For years, Windows-based PCs have been the default platform for broadcast newsrooms. They power ingest stations, edit bays and playout systems across the industry. But today, many broadcasters are reassessing that approach. Macs — once limited to creative teams — are becoming the practical choice for newsroom operations, live production and field reporting.
The shift extends beyond aesthetics or brand loyalty. It is driven by operational realities of speed, reliability, security and the need to produce more content across more platforms with fewer resources.
University broadcast journalism programs are also making the switch as they attract and cultivate future journalists who grew up producing content on their iPhone and Macs.
With more than three decades of working exclusively on the Apple platform, Softron has witnessed an upsurge in Mac environments from classrooms to newsrooms across the country. These are the six factors we see driving broadcast journalism migration from Windows to Macs.
1. Reliability and performance
In a 24/7 newsroom, stability is non-negotiable. Live production environments cannot afford unexpected reboots, driver conflicts or background updates interrupting workflows. Many broadcasters view macOS and Apple Silicon as a more predictable foundation for long-duration ingest, encoding and playout.
Apple’s unified hardware and software architecture reduces compatibility challenges commonly found in mixed PC environments. M-series processors deliver strong performance with lower power consumption, allowing editors and producers to handle multi-stream playback, rendering and rapid turnaround without sacrificing reliability.
For software developers, like Softron, this consistency also simplifies development and testing. Supporting a smaller range of hardware configurations allows tighter optimization and more predictable performance in real-world broadcast environments.
2. Fewer interruptions and a simpler technical environment
Because newsrooms operate under constant deadlines, technical troubleshooting can slow production at the worst possible moment. Macs are often described as “it just works” systems because they require less day-to-day maintenance.
With fewer background processes and tightly controlled updates, Macs can reduce unexpected disruptions during live capture or playout. The unified Apple Silicon architecture minimizes driver-related issues that frequently appear in Windows environments with diverse hardware combinations.
This operational simplicity allows engineering teams to focus on content delivery rather than device management.
3. A creative ecosystem built for modern journalism
Today’s newsrooms produce content for broadcast, web, social media and mobile platforms simultaneously. Macs integrate naturally into these multi-format workflows.
Tools like Final Cut Pro, Motion and Compressor are deeply optimized for Apple hardware, while Adobe Creative Cloud and DaVinci Resolve run seamlessly alongside them. File sharing across iPhone, iPad and Mac devices enables quick collaboration between field reporters and editors, especially when producing short-form content for digital platforms.
For many organizations, the Mac becomes the creative hub of the newsroom — bridging ingest, editing and distribution in a single environment.
4. Built-in security and operational resilience
Security concerns continue to grow as broadcasters handle sensitive content and distributed production environments. macOS offers a layered security model built on its UNIX-based foundation, which uses a strict permissions structure to protect system files.
Features such as Gatekeeper, XProtect and sandboxed applications help reduce exposure to malware, while System Integrity Protection limits unauthorized system changes. Apple’s control over the entire technology stack — hardware, software and silicon — enables tighter integration of security features than many traditional PC deployments.
While no platform eliminates risk entirely, these protections help maintain operational continuity during critical news cycles.
5. Stronger ROI and longer hardware lifecycles
Although Macs often carry a higher upfront cost, many broadcasters report a favorable total cost of ownership over time. Devices tend to remain in use longer, require fewer repairs and maintain higher resale value compared to typical PCs.
Newsrooms frequently redeploy older Macs into secondary roles such as backup ingest systems or auxiliary editing stations, extending the lifespan of IT investments. The ability to run professional broadcast software on standard Mac hardware without extensive configuration further reduces deployment complexity.
This lifecycle flexibility makes Macs attractive for organizations seeking reliable performance without constant hardware refresh cycles.
Using an off-the-shelf device also means that, in the rare case of a hardware failure, a replacement unit can easily be found, unlike with dedicated closed server devices.
6. Meeting the expectations of the next generation of broadcasters
Technology decisions are increasingly influenced by workforce trends. Many journalists, editors and designers already prefer Apple devices. Younger professionals often enter the industry with extensive Apple experience.
