Initiative Provides a Fully Functional IP Production Studio As a Sandbox for Tech Developers

Imagine Communications has become the latest technology company to join Belgian public broadcaster VRT's LiveIP project, which provides a fully functional broadcast studio using only IP technology as a proof of concept for the rest of the industry.

Imagine is contributing its SelenioFlex Live encoding system and its Epic Multiviewer SDI-IP monitoring software to the LiveIP studio. 

"Demonstrating that IP-based production facilities are ready for prime tim etoday, as well as providing an environment for media companies to test and validate innovative solutions, is of paramount importance," said Imagine Chief Product Officer Brick Eksten in a prepared statement. "Imagine Communications is proud to assist the LiveIP project in meeting these timely and vital objectives."

Want to see live IP production in action? Check out the programming around the upcoming IBC show in Amsterdam, some of which will employ the LiveIP studio and its technology. The IBC TV collaboration is being supported by the Alliance for IP Media Solutions (AIMS).

The LiveIP project relies on open standards, including SMPTE 2022/6, AES67 and PTP, to ensure interoperability between products from multiple broadcast technology vendors with seamless switching and minimal redundancy of uncompressed video and audio feeds. VRT is already using the LiveIP studio this summer to broadcast live daily shows for its children's programming channel, Ketnet.

LiveIP is a collaboration between VRT's Sandbox+, the European Broadcasting Union, and a group of broadcast technology partners. In addition to Imagine, other partners include Axon, Digital & Media Solutions, Dwesam, EVS, Genelec, Grass Valley, Lawo, Nevion, Tektronix, Trilogy and Vizrt.