Aiming to bolster its modernisation strategy as it continues its migration to SMPTE ST 2100 across its master control rooms (MCRs) and production control rooms (PCRs), Italian public broadcaster Rai has awarded a three-year frame contract to Imagine Communications via systems integrator Allyn Srl.
Following a competitive tendering process, Rai has selected Imagine’s Selenio Network Processor (SNP) to enable scalable transition from SDI to IP across key areas of its production and playout infrastructure. SNP’s interoperability with third-party ST 2110 equipment was a decisive factor in meeting Rai’s requirements.
Some of the SNPs will serve as IP gateways. Others will be used as low-latency, HDR-capable production multiviewers enabling integration of content from different video formats and HDR systems into a consistent display environment. Additionally, SNPs will be configured with Master Control Lite (MCL) to deliver branding, live graphics and full master control functionality. Production-quality, low-latency connectivity between facilities, including OB vehicles, will be supported by SNPs with JPEG XS compression capability.
“Our move to IP is a long-term transformation, and we need a platform that will let us migrate at our own pace without disrupting operations,” said Stefano Marchetti, head of playout and network engineering at Rai. “Imagine’s SNP provides a practical foundation for how we want to build and manage our IP environments going forward — one that enables incremental deployment, operational continuity, and long-term scalability.”
Mathias Eckert, SVP and GM EMEA and APAC for Imagine Communications, said, “We are proud to support this multiyear project, which is a great example of how broadcasters are approaching IP migration in a thoughtful, incremental way. SNP was designed specifically for this kind of transition, allowing customers to move from SDI to IP with confidence, interoperability, and clear operational benefits.”
Deployments will initially be supported at sites in Rome and Turin, with Rai planning to expand its IP transition across more than 25 locations across Italy during the contract’s duration.