Journalism schools are widely adopting Macs as teaching platforms, introducing students to professional editing tools and mobile-first storytelling workflows. Long battery life and portability also make Mac laptops ideal for reporters working in the field, filing stories from remote locations or producing content directly from their iPhones.
As this new generation enters the workforce, Mac-based production environments feel increasingly familiar and intuitive.
A platform aligned with the future of news production
The move toward Mac and the Apple ecosystem is not about replacing every Windows system overnight. Many newsrooms will continue to operate hybrid environments. However, the momentum is clear. Broadcasters are prioritizing platforms that deliver predictable performance, seamless creative workflows and strong long-term value.
As news organizations adapt to faster production cycles and digital-first distribution, Macs are evolving from niche creative tools into foundational newsroom infrastructure. For broadcasters focused on efficiency, reliability and future-ready workflows, the business case for Macs continues to grow.
Delivering unprecedented channel density, Softron’slatest M|8XL bundle brings 8× 4K60p capture in a single card, with MovieRecorder, and the DELTACAST-12G-e-h 8c.
The new bundle is designed for broadcasters and post-production facilities that require uncompromising multi-channel 4K capture.
The M|8XL bundle combines Softron’s MovieRecorder software (8-channel license) with the new DELTA-12G-e-h 8c card from DELTACAST. This unique combination delivers industry-first ingest capabilities for up to eight simultaneous channels of 4K60p video on a single PCIe card.
The DELTA-12G-e-h 8c is the first PCIe Gen 4 video card to support 8× 4K60p signals or 2 × 8K60, delivering higher density and enabling more channels to run on a single card. Alongside its 8× 12G-SDI bi-directional connections, the card includes reference in and out, plus LTC input, a rare combination valued by professional users.
“The DELTACAST-12G-e-h 8c is ideal for anyone who needs to manage and process SDI channels ranging from SD-SDI up to 12G-SDI,” said Pierre Lespagnard, head of products at DELTACAST. “Pairing this performance with Softron’s MovieRecorder creates a powerful solution for broadcasters working in sports, music, news or multi-camera production environments.”
“When every second counts and compromise isn’t an option, you need the ultimate hardware and software bundle,” said Daniel Tapie, CEO of Softron Media Services. “The M|8XL combines high-end, low-latency DELTACAST technology with multiple MovieRecorder licenses on a single dongle, delivering the best possible solution for a Mac Pro configuration.”
Availability and Pricing
The Softron M|8XL bundle will be available in October for €14,450 / $14,950.
It joins Softron’s existing lineup of bundles, including the M|4i and M|8i, expanding customer choice for ingest solutions at every scale.
The DELTACAST-12G-e-h 8c card will also be available as a standalone purchase for customers seeking upgrades, backups or integration with Softron’s playout applications.
For more details, visit: softron.tv/products/hardware/bundles
Apple ProRes has long been a staple in professional video production. Wildly popular among broadcast, post-production and streaming media professionals for its high-quality compression and efficient editing performance, ProRes is used from Hollywood films to TV newsrooms around the world.
Apple ProRes is offered as a standard or optional recording feature on industry-leading cameras such as ARRI, Canon, Sony, Panasonic and Blackmagic. Editors count on it as the codec for Final Cut Pro, Adobe Premiere Pro and DaVinci Resolve.
Studios and broadcasters including the BBC, ESPN, CBS and streaming platforms like Netflix, Apple TV+, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Video accept or often require ProRes for delivery and mastering.
At the same time, popularity continues to grow for the SMPTE ST 2110 protocol, a set of standards designed for transmitting professional media over IP networks. This protocol is transforming how major broadcasters move media over IP and opening the door for smaller productions to benefit from flexible, affordable, and rapid innovations in software-based workflows.
Softron Makes the Connection
Until recently, a combination of ProRes and the ST 2110 protocol was out of reach. However, over the last several months, Softron has been applying our four decades of innovative engineering in the Apple community to integrate the ST 2110 protocol (via 2110-22) and ProRes to stream in real time over IP networks. Our goal was to make this connection to improve bandwidth efficiency, and workflow simplicity between live broadcast and post-production.
ST 2110 was originally built to handle uncompressed media streams, separating video, audio, and metadata into distinct IP packets for flexible routing and processing. This design made it ideal for live broadcast environments where latency and fidelity are critical.
