Riedel adds SMPTE ST 2110 support to SimplyLive Production Suite Flex

The expansion of Riedel SMPTE ST 2110 support into the SimplyLive suite signals a shift toward hardware-agnostic, unified IP workflows that reduce the need for discrete conversion tools. By integrating transport, switching, and monitoring into a single orchestration layer via the hi human interface, Riedel is addressing the complexity of hybrid SDI-IP environments that currently plague live sports and event production. This move forces competitors to move beyond standalone protocol support toward more holistic, vendor-agnostic control platforms. Watch for the adoption rate of the Easy5G standalone product as a benchmark for private 5G viability in tier-one live broadcast environments.

Riedel Communications has been steadily building toward a unified IP production ecosystem over the past several years, with IBC2026 representing the most comprehensive demonstration of that strategy to date. The company's MediorNet platform, which serves as the backbone for signal transport and processing, has evolved from a proprietary media network into a hybrid SDI-IP architecture that now supports native SMPTE ST 2110 workflows, per tvtechnology.com, August 2026. This progression mirrors a broader industry shift: SMPTE ST 2110 has become the de facto standard for professional media over IP, replacing older SMPTE ST 2022-6/7 approaches in new facility builds.

The hi human interface, which Riedel positions as the orchestration layer across its product portfolio, represents a strategic bet on vendor-agnostic control. The browser-based platform manages routers, multiviewers, mixers, and software-defined networks from third-party manufacturers through a single interface, per content-technology.com, August 2026. This approach competes directly with control platforms from Grass Valley (GV Orbit), Sony (Evertz-based control systems), and Lawo (HOME), all of which have pursued similar unified-control strategies in recent product cycles.

The transition of Easy5G from a managed service to a standalone product solution marks a notable commercial shift. Private 5G networks for live production have gained traction since 2023, when BT Sport (now TNT Sports) deployed one of the first broadcast-grade private 5G networks for Premier League coverage. Riedel's Easy5G claims operational readiness in under 60 minutes with modular small-cell base stations, per content-technology.com, August 2026. The product targets remote productions, live events, and broadcast facilities seeking carrier-grade wireless connectivity without relying on public mobile networks.

Riedel's partnership with ARRI at IBC2026 extends the demonstration from signal processing into image capture, creating an end-to-end IP chain from camera to delivery. ARRI's involvement signals growing interest from camera manufacturers in native IP output workflows, a space where Sony's HDC-F5500 and Grass Valley's LDX series have already introduced ST 2110-native camera outputs. The SKAARHOJ control panel integration for SimplyLive further indicates Riedel's willingness to support third-party hardware interfaces rather than locking customers into proprietary control surfaces, per proavl-asia.com, August 2026.