The future of broadcasting
Why the X Platform’s ultra-high capacity hardware-accelerated SRT is your next strategic move
The forces reshaping broadcast economics
The broadcast industry is feeling a technological and economic squeeze.
Traditional transport methods—satellite, dedicated fiber, managed networks—still have their place. But their costs and availability don’t always align with how content is valued and consumed today.
of viewing happens on fewer than 10% of channels. Yet traditional transport methods mean every channel costs the same to deliver.
of broadcasters prioritise remote production capabilities, and traditional satellite trucks and dedicated fiber connections can't scale to meet the demand for content from every corner of the globe.
These pressures have been building for years. The transport infrastructure that made sense in a world of fewer channels and high margins doesn't work when margins are thin and content demands are vast.
Broadcasters are caught between maintaining broadcast quality and managing unsustainable costs. All in all, the transport methods that served the industry for decades are not always economically viable anymore. But there's a new way forward: public internet.
The convergence of 5G, LEO satellites, and improved public internet infrastructure has created opportunities for low-cost, high-speed content delivery. While public internet offers unprecedented cost advantages, many professional-grade productions have struggled with unreliability and scaling limitations. That’s where SRT comes in.
"A decade ago, broadcasters relied exclusively on pristine, managed leased line connectivity. Today? The cost can be one thousandth of the cost of a leased line. Even rural locations now have gigabit connectivity that would have been unimaginable in the previous era."
What is SRT (and why it matters)
In just one year, SRT adoption jumped from 68% to 77% of broadcasters, making it a dominant transport protocol for broadcasters, media professionals, and content creators. So if you’re not familiar with what SRT does, let’s get you up to speed. SRT optimises video transport by combining packet loss recovery, congestion control, and stream optimisation. This results in secure, high-quality, stable video streaming at scale, making it ideal for everything from premium sports to long-tail content distribution.
SRT's core advantages:
Media agnostic
Supports any codec, resolution, or frame rate, future-proofing your workflows
Low latency performance
Sub-500ms delivery critical for live sports and real-time applications
Packet loss recovery
Advanced error correction maintains quality over unpredictable networks
Enhanced security
End-to-end encryption protects valuable content during transmission
Firewall friendly
Corporate security compliance without complex network modifications
But not all SRT is created equal. While SRT adoption has exploded, many professional-grade implementations are hitting serious scaling limitations.
"Public Internet and unmanaged network connectivity is not good enough to use raw for live production. You have to use technology layers on top to actually make it usable, and SRT is one of the ARQ technologies that is actually helping."
The ultra-high capacity X Platform advantage (why server-based SRT falls short)
Server-based SRT solutions have proven their worth across the industry: they handle multi-camera productions, enable remote workflows, and power everything from corporate broadcasts to mid-tier sports. They've been the backbone of the IP transition for good reason.
The standard SRT software implementation simply wasn't designed for this kind of sustained, time-critical processing load.
But this isn't purely a capacity issue—it also affects reliability, latency, power consumption, and the ability to scale on demand. When your server-based SRT solution starts dropping frames during a championship match, your audience will notice.
Reliability becomes
a nightmare
Power consumption
spirals out of control
Latency compounds
dangerously
This is where Appear's X Platform approach changes the game.
By moving SRT processing from software to purpose-built, ultra-high capacity hardware, you circumvent the limitations that have held broadcasters back. Hardware acceleration means SRT processing runs on dedicated circuits, not general-purpose CPUs.
In practice: servers process SRT in software, sharing CPU cycles with the operating system, applications, and overhead. Every packet requires multiple CPU instructions. Hardware acceleration dedicates physical components exclusively to SRT—no sharing, no overhead, just pure processing power.
It's the difference between 20 servers struggling with 20 camera feeds versus one 2RU unit handling 22 UHD cameras without breaking a sweat.
X Platform hardware-accelerated
SRT by the numbers:
simultaneous connections in a single 2RU chassis
of SRT traffic capacity—enough for an entire production facility
simultaneous UHD camera feeds from one unit
throughput per module, with 3GBps per flow for ultimate flexibility
But these specs mean nothing
without real-world context:
For premium sports
Cover the entire stadium with multiple camera angles without a truck full of servers. Add cameras on the fly. Create new viewer experiences that were previously economically unviable.
For news operations
Deploy professional-grade remote production from anywhere with an internet connection. No satellite trucks. No dedicated fibre. Just plug in and broadcast.
For niche content
Finally make those long-tail channels profitable by matching transport costs to actual revenue potential. That regional fishing show? Now it finally makes financial sense.
From edge-of-your-seat moments in live sports to breaking news from remote locations, broadcasters using hardware-accelerated SRT are delivering flawless, engaging experiences while competitors struggle with infrastructure bottlenecks and spiralling costs.
The question isn't whether...
to adopt SRT anymore. It's whether you'll choose an implementation that becomes the foundation for growth or one that limits your broadcast options down the line.
