Case Study: YES Network’s IP Transition Expands Production Possibilities and Redefines Workflows
July 1, 2026
As seen in SVG online – Sportsvideo.org
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When we began planning our transition from an SDI-based infrastructure to a new SMPTE ST 2110 IP environment at our Stamford studios, the objective was clear: build a facility capable of supporting our growing volume of live New York Yankees and Brooklyn Nets productions, while future-proofing operations for the next generation of sports broadcasting.
But as with any migration of this scale, the path from legacy to IP required more than just new infrastructure: it required a holistic approach which prioritized visibility and real understanding to avoid implementation disruption and support ongoing operations and system planning. We wanted an operation based on facts, not crossed fingers.
A Phased, Hybrid Approach
There was never an intention to engage in a single cutover. We began the transition three years ago, introducing IP alongside our existing SDI infrastructure and expanding incrementally as confidence and operational familiarity grew. This hybrid approach allowed us to maintain continuity of operations while gradually shifting more of the workflow into IP. Over time, IP became our primary backbone, with SDI retained only where it still made practical sense.
The larger technology stack reflects this ambition. We operate a fully integrated broadcast environment with multiple ingest points, supporting both live and file-based workflows. The facility is built around Arista routing, with EVS Cerebrum for orchestration and EVS Neurons handling conversion, audio shuffling, and UDX/CC; a new EVS XT VIAs for replay and record completes the picture. Across the plant, we now support a significant number of concurrent sources and destinations, with redundancy built in at every critical layer to ensure resilience. But a system that dense and with so many (metaphorical) moving parts stood the risk of becoming quickly tangled.
Monitoring as a Foundation, Not an Afterthought
As a result, we knew from early on in the transition that we would need a monitoring solution that was sophisticated, high-density, and intuitive. After consultation with our technology implementors – 2110 Solutions – we settled on the integration of Bridge Technologies’ VB440. Its role was straightforward: help ensure signal integrity and provide confidence as we scaled the IP environment. With support for high-density 25/100 Gigabit Ethernet interfaces, it could handle numerous streams in parallel. Its deep analysis capabilities – including monitoring ST 2022-7 redundancy schemes, precise PTP timing analysis, and detailed packet inspection – gave our engineers the confidence to proceed.
But the intention was always to use the VB440 beyond the migration process, making it an ongoing window into network performance – particularly in the case of live events, where the interface is intuitive enough that even non-specialized team members can quickly identify complex IP issues and troubleshoot accordingly. From a proactive engineering perspective it is also key: engineers understand network behaviour across time, which in turn helps them to both prevent potential problems and plan upgrades for the future.
An example of that has been our new 4K LED video wall. This addition to the studio is a real representation of the way that we’re using technology to fundamentally improve the experience for our viewers. It replaces a 4 x 4 monitor matrix with a 220-inch screen that provides a true 16×9, 4K canvas, while removing bezels and practically eliminating glare. Visually, it’s seamless. And because it’s integrated through SMPTE ST 2110, we can get feeds directly from the router, which allows for a more graphics-driven workflow.
Again, that’s something that’s underpinned by our deep monitoring philosophy. Not only does the VB440 allow us to validate all the signals feeding the video wall, but because it incorporates a huge range of other best-in-class production tools – for camera painters, audio engineers and a whole range of production specialists – then we can use that to ensure that sources coming in are effectively colour matched and appropriately synced. By doing that all through a single appliance, we’ve also saved significantly on cabling, rack space and energy consumption.
Flexibility That Transforms Operations
Improving viewer experiences was one of the key aims of our upgrade. We wanted workers – be they engineers, colorists or producers – to be able to log on from anywhere. The aim was to improve the general working conditions for our team: they are passionate about what they do and why they do it, and we wanted to reward that commitment by giving them the means to continue to perform brilliantly, in the way that best suits them.
Of course, there was also benefit for us: recruitment and retention are improved, people can work flexibly to align with organizational need, and technical expertise can be deployed where it is needed most, regardless of physical location.
An IP-based approach inherently favors that decoupling of workload and location. And the VB440 helped further, since it allows up to eight users to log on remotely, from anywhere in the world, in real-time. This working philosophy has ensured that the knowledge and skill resources within our organization are distributed as efficiently as possible, and that our team remains happy and motivated.
The Bottom Line: Reliability, Flexibility, and Viewer Experience
Ultimately, our studio IP upgrades have helped us achieve greater reliability, fewer disruptions, smoother operational workflows, and a more engaging, immersive experience for our viewers. Whether the Yankees are at bat or the Nets are in transition, we can be sure the signal will be there. That’s the ultimate goal of any technology transition: not the equipment itself, but the creative and operational opportunities it grants its production team, and the service it delivers to the audience.