Two months … that was the window we had to replace a routing system patched together for years and prepare for our first ACC Network soccer broadcast on Aug. 14. Baseball wrapped in June; soccer followed in mid-August. The timeline was tight, and the stakes were high. Our obligations to ESPN through the ACC’s media-rights deal now extend through the 2035–36 academic year, and those broadcasts shape how fans, alumni, and recruits experience NC State. Every show reflects our brand. Falling behind on technology wasn’t an option.

Our old system was reaching its limits. Football board shows ran on six fibers; baseball relied on four to six. Routing signals between venues meant deploying temporary gear with little guarantee of reliability. Adding new cabling was nearly impossible without tearing up streets and sidewalks. Replay capacity was limited to a single-channel replay system. For a program expected to deliver high-quality broadcasts across multiple sports, we needed a system that was more sustainable.

From Fragmented Fiber to Future-Ready Architecture

Beyond replacing aging infrastructure, the project created a platform designed to support growth for years to come. We chose SMPTE ST 2110 because the industry is moving toward IP-based workflows, and staying with baseband would have locked us into a dead end. At the same time, we had hundreds of thousands of dollars in baseband equipment that couldn’t simply be discarded. The solution was a hybrid system: IP capability for future growth, baseband integration for continuity.

Connectivity was the starting point. We installed 288 strands of fiber between Reynolds Coliseum and the Murphy Center and extended fiber to every venue. Each location now includes router headends, supporting 544 inputs and 576 outputs per venue. Bidirectional video transport no longer requires temporary gear. Replay operations expanded from one single-channel unit to eight multichannel replay servers, dramatically improving production capacity.

We designed the router for scale: initial capacity of roughly 1,650 x 1,650 inputs and outputs, expandable to more than 2,194 x 2,226 through additional SFPs and fiber. Multiviewer layouts are fully customizable, and automatic cross-conversion simplifies truck integration. A 1080p feed from a truck can be converted to 720p internally without manual intervention. Frame synchronization locks every source, eliminating the need for constant repatching.

Planning and execution required a partner who understood both our operational realities and the constraints of state procurement. BeckTV has been that partner for years. They handled our original ACC Network build in 2019 and have supported every major upgrade since, including the football video board and the recent router transition. Their familiarity with our workflows and ability to navigate procurement requirements removed delays that often derail large-scale projects.

As a designated university vendor, BeckTV also supports NC State year-round with smaller parts, quotes, and projects, which keeps contracts active and avoids the delays of rebidding for each major upgrade. They also helped us evaluate multiple manufacturer options quickly, drawing on solutions proven at other facilities. They suggested precabling a second control room during the original ACC Network build, when we initially had funds to fully equip only one room, which continues to pay dividends today, because later funding allowed us to roll in gear and go live without reopening walls.

Installation began in late June and concluded in early August. Even after uncovering a configuration issue that pushed us back about a week, additional crew and a clear calendar kept the Aug. 14 deadline intact.

How IP Routing Changed Daily Workflows

Day-to-day operations look very different now. Venue changeovers, once labor-intensive, rely on salvos and router files that restore sport-specific configurations with minimal effort. During peak season, as many as six sports, including gymnastics, wrestling, basketball, baseball, and softball, may run concurrently without compromising quality or efficiency.

Multiviewer flexibility has been a major gain for producers and directors. Automatic cross-conversion and frame sync have streamlined truck workflows, reducing setup time and operational risk. Diagnostics have shifted from physical patching to software-based visibility, providing real-time alerts on fiber status, IP addresses, and thermal conditions. Instead of chasing physical patch points, staff now rely on software that identifies lost SFPs, fiber issues, and thermal problems. This allows us to get precise fault information as soon as it occurs. Moving to IP felt like moving from analog audio to digital, 64 streams down one coax. Having the right tools is essential, and once they are in place, system visibility becomes remarkably comprehensive.

The transition also changed how we think about troubleshooting and monitoring. Training was essential; hands-on exposure during the build combined with three days of manufacturer-led instruction gave our team confidence to operate and expand the system. BeckTV played a key role here, walking us through configurations and troubleshooting during installation. Ongoing education is now part of our workflow because broadcast technology evolves continuously.

Today, we’re using about 70–75% of the system’s routing capabilities; the remaining capacity is being unlocked as new show-specific workflows and salvos are developed.

Why IP Was Non-Negotiable, and Where We Go From Here

Choosing SMPTE ST 2110 positions us for the future. IP-based systems offer higher capacity, flexibility, and scalability than baseband. Lifecycle upgrades will introduce IP-native cameras, switchers, and replay systems, reducing reliance on baseband without disruptive overhauls.

Looking ahead, we plan to link our sports router with the campus 2110 router for broader content distribution and establish a direct connectivity to ESPN Bristol. Centralized control rooms are becoming the backbone of live production, and IP transport removes distance limitations while enabling hybrid models that were impossible in the baseband era. Leadership at NC State expects centralized school control rooms to become the financial and operational backbone for many ESPN shows, with IP transport enabling hybrid truck and at-home models that weren’t realistic before.

Broadcast requirements will keep growing. Our job is to stay ahead without disrupting operations, and that means building systems that adapt as quickly as the industry does. Investing in SMPTE ST 2110 and hybrid routing gives us that foundation.

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Source: https://www.sportsvideo.org/2026/03/24/inside-nc-states-fast-track-migration-to-smpte-st-2110/