SMPTE Courses Target ST 2110 IP Transition Skills for Media Professionals

The industry's ongoing transition to IP-based media production demands specialized technical proficiency. SMPTE's focused curriculum directly addresses this skills gap, providing structured training in ST 2110 and IP networking fundamentals. This initiative influences workforce readiness and accelerates broader IP adoption across the streaming ecosystem. Watch for shifts in hiring requirements and the emergence of new specialist roles as these skills become more prevalent.

The emphasis on ST 2110 training from SMPTE aligns with the standard's continued evolution and widespread adoption nearly a decade after its introduction. John Mailhot, SVP of Product Management at Imagine Communications, noted in TVBEurope (June 2026) that ST 2110 has transitioned from an emerging standard to a foundational element for modern media infrastructure, underpinning new facilities and large-scale live productions. This maturity translates to faster deployment and reduced integration complexity.

While ST 2110 governs media transport between physical devices, newer initiatives like the Media eXchange Layer (MXL) and the Joint Taskforce on Dynamic Media Facilities (JT-DMF) are also gaining traction. MXL, now at its 1.0 release as an open-source project, focuses on efficient media exchange between software processes within shared computing environments like Kubernetes clusters (NewscastStudio, June 2026). Industry experts clarify that MXL is complementary to ST 2110, not a replacement, serving different layers of the workflow. ST 2110 transports video between physical devices and interfaces with compute infrastructure, while MXL handles media exchange within software systems (NewscastStudio, June 2026).

The JT-DMF aims to define and develop layers above ST 2110 and MXL, focusing on planning, resource management, and timing to enable operational flexibility in facilities (TVBEurope, June 2026). This layered ecosystem facilitates a more software-driven model for media production. As the industry moves to software-defined frameworks on commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) hardware, performance, security, and workflow integration are critical. Session discussions at NAB 2026 highlighted cybersecurity testing for ST 2110 environments, the role of JPEG XS as a mezzanine format for mixed file and IP-based workflows, and performance optimization using Data Processing Units (DPUs) for ST 2110 applications (NAB Show, April 2026). This signifies a growing need for professionals to understand not only the core ST 2110 standards but also their interaction with emerging technologies and operational best practices.