Framework published for moving broadcast from satellite to IP
October 7, 2026



Uplynk, Zixi, BroadView Software and Grass Valley have published The IP Convergence Framework for Distribution, a white paper that sets out a practical, repeatable model for taking broadcast distribution off satellite and onto IP and the cloud. The framework is based on a real-world deployment for a broadcaster with a global footprint, one of the largest satellite-to-IP transitions in the industry, which is now live in production.

The timing matters. The FCC’s upper C-band auction will reclaim between 100 and 180 MHz of spectrum that broadcasters have relied on for decades to deliver content across the United States. Every broadcaster, content owner and distribution partner using that spectrum needs a replacement path that matches satellite for reliability, without locking its operation into a single vendor or a single location.


The framework brings together four core layers, each delivered by one of the partners:

– Broadcast operations and playout (Grass Valley): master control and playout running in the cloud

– Transport and reliability (Zixi): broadcast-grade delivery of live video over IP, with redundancy built into every path

– Orchestration and automation (BroadView Software): control of the full workflow through BroadView Nexus

– Streaming and integration (Uplynk): distribution to streaming, FAST and affiliate endpoints from the same chain

Each layer can be swapped or scaled on its own, so operators can adopt the model in stages rather than through a single rebuild. Continuous monitoring through TAG and Zixi ZEN Master gives operations teams the same visibility across the chain that they expect from a traditional master control room.

Master control moves to the cloud

The paper follows the full workflow, from ingest through cloud master control to distribution. Moving master control into the cloud, together with a virtual router controlled from a broadcast-style panel, is where broadcast and streaming practice meet: engineers keep the precision and control they are used to, and gain the flexibility of IP.

The framework identifies three outcomes that come from that combination:

– Flexibility from swappable layers and the ability to add channels and endpoints without redesigning infrastructure

– Reliability from redundant workflows and continuous monitoring

– Efficiency from lower storage and transport costs and less dependence on fixed hardware

Because no part of the chain is tied to a physical facility, the model also gives broadcasters location independence, so teams can operate channels from wherever they are.

“The C-band transition is forcing a real question for broadcasters – what replaces satellite without sacrificing the reliability they’re used to. We built this framework to answer that question, and we proved it first by moving a broadcaster’s entire satellite operation onto IP and the cloud in production. That combination of broadcast-grade reliability and cloud flexibility is what the industry needs right now, and we’re excited to share how we got there,” commented Eric Black, CEO/CTO at Uplynk.