On August 19, 2026, the 33rd Beijing International Radio, Film and Television Exhibition (BIRTV2026) opened at the China International Exhibition Center in Beijing. As a bellwether for the global evolution of broadcast and media technologies, this year’s event drew significant attention from across the industry. At the exhibition site, a UHD outside-broadcast vehicle co-developed by Sony (China) Co., Ltd. and the Jinhua Municipal News & Media Center (Media Group) made its debut in the industry—widely regarded as one of the benchmark high-technical-value exhibits at the show. The deployment of this outside-broadcast vehicle not only showcases Sony’s innovative breakthroughs in 4K UHD, broadcasting across end-to-end IP and networked production workflows, but also marks a key and exemplary step for the Jinhua Municipal News & Media Center—an industry leader in regional cultural media in central Zhejiang—in deepening reforms of media convergence at the municipal level and rebuilding high-quality UHD production and broadcasting capabilities.
Exterior view of the outside broadcast vehicle of the Jinhua City News & Media Center
On-site display image of the outside broadcast vehicle of the Jinhua City News & Media Center
I. Team up with Sony: Building a new benchmark for city-level media convergence ultra-high-definition production and broadcast
The Jinhua City News & Media Center was established through the integration of the former Jinhua Daily Newspaper Media Group and the Jinhua Radio and Television Group, holding multiple qualifications including a national-level high-tech enterprise. As media convergence reform moves deeper, and with demands for concurrent distribution to multiple end terminals such as daily news, large galas, sports, esports, and new-media vertical screens, the limitations of traditional production models in terms of multi-format compatibility and scalable elasticity have become increasingly apparent.
Based on keen insights into the evolution trends of broadcast technology, the Jinhua City News & Media Center chose to work deeply with Sony to build a technology system centered on an all-IP on-site production solution, delivering a breakthrough audiovisual experience with 4K HDR high dynamic-range imagery and deep 3D audio integration. The ultra-high-definition outside broadcast vehicle jointly developed by both parties for the Jinhua City News & Media Center (Media Group) breaks, in one move, the cable bloat and signal scheduling barriers of the traditional SDI mode. It successfully establishes an efficient “end-to-end IP-ification” response system covering acquisition, production, control, and transmission.
In real-world operations, the outside broadcast vehicle can not only provide high-redundancy, zero-interruption broadcast-grade video quality for large government gala performances, but also precisely capture exciting moments from sports and esports. Leveraging the dual-IP architecture and 5G network, it smoothly enables synchronized distribution for both landscape and portrait screen formats, as well as remote interconnection with studio-internal production, becoming a mobile production hub that empowers end-to-end business scenarios.
Interior view inside the ultra-high-definition outside broadcast vehicle of the Jinhua City News & Media Center (Media Group)
II. Leading change: Multi-dimensional technological innovation driving a hard-core upgrade of media convergence production and broadcasting
The ultra-high-definition outside broadcast vehicle of the Jinhua City News & Media Center (Media Group) adopts a networked, intelligent, modular system architecture. It not only balances technical foresight with practical usability, but also leads the industry across multiple technical dimensions.
01 Dual-IP ST2110+NDI end-to-end system architecture
For the first time, this vehicle adopts an end-to-end dual-IP system architecture of ST2110 + NDI, perfectly balancing high-quality broadcast-grade image performance with efficient new-media production. The system uses the ST2110 framework to carry uncompressed 4K live production to ensure broadcast-grade image quality, while the NDI framework efficiently supports deeply compressed new-media and media-convergence vertical-screen content production. The two work in tandem, combined with the 5G network to enable real-time program distribution—truly building a complete production loop for “one vehicle, multiple programs.”
Diagram of dual-IP ST2110 + NDI system
02 Deploy dual SDN management systems and IP Master Box (mobile distribution/control)
The现场配备的 IP Master Box (mobile distribution/control system) demonstrates high flexibility on-site. In day-to-day use, it can serve efficiently as the main vehicle interface box to ingest and handle on-site signal scheduling. Additionally, by leveraging the embedded Light SDN and Emerge NAT switches, it enables native driver-based management without needing to set up a separate switch, completing cross-system signal interoperability. Furthermore, when deploying a 4K camera in the original HD studio, ST2110 remote production between the original studio and the outside broadcast vehicle can be realized through pre-installed fiber optic dedicated lines, achieving the production expansion goal of “one vehicle with 4K, the whole setup with 4K.”
