Showcasing Versatile Approaches for Hybrid, Software-Defined Live Broadcasting at IBC2025
Appear, a leading provider of next-generation media processing solutions, is set to unveil its latest innovations at the IBC2025 event in Amsterdam, Netherlands, from September 12-15, 2025. The company's key advancements include the VX Media Gateway software and the X5 hardware module, designed to enhance hybrid and software-defined live production workflows with ultra-low latency and high-quality compression.
VX Media Gateway Software
Deployable on-premises or in the cloud, the VX Media Gateway software supports secure, scalable media processing. It features advanced stream protection, seamless failover, and compliance with industry standards such as SMPTE ST-2022, UDP/RTP, Unicast/Multicast, SMPTE ST-2022-7, and optimized SRT for exceptional scalability.
The VX Media Gateway is designed to enable Ground-to-Cloud workflows, facilitating reliable, low-latency media transport in hybrid and cloud-native environments. It is built to integrate with the Media eXchange Layer (MXL), Appear's open framework for vendor-neutral, containerized media interchange, supporting flexible software-defined workflows.
X5 Hardware
The X5 hardware is a compact, cost-effective module aimed at smaller-scale, high-value live productions. It delivers ultra-low latency, high-quality compression, and superior IP media transport. The X5 supports bandwidth-intensive live productions with enhanced performance in a smaller footprint.
The X5 is part of the X Platform family, which now includes a new 100 Gbps network card quadrupling interface speeds for UHD and multi-HD live feeds without requiring infrastructure changes. This enables broadcasters to transport lightly compressed to uncompressed video reliably, aiding in the evolution toward software-defined, hybrid production models.
Additional Innovations
Appear is also introducing the Appear Estate Manager (AEM), an advanced management tool offering enhanced visibility, control, and streamlined software updates across X Platform deployments.
Together, these products contribute to the evolution of hybrid and software-defined live production by enabling broadcasters to reliably move high-quality, low-latency media streams across any network, bridging hardware and software seamlessly, and supporting scalable, flexible deployments both on-premises and in cloud environments. This facilitates the transition from traditional infrastructure to hybrid cloud workflows with open, container-based media processing and orchestration.
Andy Rayner, Chief Technology Officer of Appear, stated that the new VX platform, SRT solutions, and X Platform features ensure secure, low-latency, real-time media transfer over any network and seamless exchange between hardware and software services. He further added that Appear's solutions enable truly flexible live production, allowing operators to create high-quality programs entirely in software and do it wherever compute and storage are most cost-effective for their individual business model.
Appear will exhibit at IBC2025 to demonstrate its X Platform hardware and VX software platform for hybrid and software-defined live production. More information about Appear can be found on its website.
[1] Media eXchange Layer (MXL) [2] X Platform [3] X5 [4] VX Media Gateway
- The VX Media Gateway software, a key innovation from Appear, can be deployed either on-premises or in the cloud for secure, scalable media processing.
- The VX Media Gateway's advanced stream protection, failover, and compliance with industry standards such as SMPTE ST-2022, UDP/RTP, and SMPTE ST-2022-7 make it exceptional for live production workflows.
- The X5 hardware module, designed for smaller-scale live productions, offers ultra-low latency, high-quality compression, and superior IP media transport.
- The X5 hardware, a part of the X Platform family, includes a new 100 Gbps network card that quadruples interface speeds, aiding in UHD and multi-HD live feeds without needing infrastructure changes.
- Appear's new management tool, the Appear Estate Manager (AEM), provides advanced visibility, control, and streamlined software updates across X Platform deployments.
- The X Platform features, including the X5 hardware and VX Media Gateway software, facilitate the evolution of hybrid and software-defined live production workflows by allowing broadcasters to securely and efficiently move high-quality, low-latency media streams across networks.
- The Media eXchange Layer (MXL), an open framework by Appear, enables vendor-neutral, containerized media interchange for flexible software-defined workflows.
- At the IBC2025 event, Appear will exhibit its X Platform hardware and VX software platform, showcasing its solutions for hybrid and software-defined live production, including the new VX Media Gateway, X5 hardware, and Appear Estate Manager.
