Battle for open standards in IP transition continues as four more join AIMS

Arista Networks, Cisco Systems, EVS Broadcast Equipment and The Telos Alliance have all joined AIMS (the Alliance for IP Media Solutions), the alliance of broadcast and media industry suppliers, formed to promote open standards and interoperability in the transition to IP.

These four companies, respectively involved in software-driven cloud networking solutions, IT, live outside-broadcast digital video production systems and broadcast audio technologies, join founding member companies Grass Valley, Imagine Communications, Lawo, Nevion and Snell Advanced Media in the newly-formed independent trade association. The alliance was formed last month with a mandate to bring IP solutions to market that offer complete interoperability, are based on open standards, and integrate into media workflow environments to foster industry innovation and efficiency.

Benoit Fevrier, CTO at EVS, said, “EVS’ IP4Live initiative demonstrates our belief that openness and standardisation are key to the success of video over IP in hybrid or end-to-end IP broadcast and live production workflows. We see the launch of AIMS as a crucial step forward to achieving this.”

AIMS’ efforts will be focused on promoting the adoption, standardisation, development and refinement of open protocols for media over IP, with an initial emphasis on VSF TR-03 and TR-04, SMPTE 2022-6 and AES67. Broadcasters and other media companies are seeking to leverage IP to increase the flexibility of their networks, help streamline workflows and improve agility to better compete in a rapidly evolving ecosystem. Open standards are the key to protecting current investments and ensuring long-term interoperability.

Open standards work for the IP transition is already underway by the 74-member Video Services Forum (VSF), with the support of organisations such as SMPTE and the EBU. AIMS endorses the work of the VSF and will continue to lend support in the development of a standard approach to IP. More than 30 broadcast equipment manufacturers are actively testing and validating the VSF’s approach today. AIMS provides specific guidance in its bylaws to its members and to the media industry via the AIMS Roadmap.