Blackmagic builds 100G Ethernet pipeline for live immersive and cinematic production

Blackmagic is packaging 100G Ethernet and SMPTE-2110 compliance across an end-to-end production stack — from capture (URSA Cine cameras) to recording (HyperDeck ISO Recorder 100G) to storage (Media Dock Ultra) to network bridging (StudioBridge 10G PWR) — at price points that undercut traditional broadcast gear. The URSA Cine Immersive 100G is particularly notable as the first camera built specifically for live Apple Immersive Video, connecting directly to Apple's newly announced live SMPTE-2110 production format for Vision Pro. Watch whether additional camera manufacturers follow Blackmagic into immersive live production, and whether Apple's live immersive format drives demand for 100G Ethernet infrastructure in broadcast facilities.

Blackmagic's announcement builds on a broader SMPTE-2110 product expansion the company previewed ahead of the 2026 NAB Show. Per NewscastStudio (April 2026), Blackmagic introduced a full IP infrastructure lineup at NAB including the ATEM 4 M/E Constellation IP switcher (starting at $7,995), the HyperDeck ISO Recorder 100G ($4,995), the Blackmagic Ethernet Switch 820 with eight 100G ports ($2,295), and the Cloud Store Ultra with up to 48 TB capacity ($8,835). The Media Dock Ultra was priced at $2,995 and the StudioBridge 10G PWR at $2,495, with availability scheduled for June 2026. CEO Grant Petty emphasized the dual-100G-port architecture as essential for simultaneous recording and editing workflows.

The URSA Cine Immersive 100G has already seen real-world deployment. According to TV Tech (2026), the camera was used for Spectrum Front Row, a series of live Los Angeles Lakers games streamed in Apple Immersive Video during the 2025-2026 NBA season, available on demand via the Spectrum SportsNet and NBA apps for Apple Vision Pro. The URSA Live Encoder keeps camera data rates under 50 Gb/s, allowing two cameras to share a single 100G Ethernet connection.

Apple itself formalized the live production pipeline at WWDC26, as covered by CineD and Apple's developer documentation. The company introduced live media formats that transport immersive ProRes video as SMPTE-2110-22 streams, spatial audio as 2110-30, and per-frame metadata as 2110-41 — all over standard IP infrastructure. Apple also announced static foveation for distribution, which downscales 8K-per-eye 90fps capture to a streamable 4K frame while preserving central perceptual resolution, and extended the Immersive Media Support framework to iPadOS and iOS.