As the industry adapted and technologies evolved, the focus shifted to removing physical hardware entirely. Moving workflows into software environments promised flexibility, but the early “lift-and-shift” attempts often fell short. Legacy software was moved into the cloud without optimization, resulting in high compute costs and inefficiencies. Meanwhile, some vendors continued relying on hardware-centric solutions, wrapping them in IP interfaces that added complexity but little innovation.

This phase also exposed a key challenge: the cost and bandwidth demands of uncompressed ST2110 workflows. While ST2110 remains the gold standard for on-premise production due to its quality and reliability, it can be prohibitively expensive for some broadcasters. As an alternative, compressed workflows, offer a path to high quality without the same bandwidth burden. These solutions are increasingly relevant for organizations seeking cost-effective options, particularly in hybrid environments.

Latency refers to the delay introduced at various stages of signal processing in media workflows. In studio or media control room (MCR) environments, this delay is measured in milliseconds, reflecting the time it takes for an image to travel from the camera through switchers, encoders, and transport systems to appear on a multiviewer display or another operator monitor.

For operators working in live production, perceptible lag caused by latency can disrupt workflows or cause elements of a broadcast to appear out of sync. This is problematic especially for technical directors (TDs), replay editors, and other operators who rely on immediate feedback from control systems as they create a live show. Delay can lead to repeated commands or confusion that undermines both practical and creative aspects of production.

While latency in live production is measured in milliseconds, latency in OTT delivery often spans seconds — the delay between the instant content is captured or generated and the moment it’s displayed on the viewer’s screen. Latency in OTT delivery arises from the need to buffer for adaptive streaming, multi-device delivery, and content distribution over large networks.

For audiences, higher latencies can compromise the viewing experience, be it in a sports or entertainment venue or on a TV screen, computer, or mobile device. To prevent disorienting delay for fans in a sports arena, for example, end-to-end latency between the action on the field and the image on in-venue displays, such as a Jumbotron, must be minimal. All audio and visual elements must be immediate, and in sync.

For OTT delivery to viewers at home or on the go, highly variable latency causes inconsistent delivery speeds and viewing experiences across different services, platforms, and devices. (And no one wants to receive spoilers through smartphone notifications or hear their neighbors celebrating a goal before they see it themselves!) Addressing this latency involves distinct considerations such as managing CDN performance, reducing segment durations, and optimizing encoding for delivery platforms.