VSF Releases Specification For OTA-Hybrid: IP Transport Method
The Video Services Forum (VSF) has further enhanced the Reliable Internet Streaming Transport (RIST) protocol with RIST OTA-Hybrid: IP Transport Method. This feature can be used to augment any Over-The-Air (OTA) transport system that uses RTP as its primary delivery mechanism, by using the Internet as a recovery mechanism for data that is corrupted or lost in transit.
This new RIST recommendation, TR-06-4 Part 9, follows the same architecture as Part 7, but instead of augmenting an existing satellite system, it is applicable to any Over-The-Air (OTA) transport that uses RTP as its primary delivery mechanism. A typical application scenario is ATSC 3.0. Using Part 9, a broadcaster can transmit content to a population of ATSC 3.0 receivers and use the Internet to recover any lost or corrupted data. This way, the bulk of the transmission happens over the air, significantly reducing the load on Internet links and servers.
It is ideal for events such as sports matches and live concerts, and it does not require any changes to the transmission chain. The method is applicable to other packet-based RF transport infrastructures, such as DVB-S2X, when combined with RIST Advanced Profile (TR-06-3) for the RTP transport. VSF TR-06-4 Part 9 is available to download from the VSF website.
This addition to the RIST specifications reflects the growing demand for hybrid delivery architectures. RIST Forum members will be demonstrating related technologies and solutions at the NAB Show 2026.
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