The outside broadcast vehicle uses the IP Master Box to produce a 4K program in the HD studio
03 Intelligent scheduling core: VideoIPath and SDN management system
For scheduling and control, Sony’s IP signal scheduling system is jointly composed of the VideoIPath network architecture and the SDN management system. As the core control platform, VideoIPath integrates operational, orchestration, and monitoring functions for the broadcast industry. Sony’s SDN management system, meanwhile, supports intelligent creation of non-blocking, high-security, high-redundancy routes; provides multiple mechanisms such as driver, NMOS device management, Tally/GPIO, and matrix control; and can monitor network nodes in real time while performing precise PTP synchronization. The technical team does not need to interact with complex underlying networks; dynamic bandwidth allocation and seamless, low-touch O&M can be achieved.
Sony SDN management system
04 Core technology injection: Cinematic storytelling and AI intelligent shooting
In terms of audiovisual expression and intelligent production, this vehicle is introducing for the first time the HDC-F5500V (Super 35mm CMOS) along with a VND variable ND filter-equipped VND system, delivering a signature shallow depth-of-field visual look. At the same time, the vehicle deploys BRC-AM7 PTZ cameras for the first time; equipped with AI intelligent tracking technology, it can automatically track athletes and precisely complete algorithmic composition framing. In coordination with the newly introduced CNA-2 camera control network adapter, all cameras and the HDRC-4000 converters inside the vehicle are brought under unified management, supporting seat/position parameter comparison, rapid copying, and remote quality control (PQC).
HDC-3500V VND variable ND shallow depth-of-field cinematic look
AM7 basketball AI tracking
05 BVM-HX3110 “ultra-white” monitoring and “third system” resource sharing
In terms of monitoring and switching capabilities, the BVM-HX3110 professional monitors installed inside the vehicle feature 1000 Nit full-screen brightness and 4000 Nit peak brightness. When handling “ultra-white” production scenarios involving 100% to 109% unconventional brightness levels, there is no need to change settings to directly display extremely bright image quality up to 1811 cd/m2. The main switching console, Sony MLS-X1 (4K 48x48 / HD 96x96, 3M/E), combined with the ICP-X7000 panel, and leveraging SignalXChange resource-sharing capability, can flexibly split into two input resource logic switchers that share resources completely, efficiently handling two independent program productions. The Virtuoso series visualized IPG gateways (HBR25/HBR10) adopted across the line support intuitive picture and level monitoring, and also integrate FS, UDC, and multi-protocol conversion functions.
BVM-HX3110 ultra-white monitoring
III. Deep protection: Sony’s “full lifecycle” professional services as a solid backstop
Sony and the Jinhua City News & Media Center have a long-standing partnership. The successful delivery of this project would not have been possible without professional service support from Sony’s team throughout the entire process.
At the system integration consulting level, Sony relies on Turnkey (turnkey) engineering experience from over a hundred outside broadcast vehicles. Sony is involved deeply end-to-end in key stages such as system design, cross-checking between the vehicle body and systems, integration implementation, deep commissioning, and acceptance and delivery, ensuring high-quality system delivery.
Group photo of Sony and the integrator’s professional team staff
In empowerment and training, Sony has launched a systematically structured “IP Classmates Association” curriculum with a complete domestic ecosystem. Through theoretical explanations, hands-on demonstrations, practical simulations, and skill assessments, it helps the Jinhua team build a complete IP knowledge system. At the same time, it provides all-dimensional special training for key equipment such as cameras, the MLS-X1 switcher, VideoIPath, the Virtuoso gateway, and CNA-2, helping customers fully understand the “dual IP + 5G” architecture and quickly acquire independent O&M capabilities.
On the operations and maintenance (O&M) support layer, for major sports events and live gala performances, Sony provides full on-site coverage and develops multiple redundancy contingency plans. In combination with a dedicated extended-warranty contract and low-cost, high-quality equipment rental services, customers can easily handle ultra-large production tasks. With this end-to-end lifecycle service system providing deep protection, the Jinhua City News & Media Center has successfully built a benchmark broadcast system among city-level media outlets—the first rollout that seamlessly manages the integration of uncompressed ST2110 and deeply compressed NDI signals.
Full on-air coverage and live-broadcast support services for major sports events and gala performances
IV. Forward-looking journey: Sony leads the new direction of ultra-high-definition outside broadcast technology evolution
Based on the innovative practice of the Jinhua City News & Media Center’s ultra-high-definition outside broadcast vehicle, Sony believes that broadcast mobile production systems are accelerating into a new stage of “full-element integration, software-defined operation, AI enablement, and cloud-ground collaboration”:
First, fuse all elements. Evolving from a single ST2110 protocol to deep, multi-protocol integration such as “ST2110 + NDI / SRT / 5G,” breaking down the boundaries between broadcast-grade ultra-high-definition production and lightweight, media-convergence workflows—achieving “single capture, multi-mode generation, and concurrent end-to-end delivery.”
