FOX Sports deploys IP-based BRISK kits for 2026 World Cup coverage
FOX Sports developed Broadcast Remote IP Studio Kits (BRISK) for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, allowing its LA-based production to extend into remote locations via ST 2110-based flypacks. This tactical remote-studio system enables centralized production by making remote sources feel local to the production team. The initiative builds on FOX's distributed production evolution, proven during a Super Bowl deployment.
Key Takeaways
- FOX Sports built six BRISK systems, each containing ST 2110-based IP flypacks designed for rapid deployment in host cities and fan zones.
- The kits integrate directly with FOX’s Pico facility in Los Angeles, allowing producers to treat remote cameras as local sources (e.g., cameras 13-24).
- Production quality is maintained through 'Club 2110,' a centralized monitoring hub at Pico that manages sync, comms, HDR, and color for all incoming feeds.
- The workflow evolution follows a successful proof-of-concept deployment during a Super Bowl broadcast in New Orleans.
Why It Matters
This deployment marks the maturation of the Remote Integration Model (REMI) for large-scale sports, shifting the industry away from logistical reliance on onsite production trucks. By centralizing the heavy processing at a home hub while maintaining a tactical field presence, rights-holders can scale coverage for a 48-team, 104-match tournament without exponential cost increases. This architecture demonstrates how SMPTE ST 2110 and JPEG XS can bridge thousands of miles with sub-second latency, turning geographically distributed venues into a single virtualized studio. Watch for whether this decentralized technical layer becomes the standard for the 2028 Olympics and subsequent major rights cycles.
Additional Context
The 2026 World Cup represents a significant expansion in broadcast requirements, growing from 64 matches in 2022 to 104 matches across three countries. Per Fox Corporation in January 2026, the network plans to air over 340 hours of original programming, a 100-hour increase over the Qatar tournament. To manage this volume, FOX Sports selected the Appear X Platform to unify its remote production infrastructure across both its Home Run Productions (HRP) and Jewel Event systems, according to reporting from April 2026. This setup supports both JPEG XS and low-latency HEVC on a single hardware platform, allowing for flexible compression based on venue fiber availability. Beyond traditional broadcast, FOX is using this high-capacity IP infrastructure to fuel experimental distribution methods. Under a partnership with Cosm announced in May 2026, 40 matches will be produced for 'Shared Reality' venues featuring 87-foot 12K+ LED domes in Los Angeles, Dallas, and Atlanta. Furthermore, per TV Technology in June 2026, the entire tournament will be produced natively in 1080p HDR at 59.94 fps, ensuring high-fidelity consistency across broadcast and 4K digital streams. This centralized model is assisted by an 100 Gbps diverse circuit network connecting the Dallas International Broadcast Centre with FOX hubs in Los Angeles and Tempe to ensure signal resilience via SMPTE 2022-7 hitless switching.
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