Over time, ST 2110-22 was introduced to extend the standard to compressed video essences. The most widely adopted codec in this space is JPEG-XS, which became the reference for 2110-22 because of its extremely low latency and visually lossless quality, making it a perfect fit for demanding live production workflows.
Apple ProRes, on the other hand, is a compressed codec that was built for post-production workflows rather than real-time transmission. Its compression is efficient and visually lossless, but introduces more latency than JPEG-XS. That makes it less suited for ultra-latency-sensitive live switching, yet very compelling for other use cases where flexibility, cost, and in most cases interoperability matter more than absolute sub-millisecond latency.
At IBC2025, Softron has teamed with Macnica Americas to demonstrate the first pairing of Apple ProRes compressed video over ST 2110-22, combined with macOS and the Macnica100Gbps MEP100 SmartNIC.
This industry first marks a significant evolution, bridging the gap between live IP workflows and post-production environments. We are working with Macnica to bring this solution to market before the end of the year.
Why ST 2110 Support Matters for Apple ProRes
The integration of ProRes into ST 2110-22 introduces new advantages that complement, rather than replace, JPEG-XS. While ProRes does not match JPEG-XS in ultra-low latency, its ubiquity and licensing model make it an attractive option in many real-world workflows.A Familiar, Widely Supported Codec
ProRes is already built into most professional cameras, NLEs, and post-production systems. On macOS, it is decoded and encoded without licensing fees, and on Windows and Linux many vendors already support it for file recording. This means manufacturers can adopt ProRes over ST 2110 without having to pay for an additional proprietary codec such as JPEG-XS. The result: lower costs and faster adoption across hardware and software ecosystems.
Flexible Workflows at Lower Cost
In workflows where ProRes is already the mastering- or playout-format, carrying it over 2110-22 eliminates unnecessary re-encoding. A frame that already exists in ProRes can simply be transmitted in its current form, avoiding both the quality hit and the latency penalty of recompression. This opens use cases where latency remains low enough to be practical, even if not as minimal as JPEG-XS.
Bandwidth and Channel Scalability on Mac
On Apple platforms, ProRes makes IP video transport significantly more scalable. For example, current Thunderbolt bandwidth limits restrict uncompressed workflows to two 4K60 channels per bus. With ProRes over 2110-22, it becomes possible to handle up to eight 4K60 channels initially, and more in the future, enabling multichannel production even on Mac systems without PCIe slots such as the Mac Studio or Mac mini.
Scalability and Network Efficiency
ST 2110 leverages an IP infrastructure, which is inherently scalable. With support for ProRes over high-bandwidth networks (like Macnica’s 100Gbps SmartNIC), creators can transmit high-resolution compressed video efficiently, enabling remote production and distributed workflows.
Low-Latency, High-Quality Streaming
While ProRes is compressed, ST 2110-22 ensures that it can be transmitted with minimal latency, which is crucial for live events and real-time collaboration. This makes it possible to use ProRes not just for editing, but also for live ingest and playout.
Expanding the 2110 Ecosystem
By embracing ProRes alongside JPEG-XS, ST 2110-22 becomes more flexible and inclusive. Broadcasters can continue to use JPEG-XS for the most latency-critical live production, while leveraging ProRes for multichannel ingest, playout, remote production, or mixed environments where cost, adoption, and compatibility are equally important.
Future-Proofing Production Pipelines
As media formats evolve such as 8K and HDR, ST 2110 provides a modular, flexible foundation. Supporting ProRes within this protocol ensures that workflows remain adaptable and ready for future innovations.
We think it's going to be big
We believe the inclusion of Apple ProRes in the ST 2110 protocol can be a game-changer, merging the best of both worlds: the editing efficiency of ProRes and the real-time, scalable power of IP-based media transport.
For broadcasters, post-production teams, and live event producers, this development opens up new possibilities for seamless, high-performance workflows across the entire production chain.
This year at IBC, Softron will unveil ProRes over SMPTE 2110 with Macnica.
For more exciting innovations and new features, go to our IBC exhibit page !
As part of recent system updates, the automated support ticket creation feature is no longer available in applications released before June 2025—specifically, those that do not use the new license system.
