Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) has deployed a Riedel MediorNet-based IP production and communications infrastructure, designed and integrated by Bridge Digital. The upgrade moves EKU from SDI to a SMPTE ST 2110 environment, routing any source to any destination across a 100-gigabit campus fiber network connecting Alumni Coliseum, the Perkins Building, the Center for the Arts, and other athletic facilities. The system enables scalable productions, unified workflows, and a growing volume of live events.
“What we really wanted was consistency and flexibility without throwing away what we already had. By moving to a hybrid ST 2110 approach, we’ve kept our legacy gear in place while creating a unified system where everything works together. Users can walk into any room and feel comfortable right away. It’s simplified training, reduced costs, and set us up for the future,” said Dwayne Bolin, Video Systems Engineer at EKU.
EKU’s previous production environment relied on point‑to‑point fiber runs and SDI signal paths that limited routing flexibility and required regular repatching between events. Working with Bridge Digital, the university migrated to a campus‑wide ST 2110 infrastructure that uses its existing fiber backbone along with COTS IP switches populated with Riedel MediorNet MuoN A processing SFPs. These SFPs handle gateway conversion, frame synchronization, and HD‑SDI processing, creating an adaptable foundation for routing any source to any destination on the network.
The university’s production operations center on two main hubs connected by a 100‑gig network path: Perkins and Alumni Coliseum (AC). Sports and events branch from these hubs based on location — football ties into Perkins, while basketball, baseball, and softball originate at AC, and soccer routes back to Perkins. All venues, including AC, which has expanded to an eight‑camera setup for more complex productions, feed signals over the existing fiber network into central control rooms, eliminating the need for additional fiber installations.
The Center for the Arts, previously isolated from the control rooms, is now fully connected to the campus‑wide network. The facility uses PTZ cameras, a Dante interface, and MediorNet FusioN frames to support commencements, concerts, and other large‑scale events. At each venue, Riedel FusioN frames provide local I/O, multiviewer feeds, and integration of legacy SDI equipment.
“We use Bolero for field communications and PunQtum throughout our control rooms, and the combination has been incredibly powerful. The clarity, flexibility, and ease of use have made a huge difference in how our crews operate, and the biggest impact has been the increase in quality of our shows,” added Katie Adkins, Assistant Director of Broadcasting and Video at EKU. “Clearer communication, less troubleshooting, and more time to train students means they’re leaving here better prepared for the industry.”
Shortly after installation, the university successfully produced its first football game on the new infrastructure, which has operated reliably since commissioning — a reflection of EKU’s broader commitment to innovation and student success. Adkins added: “Our students are our North Star, so every investment we make is about improving their experience and preparing them for the future, and this system does exactly that.”
