Rai adopted the Matrox ConvertIP Series of encoders/decoders and converters to support its transition from SDI to SMPTE ST 2110 broadcast infrastructure without disrupting operations.
Rai (Radiotelevisione Italiana) is in the process of transitioning from SDI to SMPTE ST 2110-based broadcast infrastructure. The organisation is adopting ST 2110 workflows to support greater flexibility across production and playout environments. As its broadcast operations teams continue to evolve toward IP, head of playout and network engineering at Rai Stefano Marchetti commented, “Our move to IP is a long-term transformation, and we need solutions that will let us migrate at our own pace without disrupting operations.”
Rai has awarded the Matrox ConvertIP Series of encoders/decoders and converters a three-year framework agreement in support of the move. “The Matrox ConvertIP Series will serve as a practical foundation for how we want to build and manage our ST 2110 environments going forward, enabling incremental deployment, operational continuity and long-term scalability,” Stefano said.
Under the framework agreement, the Matrox ConvertIP Series will support gateway and monitoring requirements within Rai’s developing IP ecosystem. The ConvertIP DSS and DSH models perform compact, standalone signal conversion and monitoring capabilities. The framework award followed a competitive technical evaluation process in which ConvertIP met Rai’s requirements for standalone gateway functionality and monitoring in a standards-based ST 2110 environment.
ConvertIP DSH is capable of receiving or transmitting ST 2110 or IPMX signals and includes HDMI I/O, and ConvertIP DSS receives or transmits ST 2110 or IPMX signals and features 12G-SDI. Together, they support both SDI and HDMI interfaces and enable broadcasters to bridge legacy and IP infrastructures with reliability that meets broadcast demands.
ConvertIP covers practical IP migration use cases, including signal transmission and reception in smaller environments, quad-split monitoring applications and inter-site media transport. Its standalone design simplifies the incremental introduction of ST 2110 without large-scale broadcast infrastructure replacement. SDI- and HDMI-to-ST 2110 conversion means broadcasters can adapt workflows without compromising quality or operational control.
Working with local systems integrator Allyn Srl, Matrox Video contributed to the tender process and helped develop the solution that led to the award. “A strategic customer like Rai maintains rigorous technical expectations,” said Alessandro De Felice, project manager at Allyn. “Together with Matrox Video, we developed a solution aligned with Rai’s technical requirements for this project.”
Francesco Scartozzi, vice president of sales and business development at Matrox Video said, “IP migration is a long-term transformation that requires solutions capable of supporting both current and future workflows. We are pleased to see that the Matrox ConvertIP Series has been included in Rai’s framework agreement, delivering broadcast-grade reliability with the flexibility required for IP migration of existing operations.
“Our early and sustained investment in SMPTE ST 2110 has not only enabled us to build robust, standards-based products, but also to collaborate with customers like Rai who are ready to take steps toward IP-based infrastructure.” video.matrox.com
