Appear Launches The X5: Redefining Scalable Live Production
Once logged in you can set content preferences to let us know what you are interested in and whether you want to receive email from us.
Already Registered? Login
At NAB Show 2025, Appear is unveiling the X5, a powerful and cost-efficient extension of its X Platform, designed to provide unparalleled flexibility and performance for broadcasters, streaming platforms, and media operators.
Alongside the X5 launch, Appear is introducing significant advancements across the entire X Platform family (X5, X10, and X20), enabling higher capacity, greater scalability, and seamless IP media transport to support live production workflows of any size.
The X5 is engineered for high-value, smaller-scale live productions, delivering ultra-low latency, high-quality compression, and superior IP media transport in a compact, cost-effective solution. Whether capturing a global sporting event, breaking news, or premium entertainment, the X5 ensures that even the most agile operations benefit from the same cutting-edge technology that powers the world’s leading broadcasters.
Key customer benefits of the X5 include:
- Scalability – Ideal for live production workflows that require fewer channels while maintaining top-tier performance.
- Seamless Integration – Works effortlessly within both SDI and IP-based infrastructures, ensuring a future-proofed investment.
- Superior Resilience – Supports SMPTE 2022-7, SRT, and IP-FEC, guaranteeing uninterrupted signal reliability.
- Portable & Versatile – A compact and lightweight design makes the X5 ideal for remote production setups and flight-case deployments.
- Advanced Encoding/Decoding – Supports AVC, HEVC, 12G, and UHD workflows, offering unmatched flexibility and efficiency.
Expanding Capabilities Across the X Platform Family
To further empower media operators with higher performance and operational efficiency, Appear is also introducing major enhancements across its X Platform lineup, reinforcing its position as a leader in high-performance, future-ready media processing. These upgrades include:
- 100G Switch Module – Expands network capacity for high-throughput media transport, compliant with SMPTE RP2129 Trust Boundary.
- Increased JPEG XS SDI Density – Doubled from 4 to 8 channels per module, maximising density and enabling more efficient live contribution workflows.
These new capabilities ensure broadcasters, streaming services, and live event producers can scale operations, enhance content quality, and optimize cost-efficiency without disruption.
You might also like...
IP Monitoring & Diagnostics With Command Line Tools: Part 5 - Using Shell Scripts
Shell scripts enable you to edit your diagnostic and monitoring commands into a script file so they can be repeated without needing to type them manually every time. Shell scripts also offer some unique and powerful features that help to…
Building Software Defined Infrastructure: Observability In Microservice Architecture
Building dynamic microservices based infrastructure introduces the potential for variable latency which brings new monitoring challenges that require an understanding of observability.
Broadcast Standards: Kubernetes & The Architecture Of Cloud Compute Based Systems
Here we describe Kubernetes and the taxonomy of containerized architecture based cloud compute system designs it manages.
Live Sports Production: Backhaul In Live Sports Production
Getting content reliably and securely from venue to studio remains key to live sports production so here we discuss the technology and services required.
Monitoring & Compliance In Broadcast: Monitoring Delivery In The Converged OTA – OTT Ecosystem
Convergence or coexistence between linear broadcast, IP based delivery and 5G mobile networks creates new challenges for monitoring of delivery paths, both technically and logistically.