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The transition to SMPTE ST 2110: The protocol in-depth

Introduction & Business Context

WHY SMPTE ST 2110

The growing adoption of ST 2110 in live production, playout, and contribution systems is driven by several key factors:

• Scalability: An IP network makes it much easier to expand channels and devices compared to SDI cabling.
• Flexibility: A single Ethernet cable can carry multiple video and audio streams simultaneously.
• Disaggregation: Treat audio, video, and data independently for mixing, encoding, or distribution.
• Bandwidth efficiency: Optimizes IP bandwidth usage.
• Cost efficiency of IP related equipment such as switches, network cables, etc.
• Interoperability: Integrates better with IT systems, streaming services, and modern media platforms.
• Compatibility with other protocols: ST 2110 can coexist with NDI, SRT, RTMP, and other IP transport solutions.

PROMAX’S VISION: SUPPORTING IP MIGRATION WITH PRECISION TOOLS

At PROMAX, we recognize the challenges that broadcast professionals face when transitioning to IP. New technologies bring powerful opportunities — but also added complexity. Signal integrity, network timing, synchronization, and diagnostics must be addressed with precision to avoid disruptions in critical operations.

Our answer to this challenge is the ATLAS NG: a high-performance signal analyzer tailored to meet the demands of hybrid and all-IP broadcast systems. This platform includes comprehensive support for ST 2110 signal analysis, offering tools for real-time monitoring. It combines advanced test capabilities with intuitive operation, making it ideal for engineers working in production facilities, mobile units, and network operations centers, so that they can confidently deploy and maintain IP-based infrastructures without sacrificing control or reliability.

Technical Overview of SMPTE ST 2110

REDEFINING BROADCAST TRANSPORT: FROM EMBEDDED SIGNALS TO STREAMED FLOWS

Traditional broadcast systems have long relied on Serial Digital Interface (SDI) to carry audio, video, and metadata over a single cable. While robust, this method imposes limitations in terms of routing flexibility, scalability, and infrastructure cost. The SMPTE ST 2110 standard marks a significant evolution: it enables the transport of professional media as independent, synchronized data streams over standard IP networks. Therefore, engineers can handle, monitor, and reroute each type of content individually, facilitating a more agile broadcast environment.

For clarification purposes, it is relevant to have in mind the terminology used in ST 2110, specially when it comes to apply the terms ‘’essence’ and ‘flow’. Think of an essence as the media content (video, audio, metadata…) and a flow as the pipe (network stream) that carries it. Multiple pipes (flows) can carry different kinds of media content (essence).

STRUCTURE OF THE ST 2110 STANDARD

SMPTE ST 2110 is not a single document, but a family of coordinated specifications, each addressing a specific aspect of real-time media over IP. Here we underline the most relevant:

• ST 2110-10 – System Timing: Defines the core architecture and establishes the foundation for synchronized transmission using precision clocking techniques. All devices in the network rely on this shared reference to maintain accurate timing.
• ST 2110-20 – Video Transport: Defines how uncompressed video is packetized and sent over IP.
• ST 2110-21 – Traffic Shaping: Introduces rules for how packets are spaced over time to ensure smooth transmission and buffer compatibility between networked equipment.
• ST 2110-30 – Audio Transport: Standardizes the delivery of professional linear audio (typically 48 kHz PCM) over the same network.
• ST 2110-31 – Compressed Audio: Support for compressed audio flows according to AES3.
• ST 2110-40 – Ancillary Data: Enables the transport of metadata such as subtitles, timecode, and control signals, which were previously embedded in SDI.
• ST 2110-22 – Compressed Video (emerging): Intended to support bandwidth-efficient video formats where full uncompressed transport is not feasible, such as remote production scenarios.

This modular design allows broadcasters to implement only the components relevant to their workflow, offering flexibility in deployment and scalability for future needs.

SYNCHRONIZATION AND TIMING: THE ROLE OF PTP

A cornerstone of ST 2110 is the requirement for tight synchronization between devices. This is achieved using the Precision Time Protocol (PTP), which allows all endpoints on the network to align to a master time reference with sub-microsecond accuracy. Reliable timing ensures that audio and video remain in sync across multiple devices, even when routed independently. This time reference is generated by one or more PTP clocks.

