Imagine and Cisco integrate IP fabrics for SMPTE ST 2110 production

This integration addresses the complexity of managing uncompressed ST 2110 streams, which can quickly saturate standard network switches without broadcast-specific orchestration. By merging IT-centric fabric control with broadcast-centric routing interfaces, Imagine and Cisco are lowering the technical barrier for mid-sized facilities transitioning from SDI. The ecosystem move toward 400G/800G infrastructure signals that the industry is preparing for widespread uncompressed UHD and 8K production, where bandwidth intelligence is no longer optional. Watch for whether this integrated approach can gain market share against proprietary software-defined networking (SDN) solutions from competitors like EVS or Grass Valley.

The transition to IP production continues to face a significant 'complexity gap,' with 82% of broadcast operations still relying on SDI backbones as of April 2026, per Haivision’s annual trends report. While tier-1 broadcasters like France Télévisions have committed to full ST 2110 rollouts—recently deploying 60 Imagine SNP-XS units for a national media exchange—smaller regional players are opting for hybrid models. These smaller facilities utilize high-density gateways to bridge legacy baseband signals with emerging IP fabrics without a total forklift upgrade of existing infrastructure.

Technological maturity in the ST 2110 space is increasingly focused on density and portability. Imagine Communications debuted the SNP-XS in late 2025, specifically targeting space-constrained environments like mobile production trucks and remote hubs. Concurrently, the industry is moving toward higher-capacity networking to offset the bandwidth demands of 4K/8K, which require up to four times the capacity of standard HD signals. According to recent reports from IBC, uncompressed 8K trials are driving 100Gbps switches to their limits, necessitating the move toward 400G and 800G backbones now supported by the Cisco Nexus 9000 series.

Control and monitoring also remain primary friction points. Per TV Technology (April 2026), the shift to all-IP has redistributed complexity from physical cabling to software configuration and timing (PTP) management. This has spurred a wave of vendor collaborations, such as the EVS Cerebrum and Cisco NDFC integration, aimed at creating 'single-pane-of-glass' management. These alliances, including the current Imagine-Cisco partnership, are essential for reducing the 25% to 30% surge in configuration time often reported during early ST 2110 deployments.