NAB 2026 Insights: AI Hype, NDI’s Evolution, and Uncertain Future for NDI|HX
By Jennifer P
In this article by Anthony Burokas for StreamingMedia, the author reflects on the state of the broadcast and streaming industry at NAB Show 2026, noting that despite global uncertainty, streaming technology itself has matured significantly. What was once prone to failure—especially large-scale live streams—has now become stable and routine, even for major sports and event productions. However, he points out that much of the industry’s activity has shifted toward corporate consolidation and financial maneuvering rather than groundbreaking innovation.
A major theme explored is the growing—and often overstated—presence of AI in production tools. Burokas critiques how “AI” branding is being applied broadly, even to technologies like PTZ camera tracking that have existed for decades. While improvements exist, he emphasizes that these systems still fall short of replacing skilled human operators. He also highlights a gap in innovation, expressing interest in more advanced workflows—such as using high-resolution 360° cameras to create dynamic, multi-angle outputs—but notes that such capabilities are still not widely available in practical production environments.
The article then shifts focus to the evolution of NDI, which has reached its 10-year milestone. While high-end broadcast environments continue adopting SMPTE ST 2110, NDI remains for its accessibility and efficiency, particularly with the introduction of NDI|HX3, which leverages H.265 compression to deliver high-quality 4K video over standard network infrastructure. This has made it especially appealing for schools, houses of worship, and smaller production teams that lack the resources for more complex IP-based systems.
However, Burokas raises concerns about the future of NDI|HX due to recent licensing changes by Via Licensing Alliance. The restructuring of H.264/AVC licensing fees—moving from a flat cap to a tiered system—could significantly impact both streaming providers and hardware manufacturers. The author cites examples like HP and Dell disabling HEVC support in their devices over relatively small cost increases, illustrating how sensitive the market is to licensing fees.
Ultimately, the article questions the long-term viability of H.26x-based NDI workflows. Since many NDI|HX products rely on these codecs, rising licensing costs could lead to higher prices or reduced adoption. Burokas suggests that companies like Vizrt may need to explore alternative codecs or partnerships—such as with Open Media Transport—to ensure flexibility and sustainability. While NDI remains a powerful and widely used tool, its future—particularly in its compressed HX form—may depend on how the industry adapts to these evolving licensing challenges.
Read the full article by Anthony Burokas for StreamingMedia HERE
Learn more about NDI HERE