HBS World Cup IP workflow centralizes production across 16 global venues

The successful execution of the HBS World Cup IP workflow confirms that high-tier live sports production can move away from localized, hardware-heavy venue setups toward centralized, software-defined models. By using JPEG XS to bypass bandwidth constraints on 100 Gb paths, HBS proved that uncompressed and compressed streams can coexist without sacrificing the visual fidelity required for UHD HDR broadcasts. This shift reduces the physical footprint required at stadiums while allowing specialized talent to work from a single hub. As rights holders look to optimize resources for multi-country events, this deployment serves as a technical validation for large-scale remote production. Watch for whether future Olympic or UEFA cycles adopt this specific JPEG XS and ST 2110 hybrid architecture as the standard for global contribution.

HBS had been preparing its JPEG XS and ST 2110 architecture well before the first whistle. In a pre-tournament interview, Christophe Barbe, head of broadcast infrastructure at HBS, told TVBEurope that the codec was first trialled during the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup as a proof of concept for the full-scale deployment. Barbe confirmed that HBS worked with Verizon, FIFA's official telecommunications provider, to establish the underlying network, layering ST 2110 on top with both uncompressed and JPEG XS compressed streams forming the backbone. He described JPEG XS as the natural choice because it is the designated compression standard for ST 2110 and delivers the low latency that remote production demands. The scale of the deployment was confirmed in independent trade coverage during the tournament itself. Sports Video Group reported that HBS doubled its broadcast infrastructure using COTS servers and software-based processing for multiviewers, encoders, compression, and HDR/SDR conversion, handling as many as six matches per day during the Group Stage. The contribution network ran at 600 Gb of capacity per venue, with two 100-Gb paths and three redundant routes each, carrying uncompressed UHD program feeds and JPEG XS compressed camera signals between all 16 venues and the Dallas IBC without a major failure across more than 100 matches. The broader architectural significance was highlighted by ISEurope, which noted that FIFA and HBS virtualised many critical broadcast functions on approximately 60 high-performance commercial off-the-shelf servers operating as a private cloud environment rather than relying on dedicated hardware. The publication described the production architecture as built around a converged SMPTE ST 2110 environment spanning venues, the Dallas IBC, and the non-live production operation in London, with JPEG XS compression reducing bandwidth for additional camera feeds while maintaining broadcast-quality image fidelity. This software-defined approach represents a departure from previous World Cup cycles where hardware-heavy venue setups were the norm. As public broadcasters adopt software-defined production architectures to remain competitive, the HBS model provides a clear blueprint for future large-scale events.