The transition of broadcast infrastructures from SDI-based architectures to IP environments is creating new requirements for studios, outside broadcast vehicles and live production systems. Synchronisation, redundancy, multicast management and interoperability between manufacturers are among the aspects that need to be considered.
NETGEAR Enterprise will focus on these areas at IBC2026, which will take place from 11 to 14 September at RAI Amsterdam. During the event, the company will demonstrate NETGEAR Align Controller operating in Europe for the first time, alongside its AV and broadcast profiles, the NETGEAR Engage management platform and switches from the M4350 and M4250 families.
Align Controller combines management and synchronisation
One of the new products on display will be NETGEAR Align Controller, a platform designed to centralise several functions used in professional audiovisual networks.
The device integrates NETGEAR Engage, a grandmaster clock, network services and cloud connectivity. This brings together in a single system several tasks that may otherwise require separate devices.
Align Controller enables AV-over-IP networks to be configured and monitored locally and remotely, and can also act as a gateway and discovery server. Its architecture supports third-party applications, allowing additional tools and integrations to be incorporated.
The platform supports standards and technologies used in IP audiovisual environments, including AES67, PTPv2, SMPTE ST 2110 and gPTP AVB.
The system was presented at InfoComm 2026 and will be demonstrated in operation in Europe for the first time at IBC.
Profiles for the transition from SDI to IP
The transition from SDI to IP involves more than increasing bandwidth. It also requires video and audio signals, control and synchronisation to be transferred to a network infrastructure capable of maintaining stable operation during production.
To address the configuration of these environments, NETGEAR includes certified profiles in NETGEAR Engage and NETGEAR AV OS. It currently provides profiles for 45 protocols used in the AV and broadcast markets, within an ecosystem involving more than 600 manufacturers.
Participating companies include Lawo, EVS, Ross Video, Grass Valley, Riedel, Clear-Com and ACT Entertainment.
These profiles automatically configure switch parameters associated with each protocol, including VLANs, Quality of Service —QoS— and timing. Their use can reduce the amount of manual configuration required in installations combining production systems, intercom, audio over IP, video and control equipment from different manufacturers.
Switches for fixed installations and mobile production
NETGEAR will demonstrate several models from the M4350 series, designed for professional networks with high-capacity and high-density connectivity requirements.
The M4350-16M4V includes 16 2.5G PoE++ ports, locking Neutrik connectors and a modular interface. Its standard configuration provides four 25G SFP28 uplinks, although this can be modified using copper 10GBASE-T modules or multimode and single-mode fibre connections.
The locking connectors are intended primarily for mobile and live production applications, where equipment is frequently installed, dismantled and transported. The modular interface allows the type of connectivity to be adapted to the requirements of each installation.
For aggregation and network core layers, the M4350-16C provides 16 100G ports and is designed for infrastructures carrying numerous high-bandwidth audiovisual streams.
The company will also demonstrate the M4250 family, intended for smaller installations such as individual studios, editing suites and flypack systems.
Redundancy in PTP networks
At IBC, NETGEAR will preview the introduction of Multi-Chassis Link Aggregation —MLAG— on selected fibre-based M4350 models.
The feature is scheduled for a joint update to NETGEAR Engage and the M4350 firmware in the fourth quarter of 2026.
MLAG will enable a redundant network core to be established in PTP-based installations using transparent clocks, boundary clocks and SMPTE deployments. If one of the switches fails, the other will be able to maintain connectivity and the timing reference.
Up to four PTP domains on a single switch
Another planned feature is multi-PTP boundary clock, which will allow a single M4350 switch to manage up to four VLANs. Each VLAN will be able to operate with its own boundary clock and independent Best Master Clock algorithm.
This configuration is intended for installations that use the same physical infrastructure for several production areas but need to keep their synchronisation domains separate. As a result, a dedicated switch will not be required for each PTP domain.
Layer 3 multicast through Engage
NETGEAR will also add support for Layer 3 IGMP using PIM-SM within Engage.
Until now, NETGEAR IGMP Plus has focused on Layer 2 multicast management. The new feature will allow multicast traffic to be carried between different subnets.
This capability is intended for IP installations in which studios, technical areas or production spaces are distributed across several networks. Management will be handled through Engage, using the same platform employed to administer the rest of the NETGEAR infrastructure.
The evolution of IP broadcast infrastructures
The features that NETGEAR will present in Amsterdam reflect the progressive integration of switching, synchronisation, multicast, redundancy and management within broadcast infrastructures.
The growing adoption of standards such as SMPTE ST 2110 and AES67 is giving the network a more significant role in production systems. Align Controller and the upcoming Engage and M4350 features are intended as tools for managing these environments and supporting the gradual adoption of IP technologies in new and existing installations.
