MNA Promotes Participation in Unprecedented Multi-Organizational IP Showcase

The Media Networking Alliance (MNA), a non-profit trade association, established to promote the adoption of the AES67 standard, is joining the Audio Engineering Society (AES), the Alliance for IP Media Solutions (AIMS), the Advanced Media Workflow Association (AMWA), the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), IABM (the international trade association for suppliers of broadcast and media technology), the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE), and the Video Services Forum (VSF) in developing the IP Showcase at the 2017 NAB Show, April 24 - 27 in Las Vegas.

The collaboration of eight broadcast and professional audio industry organizations is of major significance in creating a truly unique event, and in signaling the media industry-wide importance of the initiative in promoting IP interoperability in a standards-based approach to IP-based workflows in broadcasting. The IP Showcase will demonstrate interoperability of four parts of the new SMPTE ST 2110 standard, pertaining to video, audio, control, and metadata. SMPTE ST 2110 is currently at an advanced draft stage and is widely projected as a fundamental development in a transition to full IP workflows in broadcast, based on common open standards.

The MNA was established in 2014 for the purpose of promoting awareness and adoption of the high-performance AES67 AoIP interoperability open standard. The inclusion of AES67, in defining the audio element of the new SMPTE ST 2110 standard, acknowledges the rapid and widespread adoption of AES67 in providing signal interoperability across all of the current leading IP-based audio networking protocols.

Speaking for the alliance, vice-chairman, and member of the IP Showcase Board, Terry Holton said, "The MNA is very proud to be collaborating with these seven other distinguished and influential organizations to present the latest developments in real time media networking at the NAB Show. This event will feature working implementations of IP networking from an unprecedented number of leading broadcast industry manufacturers and will also provide the unique opportunity for NAB visitors to get the latest information from these many different manufacturers all together on one trade show booth."

Michael Cronk, chairman of AIMS, stated, "AIMS is pleased that the MNA has joined the ranks of IP Showcase sponsors. The MNA has demonstrated a commitment to promoting standards based interoperability for audio based on AES67, a foundational standard for the broadcast industry."

Neil Dunstan, director of membership and marketing at the AMWA, further commented, "The speed of technological change in our industry has never been greater and the move to IP-based systems can appear daunting. The AMWA is keen to play its part in helping media companies build prosperous businesses using this new technology."

While Richard Friedel, president of the VSF, added, "The media industry's technical trade associations have done groundbreaking work over the last few years, creating specifications and standards. It's great to see these efforts coming together to such great effect in the IP Showcase."

Located in the North Hall, booth N4824, the IP Showcase offers a holistic view of industry alignment, action, and transformation with respect to production, contribution, and primary distribution workflows over internet protocol (IP). This attraction features a full schedule of must-see IP education sessions within its IP Showcase Theatre. The pavilion will assist professionals including broadcast/IT engineers, CEOs, and producers to determine how they can leverage benefits of the draft SMPTE ST 2110 specifications. Visitors will see engineering progress along with real-world examples of IP applications from leading networks and program-makers."