Integrated, managed, seamless
Leverage our engineering and operational expertise in bringing channels together into one fantastic experience. We’ll do it all for you.
Deliver more to your viewers around the world with CTS and Sky
Managed Channel Origination (MCO) empowers providers with a fully-managed and monitored solution for the creation, management, and distribution of live linear channels – virtually anywhere in the world.
Transmit HD, SD, or 4K content around the globe
- Maximize bandwidth without shrinking your profit by using our advanced encoding processes and custom encryption/compression.
- Experience reliable video transmission services with our geographic location, highly-automated redundancy schemes, preventative process, and extensive monitoring.
- Save money with one-bounce satellite uplink transmission from our ideal Mountain time-zone location with both AOR and POR visibility.
- Access 24x7x365 support from our Titan Earth Station facility to make sure your content gets to and from destinations seamlessly, securely and on time.
- Occasional Services to downlink occasional live events and distribute anywhere to any device, including uplink to satellite, terrestrial, stream on line or create VOD or OTT assets.
International MCO: Cloud-based, fully managed, powered by Sky
- Acquire, prepare, create, package, and deliver linear or online channels and video content across devices and experiences.
- Channels are prepared with CTS’ rendering operations, cloud-based content supply chain implementation, media asset management, and traffic and metadata services.
- Create channels with advanced capabilities such as channel automation playout, master control, or create dynamic new AI/ML capabilities using VideoAI™.
- Deliver via satellite uplink, fiber, secure internet, or CDNs to any screen.
- Redundant and diverse IP routing infrastructure provides a certified, secure global playout solution to accelerate delivery. Key benefits include: Cloud-based and fully managed, from acquisition to delivery.
Related Resources
September 13, 2023
Comcast Technology Solutions launches cloud-based Managed Channel Origination service across EMEA
Powered by Sky’s world-class infrastructure and operations, and delivered as a fully managed service from Comcast Technology Solutions
Enables media companies to outsource and modernize the creation, management, and distribution of linear and OTT channels
DENVER AND LONDON – September 13, 2023 — Comcast Technology Solutions (CTS) today announced the launch of a new cloud-based Managed Channel Origination service for customers across EMEA. Combining Sky’s regional infrastructure and operations with the capabilities of CTS, it enables media companies to outsource and modernize the creation, management, and distribution of linear TV and OTT video channels via a fully managed 24x7 service.
In today’s ultra-competitive environment for premium video and TV, media companies need ways to improve operational efficiency, reduce total cost of ownership, improve their security posture, reduce their environmental footprint, and future-proof their ability to deliver improved experiences to audiences across screens and geographies. Managed Channel Origination was designed to meet these demands with a highly versatile, secure, and scalable cloud-based solution backed by Comcast Technology Solutions.
For decades, Comcast Technology Solutions has been an established market leader providing Managed Channel Origination for hundreds of channels from its facilities in the U.S. to serve North American audiences. For the first time, this capability is being extended to EMEA by leveraging Sky’s master control video and metadata platforms coupled with CTS’ portfolio of product solutions. Managed Channel Origination provides media companies with a unified workflow, from content acquisition through delivery, with 24x7 service level agreements (SLAs).
“Bringing cloud-based Managed Channel Origination to the shores of Europe and beyond will create new possibilities for media companies and content providers” said Fraser Stirling, Global Chief Product Officer, Comcast and Sky. “Bringing our world leading technology and our decades of experience in content operations will enable a new level of flexibility, visibility and innovation to customers of Comcast Technology Solutions— and even more importantly—more content to consumers in ever more engaging ways.”
"Media companies across EMEA are exploring new paths to address many structural challenges facing the premium video industry," said Bart Spriester, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Streaming, Broadcast, & Advertising for Comcast Technology Solutions. "Managed Channel Origination aims to help strengthen their video businesses, improve workflow efficiency, and drive innovation. Our customers benefit from a unified workflow, while removing technical complexity and their reliance on disparate technology vendors or heavy CapEx investments. They can also trust in the same proven technology used by Sky and Comcast to deliver their own channels at scale. We're proud to offer our cloud-based Managed Channel Origination as a fully managed service to our customers across EMEA."
Key Capabilities and Benefits
Managed Channel Origination provides the capabilities needed to acquire, prepare, create, package, and deliver linear or online channels and video content across devices. Content is acquired either as live video or file-based acquisition via satellite, fiber, or secure IP. Channels are then prepared with CTS’ rendering operations, cloud-based content supply chain implementation, media asset management, and traffic and metadata services. Next, channels are created with capabilities such as channel automation playout (e.g., advanced graphics, SCTE triggers, closed captioning, and more), master control, and VideoAI™. From there, channels are prepared with the necessary encoding, encryption, and authorization policies, then delivered via satellite uplink, fiber, secure internet, or CDNs for MVPDs and vMVPDs to any screen. Managed Channel Origination’s redundant and diverse IP routing infrastructure provides a certified, secure global playout solution to accelerate delivery. Key benefits include:
Reliability: Managed Channel Origination ensures channel availability and quality of service (QoS) by using an active-active cluster of multiple nodes that are actively running the same service simultaneously, all within Sky’s secure cloud tenancy. This design provides full redundancy and enables CTS to provide the highest possible SLAs. Customers are also provided with 24x7 master control with in-room, layered operational, management, engineering, and on-site vendor support and expertise.
