Avid Update: What the Latest Media Composer & iNEWS Changes Mean

Avid Update: What the Latest Media Composer & iNEWS Changes Mean

Avid has recently shared two updates covering Avid Media Composer and Avid iNEWS — but while both are worth noting, their impact is quite different.

iNEWS Web Services Deprecation — Minimal Impact for Most

The iNEWS update relates specifically to the deprecation of the iNEWS Web Services API, which has historically been used by some third-party vendors to integrate with Avid’s Newsroom Management system.

Going forward, integrations will need to use the newer iNEWS CTC (Connectivity Toolkit Connector), which has already been available for several years.

From a practical perspective, this isn’t likely to be a major concern for most users. In our experience, we haven’t seen third-party integrations relying on the older Web Services toolkit, and the CTC service is already well established within the ecosystem.

Media Composer 2024.12.x — Expected End of Support Timeline

More relevant for the wider post-production community is the confirmed end of support timeline for Media Composer 2024.12.x:

• End of Development: August 31, 2026
• End of Support: February 29, 2028

This follows Avid’s standard Long-Term Maintenance (LTM) cycle, where each LTM release receives:

• 18 months of bug-fix development
• 36 months of technical support

Why This Matters

It’s common across the industry for editors and facilities to stick with a “known good” version of software for as long as possible — prioritising stability over change.

While that approach makes sense operationally, it can create challenges over time as older versions fall outside of Avid’s supported lifecycle.

LTM releases are designed to strike a balance — offering stability, ongoing fixes, and a clear support window. Staying within that cycle helps avoid compatibility issues, unsupported environments, and limited vendor assistance when problems arise.

What Should You Do?

If you’re currently running Media Composer versions older than 2024.12.x, now is a good time to review your upgrade strategy and ensure you’re aligned with Avid’s supported roadmap.