With NAB 2025 opening its doors in just over a month at the Las Vegas Convention Center, the broadcast industry is buzzing with anticipation about advancements in cloud streaming technology. Industry pioneers including AWS, TVU Networks, Amagi, and MainStreaming are set to unveil developments that could fundamentally transform broadcasting's future.

Here's what industry watchers are expecting at this year's landmark event.
Hybrid Solutions: Bridging Cloud and Traditional Infrastructure
The most prominent trend expected at NAB 2025 is the continued refinement of hybrid architectures. The industry has moved beyond debating "cloud versus on-premises" to exploring optimal combinations of both approaches. This evolution reflects a more sophisticated understanding of balancing cloud flexibility with broadcast's physical requirements.

TVU Networks' enhanced TVU Partyline platform exemplifies this hybrid approach, merging cloud-based guest integration with on-premise routing for precise frame synchronization. Their TVU RPS Hybrid solution, which combines cloud servers with 5G transmitters, has proven valuable in challenging live coverage scenarios. Similarly, AWS Elemental MediaLive is anticipated to showcase stronger integration with on-premises hardware, allowing broadcasters to scale resources during peak events while maintaining control over latency-critical processes.

Recent industry research indicating 63% of enterprises now employ hybrid models (up from 41% in 2023) suggests this approach will continue gaining momentum as broadcasters optimize operations across both cloud and physical infrastructure.

AI-Enhanced Live Production

AI integration within cloud streaming workflows continues advancing beyond basic automation. TVU Networks' AI Producer technology has shown practical value in sports broadcasting, while AWS's new AI toolset enables automated highlight creation and context-sensitive ad insertion. MainStreaming's CMCD+ analytics engine demonstrates potential in real-time technical performance optimization, with initial tests showing significant rebuffering reductions through intelligent encoding adjustments.

Conquering Latency Barriers

Interactive applications like sports betting and live commerce continue driving the push for minimal latency. Several providers will showcase solutions targeting this challenge, with TVU Networks' Partyline platform achieving 4K remote integration under 200ms latency when paired with standard production tools. Zixi's systems have demonstrated comparable capabilities across global AWS regions, establishing new benchmarks for end-to-end delivery times.

Market-Specific Solutions

The industry is witnessing increased development of specialized solutions for distinct market segments. These include customized workflows for religious broadcasting, educational institutions, and government agencies. This specialization trend reflects market maturation, with providers addressing specific customer requirements rather than offering universal solutions.

Ongoing Industry Hurdles

While cloud solutions promise cost efficiencies, implementation remains complex. Unpredictable egress fees continue troubling operators of large-scale live events. Security presents another persistent challenge, with content protection becoming increasingly sophisticated in response to rising piracy. Despite SMPTE 2110's growing adoption, compatibility issues persist, with many broadcasters maintaining parallel SDI infrastructures due to interoperability concerns.

Technology Democratization

Cloud technologies are making broadcast-quality tools increasingly accessible to smaller operators. Solutions offering premium WebRTC streaming at competitive per-stream costs represent significant technology democratization, creating new possibilities for content creators across all scales.

Future Outlook

The broadcast industry approaches what might be termed "the end of the beginning" for cloud live streaming. The technology has progressed beyond experimentation to become a broadcasting cornerstone. The demonstrations and announcements anticipated at NAB 2025 could well define broadcast innovation's next chapter.

Success in this evolving landscape will likely depend on effectively combining traditional broadcast reliability with cloud flexibility. Content creators and broadcasters must prepare for a future that is cloud-powered and AI-enhanced while maintaining the high-quality standards audiences expect from professional broadcasts.

As the industry looks toward NAB 2025, cloud live streaming has clearly evolved beyond simple content delivery to enable more engaging, interactive, and personalized viewing experiences. The technologies expected at this year's event suggest broadcast innovation will continue accelerating, creating fresh opportunities and challenges for industry participants at every level.