NetActuate Launches Media Substrate for Live Video Distribution
News related to:NetActuate · 2 min read
NetActuate has launched the Media Substrate, a managed transport layer for live video distribution, ahead of the IBC 2026 conference. The new service allows broadcasters to send one stream and receive one stream, with the company’s network running diverse paths beneath to ensure redundancy and quality of service.
The Media Substrate operates on NetActuate’s global network, providing a redundant, instrumented path between markets without requiring broadcasters to lease circuits or stitch carriers together. Available now in the NetActuate Customer Portal under Networking, the service aims to simplify the process of distributing live video by handling the underlying complexities.
According to Mark Mahle, CEO of NetActuate, "Every market we operate in has the same buyer with the same problem, which is getting a live feed from one place to another without building a network to do it." The service ensures that in the event of a path failure, the merged output remains unaffected, maintaining uninterrupted service for broadcasters.
The mechanics of the Media Substrate are straightforward. Broadcasters send one stream, and the company’s network runs diverse paths across more than 45 locations worldwide. These paths are then merged at egress points, where latency and continuity are continuously measured on every hop. In a blackout test, one path was taken fully dark, but the merged output lost nothing, demonstrating the robustness of the system.
NetActuate offers two tiers of service: Managed Media Substrate and Custom Media Substrate. The Managed tier runs across NetActuate's existing footprint, allowing broadcasters to carry traffic without a build. The Custom tier provides a dedicated deployment for broadcasters who want their own isolated footprint and control over where it reaches, whether worldwide, North America only, or a named set of countries.
The service supports eleven protocols, including SRT, RIST, UDP, MPTS, MoQ, ST 2022-7, SMPTE ST 2110, RTMP, WebRTC, WHIP, and WHEP. The protection comes from the network itself, ensuring that the service works consistently regardless of which protocol is used. Latency is dependent on the specific connection points, and NetActuate publishes real figures for each route in the portal, allowing for precise planning and execution.
Two related services, C-Band Transition Acceleration and MoQ Relay, are also available on the same network. The C-Band Transition Acceleration service provides a terrestrial path off satellite for United States broadcasters ahead of the mandated upper C-band auction. The MoQ Relay is a managed Media over QUIC delivery network that works with the substrate but does not require it.
NetActuate operates in more than 45 locations worldwide, including 22 in the United States and a presence in every major North American media market. With one of the largest globally-peered IPv4 and IPv6 networks, the company is well-positioned to serve broadcasters and media technology companies. The Media Substrate is now available for self-service turn-up through the NetActuate portal, with Custom deployments available upon request.
NetActuate's launch of the Media Substrate reflects its commitment to providing edge infrastructure and network solutions for low-latency, resilient, and secure live video distribution. The company’s autonomous system and BGP control plane enable real-time path adjustments, ensuring that broadcasters can focus on their content without worrying about the underlying network infrastructure.