What ultra-high capacity
SRT looks like in action
NBCUniversal: NAB Project of the Year Winner
When NBCUniversal transformed its satellite downlink ecosystem, the results were so impressive they earned the NAB 2023 Project of the Year Award—with Appear named as their technology partner. Using the hardware-accelerated SRT in Appear’s X Platform, NBCUniversal centralised operations and eliminated countless rooftop antennas across their facilities.
implementation delivered:
improvement
at edge sites
reduction
in local infrastructure
foundation
for cloud-based workflows
"Appear's X Platform allowed us to revolutionise our satellite operations. By centralising our downlink ecosystem and leveraging SRT transport, we've significantly reduced local infrastructure while preparing for a future where cloud workzflows become the norm."
World Archery: Taking production in-house
When smaller sports federations compete for viewer attention against major leagues, production efficiency becomes critical. World Archery transformed their entire broadcast operation using Appear's SRT-enabled X Platform, proving that world-class production isn't reserved for sports with billion-dollar budgets.The federation went from complex satellite workflows and third-party dependencies to complete in-house control—achieving an 18-month ROI while dramatically improving quality and reach.
through simultaneous delivery over multiple network types
supporting various delivery strategies for global productions
and secure streaming with consistently low latency
that grows with their expanding viewer base
"By removing the complexity of our previous broadcast setup, we now deliver consistent, high-quality coverage with minimal setup time. Appear's X Platform allowed us to regain full control of our content, ensure that audiences around the world enjoy a seamless viewing experience, and reduce operational costs. Our calculations indicate that we’ve achieved payback on our investment in just 18 months."
Not all hardware-accelerated SRT solutions are created equal.
While others have attempted to address SRT's scaling challenges, the unparalleled capacity of Appear's X Platform represents a fundamentally different approach to broadcast infrastructure.
Purpose-built from the ground up
Unlike retrofitted solutions that bolt SRT onto existing hardware, the X Platform was designed specifically for modern IP workflows. Every component—from the custom silicon to the control interface—was designed with one goal: delivering uncompromising performance at scale.
The density difference
Where competitors max out at dozens of streams, we're handling thousands. Our 1,536 simultaneous connections represent real-world headroom for your most ambitious productions.
Beyond transport: A complete ecosystem
The X Platform isn’t restricted to transporting video, it's a comprehensive processing platform that handles:
Integrated encoding/decoding for workflow efficiency
Built-in redundancy with automatic failover
Sophisticated monitoring and analytics
Award-winning innovation
Our hardware-accelerated SRT has earned both the NAB Product of the Year Award and the TVB Europe Best of Show. But more importantly, it's transforming operations for broadcasters like NBCUniversal, UFC, RIOT Games, and much more.
The support that matters
Technology is only as good as the team behind it. Appear's international support team doesn't just respond to issues, they partner with you to optimise workflows, plan expansions, and stay ahead of industry changes.
Your implementation
roadmap
Ready to make the leap? Here's a strategic checklist for
hardware-accelerated SRT success, and what you should do first.
Phase 1: Assessment and planning
1. Audit current transport costs
You'll need this baseline to measure ROI
2. Map your content tiers
Which channels truly need premium transport?
3. Identify remote production opportunities
Where could you expand coverage?
4. Calculate infrastructure requirements
How many simultaneous feeds do you need?
Phase 2: Pilot and validation
1. Select a high-value test case
Perhaps a recurring sports event or news operation
2. Establish success metrics
Latency targets, quality benchmarks, cost reductions
3. Document workflow changes
How will operations need to adapt?
Phase 3: Scale and optimise
1. Gradually migrate workflows
Start with lower-risk content
2. Monitor performance metrics
Ensure you're hitting quality targets
3. Expand use cases
Explore new production possibilities
4. Calculate ongoing savings
Calculate ongoing savings—track your ROI monthly
"We deployed the SRT-enabled X Platform to support encoding, packaging, and delivering over multiple network paths simultaneously, adding a layer of resilience that our broadcasts require. The X Platform's SRT solution supports multiple network types, providing the best viewing experience for our growing audience."
Make the SRT-enabled X Platform your next move
The future of broadcasting belongs to those who can deliver more—more content, more quality, more immersive experiences—while spending less. Hardware-accelerated SRT proves you can have both, if you choose the right implementation.
Appear's X Platform represents decades of broadcast innovation condensed into a solution that's ready for your most demanding productions. From the football pitch to the newsroom to the studio, we're helping broadcasters worldwide transform their operations, cut costs, and create a system that scales to whatever your production needs.
Ready to future-proof your broadcast operations?
Let's discuss how the X Platform's hardware-accelerated SRT can transform your workflows and unlock new revenue opportunities. Our team of broadcast experts is ready to assess your current setup and design a migration path that positions you for long-term success.