From Patch Panels to Software: ARD Hauptstadtstudio Goes All-IP

The transition was the culmination of several years of planning and preparation. Technical concept development began as early as 2022, followed by a major rebuild in 2023 that involved stripping out the existing control room and central apparatus room. Legacy cabling was removed, and equipment that had reached end-of-life was decommissioned. Originally, the studio was scheduled to cover Germany’s federal elections in autumn 2025 using the new system. However, the collapse of the governing coalition and the resulting snap election delayed the final changeover.
During the construction phase, all productions, including election-night coverage, were temporarily handled from a makeshift control room set up in former office spaces. By October 2025, however, the moment of truth had arrived.

The Switch to IP

In the days leading up to the first live broadcast, around two dozen engineers and technicians worked to bring the new system online. Control rooms and technical areas buzzed with activity as routing, monitoring and software interfaces were prepared for live operation. From the audience’s perspective, nothing was meant to change. All differences between SDI and IP were intended to remain strictly behind the scenes.

At the heart of the new infrastructure is an IP-based routing system built around BFE’s KSC Core software. Where signal distribution had previously relied on a large, wall-sized SDI patch matrix with physically visible connections, all routing is now handled virtually. Sources and destinations are assigned with mouse clicks rather than cables — an approach that offers flexibility but demands a different way of thinking.

Project manager Andreas Ambach and broadcast engineer Ralph Weber oversaw the routing during the changeover weekend. On their screens, audio and video paths were continuously checked, corrected and reconfigured as feedback came in from the control room. Missing audio feeds or video signals were resolved in real time until all devices were communicating reliably within the network.

Control Room and Studio Setup

The new central apparatus room features four main workstations facing a large monitor wall. Signal routing sits alongside recording and playout, with an additional position for system control, satellite management and auxiliary switching tasks. Adjacent technical rooms still house legacy equipment, including SD and HD recorders and a conventional audio patch field, reflecting the hybrid nature of the current setup.

Next door, Control Room A accommodates six workstations arranged in two rows in front of a wall of approximately sixty monitors. Vision mixing is handled by a Grass Valley Kahuna Maverik, while audio is mixed on a Lawo mc²66 console with UHD core. For „Bericht aus Berlin“, six Sony HDC-2400 cameras with Fujinon 22× zoom lenses were deployed, some operated robotically via Shotoku systems. Presenters and guests were equipped with Sennheiser 6000-series microphones and Phonak in-ear monitors for programme communication.

Behind the main desk, a large studio window reveals Berlin’s Marie-Elisabeth-Lüders-Haus in the background. The multi-layered glass panels can be adjusted depending on exterior light conditions. Two identical LED video walls extend the set visually and are used for graphics, video playback and live remote guests. Synchronising these displays with live camera signals requires careful delay management, handled via a Selenio Network Processor (SNP).

Testing Under Live Conditions

The day before the first broadcast, the team conducted a full technical rehearsal under near-live conditions. Once all signals reached their intended destinations within the IP network, a comprehensive test run began in the late afternoon. Camera positions, lighting and set layout were fine-tuned, while all technical systems like intercom, microphones, camera tally lights, teleprompters, remote links and LED walls were operated simultaneously.

Minor issues inevitably arose, including faulty connectors and misrouted signals, but these were quickly resolved. By the end of the rehearsal, the new infrastructure had proven itself stable enough to proceed.
A full dress rehearsal followed on Saturday evening, with editorial staff standing in for guests. After intensive testing earlier in the day, the smooth run-through was considered the best possible outcome.

First Live Broadcast and First Lesson

On Sunday evening, „Bericht aus Berlin“ went on air for the first time using the new SMPTE ST 2110 infrastructure. Initial segments ran flawlessly, until an audio failure occurred at the start of a pre-recorded insert. While the video signal remained intact, audio was lost both in the studio and on air.

Within seconds, the production team reacted. After 18 seconds, a standby graphic was displayed. Following a brief interruption, the insert was restarted and ran without further issues. Later analysis revealed a routing error within the ST 2110 system. This issue that had not occurred during earlier tests.

For Michael Schultz, Head of Production and Technology, the incident illustrated a fundamental shift in broadcast engineering. „What used to be visible cable connections now happens in software“, he explained. „Errors are no longer immediately obvious—you have to look for them in the system logic.“

Networked for the Future

Despite the initial hiccup, the transition was considered a success. The ARD-Hauptstadtstudio has demonstrated that IP-based production networks are viable in demanding live environments. More importantly, the new infrastructure lays the groundwork for closer collaboration between ARD’s regional broadcasters, enabling signal exchange and flexible production workflows across locations.

The long-term goal is a hybrid SDI/IP environment that allows a gradual transition rather than an abrupt break with established workflows. The Berlin project serves as a pilot for future ARD facilities—and as a reminder that the challenges of modern broadcasting are shifting away from hardware and toward software logic.
After 17 years of SDI-based operation, the Capital Studio has thrown the switch. Not just to a new technology, but to a new way of thinking about live production.