What Is SMPTE ST 2110? A Complete Overview

SMPTE ST 2110 is a suite of standards from the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) that defines how to send professional-grade video, audio, and metadata as separate, synchronized streams over a managed IP network. Updated guidance was consolidated in 2026 to reflect modern broadcast facility deployments.

Before SMPTE 2110, broadcast facilities relied on Serial Digital Interface (SDI) coaxial cabling. SDI bundles all media into one signal, which makes routing inflexible and expensive to scale. The ST 2110 suite of standards breaks those streams apart so each can travel independently — and be processed, routed, or replaced without touching the others.

The result is a fully IP-based media transport architecture that works with standard data-center networking gear, lowers infrastructure costs, and opens the door to remote and cloud-based production workflows.

The Evolution from SDI to SMPTE ST 2110

SDI served the broadcast industry well for decades. But as resolutions grew to 4K and beyond — and as live production workflows became more complex — the rigid, point-to-point nature of SDI became a bottleneck.

The Joint Task Force on Networked Media (JT-NM) brought together SMPTE, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), and other bodies to define a roadmap for IP-based broadcast. That effort produced the SMPTE 2110 standard and the JT-NM TR-1001-1 reference architecture, which outlines how compliant equipment should work together in a real facility.

Earlier IP broadcast standards like ST 2022 wrapped an entire SDI signal inside an IP packet — a method called SDI over IP. SMPTE ST 2110 took a cleaner approach: define separate, purpose-built streams for every essence type from the ground up.

SMPTE 2110 is designed to replace traditional baseband (SDI) video infrastructures with IP-based networks. It allows for greater flexibility in routing and processing video signals and enables the use of low-cost commodity IP networking equipment. The standard is intended to enable interoperability between equipment from different manufacturers, making it easier to integrate different components of a media workflow.

The standard is divided into three parts:

1. SMPTE ST 2110-10 defines the basic principles and definitions used in the standard, including video, audio, and ancillary data.
2. SMPTE ST 2110-20 specifies the format for uncompressed video over IP networks, including the transport of 4K and higher resolutions, high dynamic range (HDR) and wide color gamut (WCG) content.
3. SMPTE ST 2110-30 specifies the format for uncompressed audio over IP networks, including multi-channel audio.

SMPTE 2110 standard is widely adopted in the broadcast and media industries and is seen as a key enabler for the transition to IP-based media workflows.

The Core Standards Suite: ST 2110-10 Through ST 2110-40 Explained

The SMPTE 2110 standard is not a single document — it is a family of sub-standards, each covering a specific type of media or a supporting function. Here is what each one does in plain language.

SMPTE ST 2110-10: System Timing and Definitions

SMPTE ST 2110-10 sets the ground rules. It defines the timing model that all other sub-standards rely on, including how Precision Time Protocol (PTP / IEEE 1588) is used to keep every device in sync. Without a shared, accurate clock, streams arriving from different sources would be misaligned at the output.

SMPTE ST 2110-20: Uncompressed Video over IP

SMPTE ST 2110-20 specifies the format for uncompressed video over IP networks. It covers standard dynamic range (SDR), high dynamic range (HDR), and wide color gamut (WCG) content at resolutions from HD up to 4K and 8K. Because the video is uncompressed, latency is minimal and quality is lossless — critical for live production and master-grade content.

SMPTE ST 2110-21: Traffic Shaping and Delivery Timing

SMPTE ST 2110-21 defines how video packets should be paced onto the network. It specifies two traffic shaping models: Narrow (tighter pacing for lower-latency networks) and Wide (more relaxed pacing for networks that can tolerate small bursts). Choosing the right model matters for preventing packet loss on a congested IP network.

SMPTE ST 2110-22: Compressed Video with JPEG XS

SMPTE ST 2110-22 brings compressed video into the ST 2110 suite of standards by defining how to carry JPEG XS over IP. JPEG XS is a visually lossless, low-latency codec designed specifically for live production. It reduces bandwidth by roughly 10:1 compared to uncompressed video while keeping end-to-end latency under one millisecond — making JPEG XS over IP practical for contribution feeds and remote production links.

