live game production, pl...
08/10/2026
The next-gen audio technology joins Dolby Vision as part of Apple TV's immersive F1 experience...
08/10/2026
David France, Jesse Short Bull, Mato Wayuhi, N. Bird Runningwater, Jodi Archambau, Jhane Myers, Paul McGuire, Amber Morning Star Byars, Holly Macarro, Nick Tils...
08/10/2026
Dynamic panning plug-ins get an upgrade
Sound Particles have just announced major updates for two of their popular dynamic panning plug-ins. Energy Panner 2...
08/10/2026
New expandable instrument boasts full DMNO engine
UDO Audio have just announced the upcoming release of a new, expandable synth that packs the power of the ...
08/10/2026
Two new subwoofers added to monitoring line-up
ADAM Audio's monitoring range has just been expanded with two new DSP-equipped subwoofers, the Sub8 PRO a...
08/10/2026
eds3_5_jq(document).ready(function($) { $(#eds_sliderM519).chameleonSlider_2_1({ content_source:......
08/10/2026
Calrec gives broadcasters freedom of choice at NAB Show New York We're looking forward to meeting up with you all at NAB New York on 21st-22nd October.
Cal...
08/10/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
08/10/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
08/10/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
08/10/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
08/10/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
08/10/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
08/10/2026
Globecast, a leading provider of broadcast, media and entertainment managed services, will showcase its next generation of media orchestration services at NAB S...
08/10/2026
Clear-Com played a critical role in the production communications infrastructure for Rock in Rio 2026, one of the world's largest and most recognized music...
08/10/2026
Sohonet Launches ClearView Rush: A Leap Forward in Studio Review, Built for Crea...
08/10/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
08/10/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
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. 
