Imagine Communications updates Selenio 6800+ with dual-channel frame synchronizers

The release signals a focus on stabilizing legacy baseband infrastructure while the industry navigates a slow transition to IP. By updating the Selenio 6800+ line, Imagine is catering to the estimated 82% of broadcasters still reliant on SDI for daily operations. This move provides a cost-effective alternative to full-scale IP migration for facilities that require high-density synchronizers without the overhead of ST 2110. Watch for whether Imagine's strategy of maintaining legacy hardware while promoting its Selenio Network Processor (SNP) captures larger market share in the tier-2 and tier-3 broadcast segments.

The launch of the DSFS6802+ arrives as broadcasters find themselves in a prolonged hybrid era. Per Haivision's 2026 Broadcast Transformation Report, while 30% of broadcasters have adopted SMPTE ST 2110, the vast majority still depend on SDI for their core backbones. This persistence of baseband is driven by the complexity and cost of PTP timing and high-bandwidth 100GbE switching required for uncompressed IP workflows. Consequently, manufacturers are forced to support dual development tracks: advanced software-defined processing for greenfield IP sites and high-density modular hardware for existing SDI plants.

Imagine has balanced these demands by marketing the Selenio 6800+ as a 'proven' modular platform alongside its flagship SNP (Selenio Network Processor). Per Imagine Communications (April 2026), the company has shipped nearly 6,000 SNP units globally, yet it continues to refresh the 6800+ series because it allows for compact, single-purpose signal processing in space-constrained environments like mobile production trucks. Recent contract wins, such as the ST 2110 migrations for Rai and France TV (February and May 2026), highlight that while tier-1 broadcasters are moving toward IP, they often utilize SDI gateways to integrate legacy content during the multi-year transition.

The broader broadcast infrastructure market is projected to reach $13.47 billion by 2026, according to Coherent Market Insights. Within this growth, the demand for 12G and 3G-SDI hardware remains stable because it offers predictable, 'plug-and-play' connectivity without the cybersecurity and configuration hurdles of multicast IP networks. Imagine's updated synchronizers directly address this 're-linearization' trend, as defined by CEO Steve Reynolds in 2025, where media companies prioritize proven return-on-investment through familiar infrastructure over purely disruptive technological shifts.