Until about 10 years ago, the IT and networking technologies in different professional sectors were largely siloed. This changed decisively with the move away from legacy connectivity formats towards IP-based technologies, as represented above all by the SMPTE ST 2110 group of standards. 

Drawing upon two technical recommendations developed by the Video Services Forum (TR-03 and TR-04), the SMPTE ST 2110 standards suite specifies the carriage, synchronisation and description of separate elementary essence streams over IP. Published in phases from 2017 onwards, ST 2110 was initially aimed at broadcast production and distribution, but has increasingly achieved traction in pro AV environments including live performance venues, corporate facilities, colleges and universities. 

In 2025, the profile of these standards in pro AV is being further enhanced by the increasing adoption of the IPMX (IP Media Experience) standards and specifications. Not only does it use ST 2110 for media transport, IPMX also incorporates foundational work from AMWA and VSF, and adds provisions for control, copy protection, connection management and security that are especially pertinent to pro AV. 

Simultaneously, there is another technology that is underlining the increasing convergence between pro AV and other areas of media networking – and once again it has its origins in broadcast. Developed by NewTek, the royalty-free software standard NDI (Network Device Interface) enables high-definition video to be transmitted, received and communicated over a network with low latency and high quality. Its flexibility and ease of use have seen it adopted by a wide range of manufacturers whose live production solutions are increasingly found in corporate and educational environments as hybrid and remote working remains commonplace post-pandemic. 

But whilst there is growing convergence around the nature of media networks, there is less inclination to combine them with general IT infrastructures than might have been the case five years ago. This is no small part due to a significant rise in cyberattacks, with some notable organisations in broadcast and pro AV falling victim to various forms of cyber crime, such as distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, malware and – arguably most alarming in terms of potential reputational damage – ransomware. 

With Europe one of the regions hardest hit by cyberattacks in 2025 according to a recent report from NETSCOUT, and AI increasingly assisting criminal operations to increase the ferocity and scope of their attacks, it’s not surprising that there is an increasingly prominent discussion in pro AV about security best practices. For instance, most organisations are now advised to implement a policy of network segmentation, which divides a larger network into smaller, isolated subnetworks (aka segments). This approach – which involves the introduction of specific security controls for each segment – restricts the reach of attackers and increases the chances of protecting valuable data and media. 

A consensus having now been established around the core of media network requirements means that there will now be more time and space to further enhance network security and management in the years ahead. 

Stay informed! 

ISE is the world-renowned annual tech show for the AV and systems integration industry, taking place in Barcelona, 3-6 February 2026. For more updates on the impact of networking on the AV industry, and to discover more about ISE 2026 as details are released, sign up for updates. 

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