MatchBox ST 2110
Hitomi Broadcast
Category Video Processing
MatchBox ST 2110 represents a significant advancement in quality control and monitoring for IP-based broadcast workflows, extending Hitomi's industry-leading precision timing measurement capabilities into SMPTE ST 2110 environments. As broadcasters transition from traditional SDI infrastructure to IP-based production, MatchBox ST 2110 ensures that the critical aspects of audio/video synchronisation and latency measurement remain accurate and reliable throughout this transformation.
The solution addresses one of the most challenging aspects of IP workflow migration: maintaining precise timing verification across complex, virtualised broadcast chains. Where traditional SDI environments offered relatively straightforward signal paths, ST 2110 introduces multiple buffers, network paths, and processing stages that can introduce unexpected delays. MatchBox ST 2110 provides broadcasters with the tools to measure, verify, and correct these timing discrepancies with millisecond accuracy.
Key to the system's effectiveness is its dual-interface design, featuring 10GE SFP+ or 25GE SFP28 media ports with full support for SMPTE ST 2022-7 hitless redundancy across both RED and BLUE networks. The solution supports comprehensive NMOS integration (IS-04, IS-05, IS-08, IS-09) and provides both narrow gapped sender capabilities and broad receiver support (narrow gapped, narrow linear, and wide). This flexibility ensures compatibility across diverse IP infrastructure deployments whilst maintaining the precision timing measurements essential for professional broadcast quality.
MatchBox ST 2110 maintains full compatibility with Hitomi's existing ecosystem, including the MatchBox Generator hardware and the Glass iOS app, allowing broadcasters to measure timing from camera capture through to final distribution. The system can handle up to two ST 2110-20 video receivers with four ST 2110-30 audio flows per video stream on the Analyser, plus comprehensive sender capabilities on the Generator side. PTP support ensures precise synchronisation across distributed production environments.
A compelling demonstration of MatchBox ST 2110's capabilities comes from Austria's national broadcaster ORF, which deployed the technology as part of one of Europe's most ambitious broadcast infrastructure transformations. ORF's migration encompasses their new Content Management Centre in Vienna, regional studios across Austria, and production facilities for globally broadcast events including the Vienna New Year's Concert, watched by audiences in 160 countries.
Alexander Frank, responsible for Project Planning and Technical Planning for Broadcasting Technology at ORF, explains: "We are undertaking a complete infrastructure transformation from traditional baseband systems to a comprehensive ST 2110 network. The difference between baseband and ST 2110 operation is marginal with MatchBox - it's the same operation, the same usage. We can use it in both environments, which was essential during our transition period."
ORF's implementation demonstrates innovative applications of the technology, including measuring latency across multiple international sports feeds, optimising timing for consumer television displays, and ensuring perfect synchronisation for live orchestral performances broadcast globally. The deployment spans measurement from OB vans through satellite and fibre links to final display, providing end-to-end quality assurance.
MatchBox ST 2110 delivers the precision timing verification essential for professional broadcast quality whilst supporting the industry's transition to IP-based infrastructure, making it an indispensable solution for modern broadcast quality control and monitoring.
