Imagine Communications launches SNP-XL to bridge high-density SDI and IP workflows
Imagine Communications has announced the SNP-XL, an expansion of its Selenio Network Processor line, designed for high-density gateway applications. This new hardware enhances SDI I/O capabilities, supporting SMPTE ST 2110 and ST2022-6 standards, enabling up to 64x 1080p synchronizing gateways on a single unit. The SNP-XL extends the existing SNP family with increased flexibility for SDI-intensive and UHD workflows.
Key Takeaways
- Supports 64x 1080p synchronizing gateways (32 in each direction) using the new Double-Density Gateway personality.
- Provides simultaneous support for UHD via 12G-SDI, 6G-SDI, and 4x3G 2SI formats on both inputs and outputs.
- Eliminated shared SDI connector limitations by making all SDI inputs and outputs available simultaneously.
- Maintains 100GbE main/protect links and full interoperability with existing SNP software, licenses, and APIs.
- Enables SDI-to-SDI processing for all personalities, including a 32-channel frame synchronizer and color processor mode.
Why It Matters
The SNP-XL addresses a critical bottleneck for tier-1 broadcasters migrating to IP. By providing a high-density bridge that does not force a choice between SDI and IP I/O, Imagine allows facilities to sweat legacy assets while scaling ST 2110 production. Concretely, this enables more efficient 12G-UHD workflows and reduces rack space requirements for hybrid facilities. Competitively, this positions Imagine to defend its significant presence in European and Asian master control markets against Grass Valley’s AMPP and Evertz’s SDVN. Broadcasters should watch for the adoption of the SNP-XL in large-scale live sports environments, where high-density synchronization is required for sub-frame latency requirements.
Additional Context
The launch of the SNP-XL follows a significant period of growth for the Selenio Network Processor platform. Per Imagine Communications disclosures in September 2024, the company celebrated the shipment of its 4,000th SNP unit, with the platform deployed by over 280 unique customers across broadcast, sports, and live event sectors. High-profile implementations include France Télévisions, which utilized the SNP for UHD coverage of the 2024 Paris Games before expanding its deployment to interconnect regional stations via ST 2110. Additionally, NBC Sports reportedly selected Imagine’s production infrastructure to support signal processing for the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.
Market competition in the signal processing space has intensified as vendors shift toward software-defined hardware. Per industry analysis from March 2026, Imagine Communications maintains a strong regional foothold in EMEA and APAC, specifically in playout and master control, while facing direct pressure from Grass Valley’s AMPP ecosystem and Evertz Technologies. Recent developments from competitors include Evertz’s 2025 launch of an AI-integrated software-defined networking suite and the 2026 debut of Imagine’s own SNP-XS, a scaled-down version of the processor designed for space-constrained environments like mobile production trucks. These hardware iterations suggest a bifurcated market strategy: the SNP-XL for high-density core infrastructure and the SNP-XS for the network edge, reflecting the industry's focus on total-cost-to-operate and hybrid-cloud resilience.
Read full article at imaginecommunications.com
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