FOR-A debuts AI-powered 9:16 autocropping and PTZ control at IBC 2026
FOR-A announced its plans to demonstrate several production and signal processing technologies at IBC 2026, including the MixBoard software-based switcher and the viztrick AiDi on-device AI solution. The showcase will also feature the FA-1616 digital video processor designed for hybrid SDI/IP workflows.
Key Takeaways
- GoVertical! AiDi uses NVIDIA infrastructure to perform 9:16 autocropping locally without requiring internet connectivity.
- MixBoard software switcher now supports integrated PTZ camera control and simultaneous multi-format streaming outputs.
- FA-1616 digital video processor manages up to 32 streams with support for 2K/4K and SDI/IP format conversion.
- Hi-RDS (hierarchical Registration and Discovery System) centralizes node management to streamline content passing between disparate vendor technologies.
Why It Matters
Why FOR-A's IBC 2026 hardware-software hybrid matters. The shift toward software-defined production tools like MixBoard reflects a broader industry move to decouple broadcast capabilities from rigid hardware cycles. By integrating on-device AI for vertical video, FOR-A addresses the immediate operational bottleneck of producing concurrent social media and broadcast feeds without doubling staff. This strategy aligns with the migration toward hybrid SDI/IP environments, where flexibility in signal processing is critical for B2B vendors navigating legacy and cloud transitions. Watch for adoption rates of the viztrick AiDi platform by Tier 1 sports broadcasters as a signal for the viability of edge-based AI in live high-stakes environments.
Additional Context
The expansion of AI-driven vertical video workflows at IBC 2026 follows significant commercial momentum for the viztrick AiDi platform. Per FOR-A America in January 2026, NBC Sports reached an agreement to deploy the on-device AI solution for live event coverage throughout the year. The system’s ability to perform facial recognition, player tracking, and scoreboard data analysis locally was cited as a primary driver for the partnership, as it reduces the latency typically associated with cloud-based AI processing. Relatedly, the collaborative ecosystem being showcased at the Amsterdam RAI aligns with recent multi-vendor integrations seen at other major trade events. Per Dejero in January 2026, the company formed an 'end-to-end critical connectivity' partnership involving FOR-A and Brainstorm to demonstrate interoperability at ISE Barcelona. This trend reflects a broader industry pivot toward verified signal chains, as broadcasters increasingly demand that software-defined switchers like MixBoard interface seamlessly with diverse third-party graphics and remote connectivity tools. Broader market data from IBC and external analysts such as Caretta Research (September 2024) indicates that hybrid production—balancing SDI reliability with IP scalability—remains the dominant infrastructure strategy for the late 2020s. FOR-A's updates to the FA-1616 and the introduction of the Hi-RDS management layer target this specifically, as engineering teams look for ways to simplify discovery and registration across increasingly fragmented vendor environments.
Read full article at sportsvideo.org
Get this in your inbox → Subscribe
Enjoy our coverage?
Add StreamingMeme as a preferred source on Google to see more of our streaming news at the top of your Search results.
Add as preferred source