SMPTE ST 2110-30: Uncompressed Audio (AES67)

SMPTE ST 2110-30 defines IP-based media transport for uncompressed audio. It is built on AES67, the widely adopted audio-over-IP interoperability standard. AES67 compatibility means that devices from different manufacturers — mixing consoles, routers, monitors — can all exchange audio on the same IP network without a dedicated audio infrastructure.

SMPTE ST 2110-31: AES3 Audio Transparency

Where ST 2110-30 handles standard PCM audio, SMPTE ST 2110-31 provides transparent transport of AES3 data streams. This matters when facilities need to carry encoded formats such as Dolby Digital or DTS alongside standard audio on the same IP network without decoding and re-encoding.

SMPTE ST 2110-40: Ancillary Data, Timecode, Captions and Subtitles

SMPTE ST 2110-40 handles everything that is not picture or audio — ancillary data, timecode, captions and subtitles, closed captions, and other metadata. In an SDI world, these signals rode along inside the video blanking interval. In an SMPTE 2110 environment, they travel as their own independent IP stream, which makes them easier to monitor, modify, or replace independently.

SMPTE ST 2110 vs. SDI, NDI, and Other IP Video Standards

Understanding where SMPTE 2110 sits among other standards helps engineers and decision-makers choose the right tool for each part of their workflow.

SMPTE ST 2110 vs. SDI

The primary difference between SDI and SMPTE ST 2110 is architecture. SDI is a point-to-point, hardware-defined signal that bundles video, audio, and ancillary data into a single coaxial cable. SMPTE ST 2110 separates those essences into independent IP streams, making them individually addressable and routable over a managed IP infrastructure. SDI is still reliable in simple, fixed-topology facilities, but it cannot scale to large, flexible broadcast environments the way SMPTE 2110 can.

SMPTE ST 2110 vs. ST 2022

ST 2022 (specifically ST 2022-6) is an earlier SMPTE IP broadcast standard that essentially wraps an entire SDI signal inside an IP packet. It is a migration step, not a re-architecture. SMPTE ST 2110 is the full replacement: purpose-built IP-based media transport with separate streams, PTP timing, and native support for modern formats like HDR and JPEG XS over IP.

SMPTE ST 2110 vs. NDI

NDI (Network Device Interface) is a proprietary IP video transport protocol developed by NewTek (now Vizrt). It is popular in corporate AV, streaming, and smaller live production environments because it requires no special network configuration. SMPTE 2110, by contrast, is an open IP broadcast standard designed for mission-critical, large-scale broadcast facility deployments where deterministic timing, uncompressed quality, and interoperability across professional hardware are non-negotiable.

SMPTE ST 2110 and Dante / Ravenna

Dante and Ravenna are audio-over-IP protocols used widely in professional audio. Ravenna is AES67-compatible, which means it aligns closely with the audio layer of SMPTE ST 2110-30. Dante has its own routing layer but can bridge to AES67 streams. In a full SMPTE 2110 environment, AES67-compatible devices are the standard choice for audio interoperability.

How SMPTE ST 2110 Works: Breaking Down the Architecture

A working SMPTE 2110 environment depends on three foundational technologies working together: PTP timing, NMOS control, and a properly designed IP network.

PTP (IEEE 1588) Synchronization

Precision Time Protocol (PTP / IEEE 1588) is the heartbeat of any SMPTE ST 2110 deployment. Every device on the network — cameras, routers, monitors, audio consoles — locks to a grandmaster PTP clock. This keeps all streams aligned to within nanoseconds of each other, so that when video, audio, and ancillary data streams are recombined at a destination, they are frame-accurately synchronized. Without PTP, lip sync errors and timing artifacts are inevitable.

NMOS: Discovery and Connection Management

NMOS (Networked Media Open Specifications) is a family of open APIs developed under AMWA (Advanced Media Workflow Association). In a live production IP workflow, NMOS handles device discovery (IS-04) and connection management (IS-05) — essentially telling the network what devices are available and how to route streams between them. NMOS replaces the manual patching and cross-point switching that engineers would do on an SDI router.

