Software-defined IP production and operational AI dominate NAB Show 2026

The shift to software-defined production signals the decline of single-purpose hardware, allowing broadcasters to scale resources dynamically via IP and cloud-based models. In a fragmented market, this interoperability—anchored by standards like ST 2110—is essential for managing the cost and complexity of high-volume live content across multiple platforms. The move of AI from experiment to operation suggests the industry is now prioritizing ROI and labor efficiency over novelty. Watch for the 2027 rollout of 'AI-RAN' platforms, which Nokia recently announced will target 100% spectral-efficiency gains via software-only upgrades to existing infrastructure.

The trends identified at NAB Show 2026 reflect a broader stabilization of the broadcast technology stack. According to the 2026 Broadcast Transformation Report by Haivision, while SMPTE ST 2110 adoption grew to 30% of global broadcasters this year, the industry continues to navigate a hybrid reality where 82% of facilities still rely on legacy SDI infrastructure. This persistence of legacy hardware has led manufacturers like Sony and Grass Valley to pivot toward 'hybrid live production' solutions that bridge on-premise hardware with software-defined resource layers, as noted by industry analysts in March 2026.

Simultaneously, the maturation of connectivity protocols has seen SRT adoption reach a record 78% among broadcast professionals, per Haivision. This growth in reliable IP transport is supporting a surge in remote production, which remained the top priority for 41% of the industry in mid-2026. Furthermore, the role of 5G has moved beyond mobile newsgathering into fixed-venue infrastructure. Recent reporting from RCR Wireless and SNS Telecom & Research in July 2026 indicates the private 5G market is now growing at 34% annually, increasingly 'pulled' into facilities by the demand for low-latency physical AI and autonomous production robotics.

The operationalization of AI is also manifesting in specialized hardware development. At NAB 2026, companies like DekTec demonstrated how AI is being used internally to accelerate the product development lifecycle for ST 2110 cards and modulators, suggesting that machine learning is now optimized for the engineering layer as much as the end-user workflow. This trend is reinforced by data from RGB Broadcasting showing that 68% of broadcasters now use AI for metadata tagging, reportedly reducing manual labor requirements from 45 minutes to 6 minutes per content hour as of early 2026.