MainConcept launches beta ST 2110 SDK for software-only broadcast ingest

The move to software-based ST 2110 reception allows broadcasters to virtualize ingest and monitoring without the expense or physical limits of specialized hardware. By decoupling essence handling from dedicated network cards, developers can more easily integrate professional IP workflows into cloud and software-defined architectures. This development challenges the dominance of hardware-centric vendors in the shift away from legacy SDI. As uncompressed video over IP matures, watch for whether software-only performance can maintain the sub-microsecond synchronization required for Tier-1 live production.

The transition from SDI to IP has entered a more mature phase as major broadcasters prioritize software-defined infrastructure. Per TVBEurope in May 2026, the industry is moving beyond initial IP adoption toward environments where cloud and virtualization are operational standards rather than theoretical models. This shift is supported by open-source initiatives like the Open Visual Cloud Media Transport Library (MTL), which enables ST 2110 to run on standard commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) hardware with widely available network interface cards (NICs). These developments reduce the historical reliance on specialized, proprietary silicon that previously acted as a bottleneck for IP migration.

While SMPTE ST 2110 handles the data plane, the control plane increasingly relies on the Networked Media Open Specifications (NMOS) for device discovery and management. Per Commercial Integrator in May 2026, the convergence of broadcast and Pro AV is also accelerating the adoption of IPMX (Internet Protocol Media Experience), which builds on ST 2110 to allow uncompressed and compressed media to coexist on the same network. This interoperability is vital for hybrid environments; for instance, Cobalt Digital showcased systems at InfoComm 2026 that bridge broadcast-grade ST 2110 with hybrid Internet-to-IPMX gateways.

Market analysis from early 2026 suggests that while 4K and 8K uncompressed streams can consume up to 12Gbps per feed, the efficiency of managing these as independent essences—rather than multiplexed signals—is driving a projected 12% compound annual growth rate for the IP broadcast market through 2030. However, synchronization remains a hurdle; industry reports from mid-2025 noted that nearly half of technical support issues in early ST 2110 deployments were related to Precision Time Protocol (PTP) configuration errors. MainConcept’s SDK release addresses these complexities by integrating control features like NMOS directly into a software-based ingest point.