In these older versions, only the “Collect Logs…” option remains functional. While you can still gather logs manually, the automatic ticket creation and update features are no longer supported.
In the latest versions of our applications, the improved “Contact Support…” option is available. It automatically collects logs and pre-fills support information directly in your web browser.
To send us logs, we recommend updating to the latest version and following this procedure. If updating isn’t possible, you can still collect logs manually and submit them. For instructions using older versions, refer to this guide.
We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding as we continue to enhance our support systems.
For urgent support, please visit our Support Center to submit a ticket directly.
Thank you for your continued support.
We are officially discontinuing OnTheAir Node, OnTheAir Manager, and OnTheAir Live. These products have served our users faithfully for over 15 years, but they’ve now reached the end of their lifecycle. While we’ll continue to offer limited maintenance updates for a short transition period, active development on these apps ended several years ago, and they are no longer available for purchase.
But here’s the great news:
We’ve poured our efforts into building something better—OnTheAir Video is now our flagship playout solution. It not only incorporates the key features of the discontinued products, but also introduces significantly more powerful capabilities: native support for advanced effects, remote control options, squeeze back with supersources, and more.
This move also simplifies our product lineup. In the past, it wasn’t always clear which software best fit a given workflow—Master Control, Newsroom integration, or Live production. Now, the answer is simple: OnTheAir Video is the way to go, no matter the broadcast scenario.
Transition made easy:
- If you own a license for OnTheAir Node 4, you’re entitled to a free crossgrade to OnTheAir Video 4.
- If you own a license for OnTheAir Node 3, just purchase the upgrade from OnTheAir Video 3 to 4, indicate your Node license number in the comment field, and we’ll convert that to a crossgrade from Node 3 to Video 4.
We understand that transitions can raise questions, and we’re here to help. Our team is committed to ensuring a smooth shift to OnTheAir Video, and we’re confident it will deliver a more streamlined, powerful, and future-proof experience.
Continued Support and Tips for a Smooth Transition
While OnTheAir Node, Manager, and Live are now discontinued for new sales, we will continue to provide limited maintenance updates and support for a reasonable period (likely a year or two). If you have a stable and working setup today, you can absolutely continue using it for as long as it works for you — nothing is being changed or disabled. This announcement simply means that we are no longer selling these products, and that maintenance updates will gradually come to an end. If you’re happy with your setup and have no issues, there is no reason to stop using it. Just keep in mind that once maintenance updates have stopped, our ability to help in case of a technical problem may be limited.
If you plan to transition, we encourage you to start testing OnTheAir Video now — download the demo, try it on a separate Mac, and explore its graphical scheduler and other features.
And of course, feel free to reach out to our support team anytime for guidance on upgrading. We're here to help you ensure a smooth and stable transition.
Softron is pleased to announce the launch of a new license activation mechanism through the Softron License Manager, a major step forward in simplifying software licensing for media professionals.
This updated system introduces a more flexible, user-friendly approach to activating and managing licenses. While initially available only for select Softron applications, all new releases starting from April 24th, 2025 will adopt this new copy protection system moving forward.
Key Benefits of the New Mechanism:
- No New Serial Numbers Needed: Existing licenses remain valid. Users do not need to request new serials—the only requirement is to update to the latest version of supported applications.
- Force Releases: If your computer has an issue, or if you reformat it, no need to contact us anymore, you can do it simply in Softron License Manager.
- Centralized License Management: Users gain a clear overview of all license statuses, expiration dates, and activation slots from one interface.
- Enhanced Security: Licenses are tied to user accounts and hardware in a secure, transparent way.
- Share Licenses: You can share the access to your licenses with multiple users.
An internet connection is required from time to time, as the software needs to communicate with our servers every few days. If it cannot connect for an extended period (typically 2 to 3 days), the application will automatically switch to demo mode. Your computer does not need to be connected continuously, but it must go online periodically to maintain activation.
If your computer cannot connect to the internet periodically, you can migrate your license to a dongle instead. Dongles are available for purchase in our online store.
To get started, users simply need to download the updated version of their Softron application (when available).
👉 Learn more and find detailed instructions in our Help Center