When the audience is watching, there’s no second chance.
Every lighting cue, video transition, and media playback must happen exactly when it’s supposed to. Behind every successful live production is a network that delivers flawless performance, giving production teams the confidence to focus on the show—not the infrastructure.
That’s why NETGEAR AV and ACT Entertainment have partnered to deliver verified interoperability between NETGEAR AV switches and the production technologies behind ACT’s three marquee brands: MA Lighting, tvONE, and Green Hippo. Together, the two companies are providing live production professionals with a validated, end-to-end networking foundation that simplifies deployment, reduces risk, and ensures every element of the production works seamlessly together, from control and processing to playback.
IN THIS ARTICLE
What the partnership delivers
At its core, this collaboration answers one of the most persistent challenges in networked live production: knowing that the hardware and software you choose will work together, reliably, before you arrive on-site.
Through rigorous interoperability testing, NETGEAR AV and ACT Entertainment have confirmed that NETGEAR switches operate seamlessly alongside MA Lighting’s control systems, tvONE’s video processing platforms, and Green Hippo’s media servers. For integrators and production professionals, this means faster deployments, less time validating compatibility, reduced project risk, and more time focused on delivering exceptional live experiences.
The partnership goes beyond product validation. ACT customers gain access to NETGEAR AV’s network support services, along with certification and training programs delivered through ACT’s facilities in Maidenhead, UK and Cincinnati, Ohio. Together, these resources help teams build the skills and confidence to deploy, manage, and support complex live production environments successfully.
Built for the realities of live production
Whether it’s a live event, broadcast production, touring show, or permanent installation, every production depends on one thing: a network that performs flawlessly under pressure. As AV-over-IP workflows continue to become the industry standard, production teams need infrastructure they can trust from setup to showtime.
“As productions continue to evolve toward increasingly network-centric workflows, this collaboration gives our customers the confidence that their fully validated, interoperable systems are backed by world-class support and training resources,” said Bob Bonniol, Chief Innovation Officer at ACT Entertainment.
At the heart of these deployments are the NETGEAR AV’s M4350 series switches – purpose-built for broadcast and Pro AV applications – forming the network backbone for these integrated deployments. Designed around SMPTE ST 2110, AES67, and AVB/TSN standards, they bring the precision timing and bandwidth management that high-density live production demands.
“NETGEAR is committed to simplifying and strengthening AV-over-IP deployments for entertainment and production professionals worldwide,” said Devan Cress, Director of Pro AV Manufacturers OEM at NETGEAR. “Partnering with ACT Entertainment expands access to validated network solutions across some of the industry’s most trusted production technologies, while also providing the training and support necessary to deploy these systems successfully.”
A foundation for what comes next
As live production becomes increasingly network-centric, success depends on more than choosing the right individual products. It requires the confidence that every component has been validated to work together, backed by expert support and training when it’s needed most.
That’s what the NETGEAR AV and ACT Entertainment partnership delivers: a trusted, end-to-end networking ecosystem that helps production teams deploy faster, reduce risk, and focus on creating unforgettable live experiences – today and as the demands of tomorrow continue to evolve.
IBC booth 8.A59
Visit us at IBC booth 8.A59 to discover how this partnership, our growing ecosystem and our dedicated broadcast products can make broadcast easier for you.