Second, software-defined capabilities and shared computing power. Leveraging technologies such as MLS-X1 SignalXChange, system hardware will further pool resources. In the future, the outside broadcast vehicle will not need additional physical equipment; by reconstructing the software architecture and logically splitting components, it can generate multiple independent production units on demand—truly making “computing power adapt to business needs.”
Again, AI-assisted production and automation. Intelligent technologies represented by BRC-AM7 AI tracking are deeply entering live production. AI algorithms will expand tracking from a single camera position to automatic composition, intelligent cut automation, and multi-camera color coordination, significantly reducing repetitive labor so that creative energy can return to the content itself.
Finally, cloud-ground collaboration and remote computing extensions. Through mobile distribution/control technologies such as the IP Master Box, the outside broadcast vehicle is no longer an isolated “on-site hardware island.” Instead, it acts as a distributed edge node connecting the studio and cloud computing, enabling a new remote collaboration production mode with seamless “on-site + in-studio + cloud” integration.
Internal schematic diagram of the ultra-high-definition outside broadcast vehicle of the Jinhua City News & Media Center
Integration implementation and final delivery for this project are undertaken by Instatec (Yingstek) of General Technology Group. With deep roots in the broadcast industry, Instatec carefully calibrates and iterates upgrades for the entire vehicle system, ultimately presenting outstanding performance characterized by scientific layout, leading technology, stable operation, and comprehensive functionality. The system deeply matches the urgent needs of diverse scenarios in the new-media era, including mobile production and professional production, injecting strong momentum into quality improvement and upgrades for media construction. Meanwhile, Instatec closely cooperates with Sony, seamlessly coordinating to demonstrate a benchmark level of professional expertise in high-end customized system integration.
Highly reliable vehicle chassis platform | Starlight Lutong customized retrofit
The retrofit of the vehicles for the Jinhua City News & Media Center’s ultra-high-definition outside broadcast vehicle project was handled by Beijing Starlight Luttong Audio-Visual Broadcasting Technology Co., Ltd. With more than two decades of deep focus in special-vehicle audio-visual broadcasting retrofitting, Beijing Starlight Luttong has accumulated strong technical foundations and project experience. To date, it has successfully delivered nearly one thousand special vehicles, covering fields such as emergency communications, TV outside broadcasting, and satellite communications.
Design highlights
The interior design inspiration for the outside broadcast vehicle comes from the landscape-and-water forms in the Jinhua region. The strength and order, rhythm and variation are expressed to convey a beautiful vision of harmonious coexistence between people and nature. The design language runs throughout the entire vehicle, crafted with originality to create an artful complex that integrates “function” and “people.”
? ? Designed to create a strong sense of atmosphere, fully mobilizing the enthusiasm of the staff. The interior is based on layered diamond-shaped lines, shaping a unique technological aesthetic. An integrated curved production-control desk paired with a floating panoramic monitoring wall, with diamond-shaped ice-blue light strips on the roof that echo each other in vertical rhythm—constructing a coherent, three-dimensional visual depth. Meticulously crafted multi-layer solid-wood edging combined with an art-cutout ceiling creates an experience where both touch and feel are top-tier. Each area’s control desks carefully shape human-machine interfaces, studying the operating habits of every workstation and harmonizing with the overall space to form a distinctive innovative combination. With advanced gray as the base color, blue/white/red accents are interwoven, progressively stretching the spatial atmosphere in layers—blending high-efficiency collaboration, professional acoustics, and a futuristic sci-fi vibe to reconstruct the professional broadcast space. The production vehicle becomes a solid, high-tier collectible art piece.
Interior design of the ultra-high-definition outside broadcast vehicle of the Jinhua City News & Media Center
Written at the end
From technical breakthroughs in the dual-IP architecture of ST2110 and NDI, to process reengineering for “one vehicle, multiple uses” and remote production; from innovative introductions such as AI intelligent shooting and cinematic storytelling for monitoring 4K HDR images—this is not only an upgrade of hardware equipment, but also a paradigm shift in the industry from “technology enablement” to “value creation.” This marks the official entry of the Jinhua City News & Media Center’s ultra-high-definition production and broadcast into a new era of “intelligent integration.” In the future, Sony will continue to provide solid technical support and comprehensive service assurance, helping broadcast and media-convergence partners write a brand-new chapter of innovation!
Appendix: System configuration of the ultra-high-definition outside broadcast vehicle of the Jinhua City News & Media Center (Media Group)
