For integrators in 2026, the challenge isn’t just installing hardware — it’s managing what many are calling the “Great Convergence.” As the traditional boundaries between high-end broadcast and corporate AV continue to blur, the modern integrator is evolving into something closer to a hybrid systems architect.
1. The Convergence Education: Broadcast Meets AV
One of the biggest requests from integrators right now isn’t for cheaper gear, but for training. In 2026, the corporate boardroom, the high-end house of worship and the university lecture hall are all starting to function like mini-broadcast studios.
That shift brings new expectations. Integrators are now having to get comfortable with concepts that were once the domain of network engineers and broadcast specialists. Things like:
- Precision Timing: Understanding PTP (Precision Time Protocol) and why “close enough” clocking doesn’t work when you’re working with high-resolution video and audio over a network.
- Software is No Longer Just a Layer: Integrators used to define systems in software and then bake that into hardware. Now, the software is the system — and it’s constantly evolving based on user input.
- Production Literacy: There’s also a growing need to better understand the end user. A CEO doesn’t just want to be seen — they want a broadcast-quality presence, with multi-camera switching and polished visuals.
2. AI Beyond the Chatbot: The Integrated Assistant
We’re already seeing AI move beyond the search bar and into the signal chain. For integrators, it’s no longer just a tool for writing emails — it’s becoming part of how systems actually operate.
- Computer Vision for Auto-Mixing: AI-driven camera tracking has come a long way. It’s not just following faces — it’s starting to anticipate behavior. If a presenter moves to a whiteboard, the system can adjust the lighting and switch audio before the presenter even starts speaking.
- Voice-Activated Macro Logic: The traditional touch panel isn’t the sole interface anymore. Integrators are programming “intent-based” control, where a user can say, “Prepare the room for a town hall,” and the system handles everything behind the scenes.
3. The IP Wars: Navigating the “Alphabet Soup”
What used to feel like “IP Wars” is now settling into something more practical — specialization rather than total domination. The skilled integrator in 2026 isn’t picking one protocol but to connect multiple ones in a way that actually works.
- ST 2110 remains the uncompressed powerhouse. Ideal for high-end broadcast environments, though still highly complex to deploy.
- NDI 6 has become a flexible bridge across corporate, education and house of worship settings.
- Dante AV continues to lead in audio-first environments where timing and reliability are critical.
- IPMX is emerging as a more accessible, standards-based framework that helps tie these systems together.
In reality, most workflows now involve a mix of Dante audio, NDI video feeds and IPMX for wider distribution. Integrators are increasingly acting as translators between these worlds.
4. Breaking Control Barriers: The Rise of Open Platforms
Perhaps the most disruptive trend is the shift away from proprietary, black box control systems. For years, integrators were locked into proprietary, closed systems. That’s starting to change.
Platforms like Bitfocus Companion and Buttons are opening things up, giving integrators more flexibility to design around workflows, not just hardware.
- Hardware Agnostic: using Platforms like Bitfocus’ Buttons, integrators can control a Sony camera, a Blackmagic switcher and a Crestron lighting system from a single interface.
- The Community Effect: when new gear launches, a module or driver is often created by the user community within days, rather than waiting months for a manufacturer-sanctioned update.
- Customization over Configuration: there’s a growing demand for more low-code environments, where interfaces can be tailored to the client’s specific needs — buttons that don’t just say “on/off” but rather “Start Live Stream to YouTube and LinkedIn.”
Conclusion: The AV Integrator as the Architect
The AV integrator isn’t just a cable puller anymore. They are a Workflow Architect. They’re designing workflows, connecting systems and translating between technologies that didn’t traditionally sit together.
By leaning into Broadcast-IP, integrated AI and more open control platforms, they’re helping break down the silos that have separated AV and broadcast for decades.
At the end of the day, it’s all just data. The real value is in how well you make it work together.
Nicholas Smith is vice president of technology marketing at JB&A. Register for JB&A’s free Pre-NAB Technology Event.