Flexibility and Performance: The cloud-based solution provides cost efficiency that enables customers to pay for capacity and services only as needed. By pre-rendering video before playout, it also accelerates the ability to process content, effectively leverage metadata, and deliver ultra-high quality video playback across devices. Channels and services can be launched quickly with IP-based routing and self-contained playout services. Simultaneous OTT/IP distribution with built-in handoff for live linear streaming is supported. Customers can easily reach millions of viewers through uplink services and numerous distribution options.
Unified Workflow and Accountability: Channel playout operations are consolidated into one workflow, while using a flexible and platform-independent operational model. A single-partner solution from CTS offers accountability and protection across vendors and systems to streamline implementation, operations, and technical support.
Proven Technology and Scale: Managed Channel Origination is engineered for future growth and innovation by leveraging the economies of scale, technology investments, and product advancements of Sky and Comcast. Customers benefit from using the same proven technology used by Sky and Comcast to deliver their own channels to viewers around the globe. The new service is part of CTS’ comprehensive Live Linear Suite, and can also be coupled and integrated with additional services from CTS’ broad portfolio, including Cloud TV Suite with VideoAI, AdFusion™, and more.
Comcast Technology Solutions at IBC 2023
Comcast Technology Solutions will showcase its Managed Channel Origination service for the first time as part of its booth at this year’s IBC 2023 Conference in Amsterdam from September 15-18 in Hall 5, Stand 80. In addition, Peter Gibson, Vice President of Product at Comcast Technology Solutions will deliver a product overview on the Content Everywhere stage in Hall 5, on Stage 1: Stand 5A.28 on Saturday, September 16 at 12:15 p.m. Customers, prospects, and partners of CTS seeking to schedule on-site business meetings should visit: https://www.comcasttechnologysolutions.com/ibc-2023-transforming-way-world-connects.
About Comcast Technology Solutions
Comcast Technology Solutions, a division of one of the world’s leading media and technology companies, brings Comcast Corporation’s proven technologies to an evolving list of industries worldwide. We believe in continuous innovation, always looking for new and better ways to connect with our customers, as well as aggregate, distribute, and secure our own content, advertising, and data. We invest in and test these solutions, so you don’t have to — freeing you up to focus on accelerating your business, not your tech stack. Through our portfolio of solutions, we bring these innovations to the global marketplace, enabling our partners to think big, go beyond, and lead the way in media, technology, and cybersecurity. For more information, visit https://www.comcasttechnologysolutions.com.
Press Contact:
CTSPRESSINFO@gmail.com; +1 425-220-1104
Q&A with Allison Olien: How today’s opportunities can be tomorrow’s foundation for MVPDs
Allison Olien, Vice President and General Manager for Comcast Technology Solutions, collaborates with MVPDs and Content Providers to introduce the newest, most innovative offerings. She took some time to chat with us about how she sees the evolution of the industry for small and medium sized MVPDs, and new opportunities for growth.
Many small and midsized MVPDs are finding new success with non-video offerings like internet. How do you see the landscape of the industry changing for your customers?
Even if you live in a rural town, you have a choice for internet. You may not have three or four, but you have a choice. This is where the MVPDs are investing their money, and I would say they have to continue to invest in their non-video offerings, because it’s the conduit to so many entertainment choices for their customers.
Some entertainment options they’ll be able to offer, and some they won’t, but operators don’t want customers leaving them because they don’t offer enough speed to power those experiences. Customers are going to want more and more bandwidth, and will pay for it.
With increasing percentages of customers in small and medium-sized MVPD markets showing interest in offerings like premium broadband connectivity and business services, how can operators take advantage of these growth areas?
MVPDs should see themselves as technology providers. Be more of an advisor and a technical resource for businesses and the larger users of broadband. They can be the customer’s first choice for all of their data and connectivity needs.
In addition, offerings like telephone, streaming video and home security can serve as new revenue opportunities. There are more and more connected devices, especially businesses where they have increasing numbers of sensors, monitors and security related necessities—all of those are internet driven. MVPDs will increasingly shift their focus to being “always on” and taking care of their networks.
How do MVPDs find a balance between continuing to serve existing customers and exploring new opportunities?
Balance is always hard to achieve, but I would say continue to grow your network at a reasonable pace, protecting it as well as growing it, and also looking for internet-based services and opportunities with local partners who can offer something to the customer you may not be able to—home security for example.
Expand reach within your communities, and find out what your local communities are really looking for.
Some MVPDs are finding success by adopting app-based approaches and offering access to streaming services. How do operators continue to increase offerings and methods of access to provide the experiences their customers are asking for?
When you’re talking about the app-based approach and incorporating streaming services, I like to think about it like this—you put all of the different stores in one mall for a reason. Even though they are all competing against each other, it’s a lot more convenient for the customer. You don’t have to go into every store in the mall, but the one time you want to, you can. This is becoming increasingly popular strategy.
MVPDs may need to take a long-term view of a growing audience. It’s about evaluating current investments and making sure you maximize them. Sometimes, this means waiting for the right time to add new technology to existing offerings. The goal is to maintain your identity with the customer and make sure they keep you top of mind.
How does Comcast Technology Solutions serve as a trusted partner for MVPDs as they explore these new technologies, business models, and revenue streams?
Comcast Technology Solutions continues to offer the services powering operators’ existing infrastructure, and looking at how we can incorporate the new technologies that will power their next endeavor.
As we introduce new ways to offer IP-based technologies, we’ll continue to look for paths for our partners to stay within their business model and invest as they grow.
Learn more about the services we provide to MVPDs.
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