To support complex installations, network infrastructure may include boundary or transparent clocks to distribute timing information efficiently and accurately. Without this level of coordination, issues such as audio drift or misaligned video frames can compromise the integrity of the production. Hence, ST 2110 supports distributed production and remote collaboration — all while maintaining the signal integrity and precision required in professional broadcasting.

At the transport level, ST 2110 uses UDP (User Datagram Protocol), critical for real-time streaming where low latency is a priority, and packet retransmissions (as in TCP) are usually undesirable. To sum it up, video and audio packets are typically encapsulated within RTP packets over UDP. RTP provides timestamps and sequence numbers, which are essential for maintaining synchronization and detecting packet loss in real-time media flows. Each “essence” (e.g., uncompressed video, uncompressed audio) is carried in its own RTP stream (known as separate “flows”).

INTEROPERABILITY AND ECOSYSTEM INTEGRATION

One of the most powerful advantages of SMPTE ST 2110 lies in its capacity to enable true interoperability between equipment from different manufacturers within a broadcast IP infrastructure. Unlike legacy SDI systems, where devices communicated through tightly defined hardware interfaces, ST 2110 builds upon standardized IP protocols, creating an open, flexible environment where components from multiple vendors can coexist, communicate, and operate within the same workflow.

At the heart of this interoperability is the network-centric approach of ST 2110. Each stream—whether uncompressed video, multi-channel audio, or ancillary metadata—is encapsulated into RTP (Real-time Transport Protocol) packets and distributed using multicast IP addressing. Because RTP and multicast are both mature, widely supported technologies across IT and broadcast hardware, devices that conform to ST 2110 specifications can participate in a shared media fabric without proprietary constraints.

ST 2110 streams can be managed using standard IP routers and switches that support IGMP (Internet Group Management Protocol), QoS (Quality of Service), and PTP-aware features. This allows broadcasters to take advantage of scalable COTS (Commercial Off-The-Shelf) network infrastructure, reducing cost and enabling easier maintenance and upgrades.

While ST 2110 defines how media essence (video, audio, metadata) is transported over IP, it does not specify how devices find each other or how connections between them are established and managed. That’s where NMOS (Networked Media Open Specifications) from AMWA comes in, which facilitate the discovery, registration, connection and control of devices and streams within the ST 2110 network in a consistent, vendor-neutral manner. NMOS helps operators manage signal routing, device configuration, and system health monitoring through centralized platforms.

The ATLAS NG analyzer feature NMOS and Ember+ compatibility so that it can communicate with the central management platform (orchestration) in the network.

In addition, ATLAS NG can also be configured through a local out-of-band management platform, in an non-intrusive way, so the desired ST 2110 flows can be monitored and analyzed without accessing the orchestrator.

ATLAS NG: THE ANALYZER FOR ISSUES DETECTION IN ST 2110 NETWORKS ›

BENEFITS TO BROADCAST WORKFLOWS

The technical features of ST 2110 interoperability translate into significant operational advantages:

• Faster deployment of multi-vendor systems
• Reduced dependency on proprietary control protocols
• Easier troubleshooting through standard network monitoring tools
• Improved scalability for remote production and virtualized workflows

By adopting an ecosystem based on ST 2110, broadcasters can evolve from monolithic, hardware-bound environments toward modular, software-defined architectures. This not only reduces cost but also opens the door to automation, centralized control, and hybrid cloud-based production models.

In this context, measurement tools like the PROMAX ATLAS NG play a vital role in ensuring that interoperability is not just theoretical but fully operational. By validating essence stream compliance, PTP synchronization and network behavior in real time, ATLAS NG becomes an essential asset in maintaining a healthy and integrated IP broadcast environment.