Network Infrastructure Requirements

SMPTE 2110 requires a managed IP infrastructure — not a standard office LAN. Uncompressed video over IP at 4K generates roughly 12 Gbps per stream, so the network must support high-bandwidth, low-latency switching with Priority Flow Control (PFC) and DSCP marking for Quality of Service (QoS). Most professional deployments use 25 GbE or 100 GbE spine-leaf switching architectures with multicast routing enabled.

Getting Started with SMPTE ST 2110: Resources and Next Steps

Transitioning to a SMPTE 2110 environment is a significant infrastructure project. Whether you are designing a new IP broadcast standard facility from scratch or migrating an existing SDI plant, proper planning and testing are essential.

PacketStorm Communications provides purpose-built tools to help broadcast engineers validate their SMPTE 2110 networks before going live. Our WAN emulators and network simulation platforms let you stress-test your managed IP infrastructure — including PTP timing accuracy, multicast stream behavior, and traffic shaping under the ST 2110-21 Narrow and Wide models — in a controlled lab environment.

Explore related resources to support your IP media transport deployment:

• WAN Emulation for Broadcast IP Networks — Simulate real-world network conditions for SMPTE ST 2110 validation and testing.
• Broadcast & Media Solutions — See how PacketStorm supports live production IP workflow testing across OB trucks, broadcast facilities, and remote production environments.
• Network Emulators — Test how your IP-based media transport stack handles packet loss, jitter, and delay before it affects a live transmission.

Ready to validate your SMPTE 2110 deployment? Contact our broadcast engineering team to discuss your specific requirements. Our experts stay current with the latest updates to the ST 2110 suite of standards and can help you build a test plan tailored to your facility — updated for 2026 production environments.

SMPTE ST 2110 Frequently Asked Questions

What is the meaning of SMPTE 2110?

SMPTE 2110 refers to a suite of standards published by the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) that defines how professional broadcast media — video, audio, and ancillary data — should be transported as separate, synchronized IP streams over a managed IP network. The “2110” is the standard number, and the full name is SMPTE ST 2110.

What is the difference between SDI and SMPTE 2110?

SDI (Serial Digital Interface) carries all media — video, audio, and metadata — bundled together over a single coaxial cable between two fixed points. SMPTE ST 2110 separates each type of media into its own IP stream and routes them independently over a shared IP network. This makes SMPTE 2110 far more flexible and scalable, but it also requires a properly configured managed IP infrastructure and PTP timing, which SDI does not.

What is the primary difference between SMPTE ST 2110-20 and SMPTE ST 2110-22?

SMPTE ST 2110-20 defines the transport of fully uncompressed video over IP. Every pixel is sent at full quality with no compression, resulting in very high bandwidth (up to 12 Gbps or more for 4K). SMPTE ST 2110-22 defines the transport of compressed video using the JPEG XS codec. JPEG XS over IP achieves visually lossless compression at roughly a 10:1 ratio, dramatically reducing bandwidth while keeping latency under one millisecond — making it practical for contribution links and remote production where ST 2110-20 bandwidth is not feasible.

What is the main difference between SMPTE ST 2110-30 and SMPTE ST 2110-31?

SMPTE ST 2110-30 transports standard uncompressed PCM audio, aligned with the AES67 interoperability standard. It is the right choice for most audio-over-IP use cases in a broadcast facility. SMPTE ST 2110-31 is designed for transparent transport of AES3 data, which includes encoded audio formats such as Dolby Digital or DTS. If you need to pass through a non-PCM encoded audio bitstream without decoding it, ST 2110-31 is the correct sub-standard to use.

Does SMPTE ST 2110 work with SRT?

SRT (Secure Reliable Transport) is a low-latency streaming protocol designed for internet contribution over unmanaged public networks. SMPTE 2110 is designed for tightly controlled, managed IP infrastructure within a broadcast facility or over a private WAN. The two can complement each other — SRT can be used to bring a remote feed into a facility, where it is then ingested and distributed internally using the SMPTE 2110 standard.