Deployment Considerations & Use Cases

MIGRATING TO IP: A PARADIGM SHIFT WITH OPERATIONAL IMPACT

The decision to migrate from SDI to IP in a broadcast environment introduces a number of technical and operational considerations. While the promise of scalability, flexibility, and long-term efficiency is clear, the initial transition requires careful planning and validation. Unlike point-to-point coaxial links, IP-based infrastructures depend on managed network components, synchronized clocks, and real-time traffic shaping to ensure reliable delivery of media streams.

Successful deployment of ST 2110-based workflows hinges on a deep understanding of both media formats and IT network behavior. Issues such as packet loss, jitter, and synchronization drift can compromise audio/video alignment or even disrupt signal flow entirely. These risks must be mitigated through design choices, validation tools, and continuous monitoring.

PRACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS BEFORE DEPLOYMENT

When designing a networked media facility based on ST 2110, engineers typically focus on several key areas:

• Network Topology: Systems must be designed to handle high-throughput, low-latency traffic. Redundancy, multicast efficiency, and traffic segmentation are essential.
• Time Synchronization: The reliability of the entire workflow depends on precise timing. Devices must lock to a common time source using PTP, and the network must support accurate clock distribution with minimal drift.
• Bandwidth Management: Uncompressed video streams can consume significant bandwidth. It is critical to calculate worst-case scenarios and ensure adequate headroom at each point in the network.
• Latency and Buffering: To maintain smooth playout, the timing between source and receiver must remain within tight tolerances. Monitoring tools should verify a smooth playout of video and audios.
• Interoperability: Even with standards in place, verifying that equipment from different vendors handles timing, signaling, and packet behavior consistently is a crucial step during setup.

The ATLAS NG broadcast analyzer is specifically designed to support engineers through these stages, offering real-time insights into signal health, network conditions, and PTP synchronization with precision and clarity.

ATLAS NG: THE ANALYZER FOR ISSUES DETECTION IN ST 2110 NETWORKS ›

REAL-WORLD APPLICATION SCENARIOS

The modular nature of ST 2110 makes it adaptable to a wide range of production environments. Below are some of the most common contexts where PROMAX solutions, and in particular the ATLAS NG, provide tangible value:

• Studio-Based Live Production: In modern production control rooms, operators may need to switch, route, and monitor multiple high-resolution video feeds in real time. The ATLAS NG ensures these streams remain synchronized and uninterrupted throughout the workflow.
• Mobile and Remote Units (OB Vans): Outside broadcast environments often face constraints in terms of space, cabling, and operational time. IP-based systems reduce the physical footprint and simplify connectivity. The ATLAS NG allows engineers to verify correct signal transmission and synchronization under tight setup windows and varying network conditions.
• Master Control and Playout Centers: Centralized facilities responsible for final program distribution must guarantee 24/7 reliability. Here, real-time monitoring of 2110 streams — especially packet errors — is critical. The ATLAS NG provides tools to analyse packet loss, signal latency and video and audio formats, ensuring operational continuity and early detection of faults.
• Test Benches and R&D Labs:Engineering teams involved in designing or integrating new equipment must ensure compatibility with the ST 2110 standard. The ATLAS NG facilitates functional testing and interoperability verification, accelerating development cycles and reducing time to market.

ENSURING CONFIDENCE IN EVERY DEPLOYMENT

No matter the size or complexity of the facility, transitioning to ST 2110 requires a robust test strategy. Measurement tools must go beyond surface-level analysis to uncover timing discrepancies, jitter patterns, packet misalignments, or multicast configuration issues.

The ATLAS NG has been engineered to give technicians and broadcast engineers the confidence to deploy, verify, and maintain IP-based signal transport — whether during commissioning or day-to-day operations.

CONTINUE READING: THE ROLE OF MEASUREMENT TOOLS IN SMPTE 2110 WORKFLOWS ›

PROMAX is a leading manufacturer of test and measurement systems, broadcast and TV signal distribution equipment. Our product lines include measuring instruments for cable TV, satellite TV, broadcast, wireless and fibre optics networks, FTTH and GPON analyzers. DVB-T modulators, IP streamers or IP converters (ASI, DVB-T) are among the company’s latest developments.