We're operate a small cable TV company in a minor section of our service area and carry about 55 channels which includes most of the major networks.
We're interested in deploying IPTV. What middleware software would you recommend? You mentioned you used Linux in your headend environment. Can you elaborate on that setup, such as the software you were using to convert the channels to IP Multicast, set-top boxes being used, software providing channel guides, etc etc? Thanks. -- Blake Covarrubias On Nov 9, 2009, at 9:25 AM, Jayson Baker wrote: > Building the headend isn't that difficult, you're right. > > Ours was actually pretty simple. We used multi-channel satellite receivers; > each tuned 32 channels I think. It had an ASI output. > > We'd take the ASI stream, and run it into an ASI-input PCI card. Each card > took 4 ASI streams, and was about $1000 each. > > Linux software on the server pulled each channel out of the ASI and > converted it to MPEG 4. Cheap, easy, simple. > > They'd put out a multicast stream, which our network took and pushed out the > fiber ring. We even had it going down some wireless links, so I could get > it at my house 20 miles away. > > The money in the headend comes in when you by the middleware -- this you > cannot just "roll your own" Middleware handles billing, authentication, > licenses, guide, etc. > > > Making deals with companies to rebroadcast their channels is going to be > another major hurdle. Unless you are big (i.e. have $$$) don't think you'll > be carrying anything in the Disney/ESPN/ABC family. And forget about HBO. > You'll need a fancy (i.e. $$$) lawyer who has been down this road before to > negotiate these deals. When we set ours up, we hired a lawyer away from > Comcast. After everything was in place, he went on to other things. > > > Echostar has an IPTV solution, you may want to look into that. AFAIK, you > pay them for everything, and they handle it all. Their feed, their headend, > their encoders, their middleware, their STB's. One nice thing about that is > it's the same DISH Network interface a lot of satellite users are already > used to. > > > On Mon, Nov 9, 2009 at 9:16 AM, jree...@18-30chat.net <jree...@18-30chat.net >> wrote: > >> Thats the problem, if I had 50K sitting around for gear, I would not be >> putting >> it into TV (well, maybe I would be, but more BW, more towers, faster >> clients, >> etc come to mind sooner). >> >> I can build a head end for far far less then that, If I stuck to the free >> channels or made my won deals with each channel. There are 1000's (well, >> close) >> of free to air channels out there. Some even give explicit permission to >> rebroadcast the channel, as long as you notify them etc. I was hoping to >> find a >> place that would let me purchase channels X, Y, and Z, etc. The locals are >> easy >> enough to deal with. So, Looks like I will need to do my own head end, no >> biggie >> over all. Who do I talk to about licensing? I knwo some channels are >> direct, >> some are not. Is there a list? And, can a person who already has a license >> sub-license to me? Like MDU style? I know Charter does that, if you have >> enough >> people (IE I suspect enough money) If I could sublet off of a existing >> licensee >> and do my own IP transport, that would work out pretty well. Anyone have a >> license contract they can share? (most seam to have some NDA stuffs) >> >> can...@believewireless.net wrote: >>> When we looked into Avail Media, it was a $500,000 investment to start >>> if I remember correctly. (Headend, set top boxes, etc.) >>> >>> On Mon, Nov 9, 2009 at 10:06 AM, Jayson Baker <jay...@spectrasurf.com> >> wrote: >>>> Have a look at Avail Media. We used them in the past for an FTTH >> project I >>>> was involved in. >>>> They will provide you the headend, and satellite feeds from their >>>> super-headend (aggregator). >>>> They work with the networks and it makes licensing and such a little >> easier. >>>> >>>> On Mon, Nov 9, 2009 at 7:44 AM, jree...@18-30chat.net < >> jree...@18-30chat.net >>>>> wrote: >>>>> I have been looking at some IPTV options and basically, there does not >> seam >>>>> to >>>>> be a whole lot of options. I can A) build my own IP headend B) nada . >> I >>>>> can not >>>>> find a single IPTV provider that truly caters to the resident, soho, >> etc. >>>>> There >>>>> is one that does so for huge cable op's but thats not where I am at, >> yet =) >>>>> >>>>> I can build my own head end no problem. Licensing is the primary issues >>>>> there. I >>>>> am guessing that is what is stopping the explosion of retail IPTV and >>>>> instead >>>>> pushing the more a la carte IP video streamers like NetFlix, HuLu, et >> al. >>>>> >>>>> So, what options exist for IPTV ? >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >>>>> WISPA Wants You! Join today! >>>>> http://signup.wispa.org/ >>>>> >>>>> >> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >>>>> >>>>> WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org >>>>> >>>>> Subscribe/Unsubscribe: >>>>> http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless >>>>> >>>>> Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/ >>>>> >>>> >>>> >> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >>>> WISPA Wants You! Join today! >>>> http://signup.wispa.org/ >>>> >> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >>>> >>>> WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org >>>> >>>> Subscribe/Unsubscribe: >>>> http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless >>>> >>>> Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/ >>>> >>> >>> >>> >> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >>> WISPA Wants You! Join today! >>> http://signup.wispa.org/ >>> >> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >>> >>> WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org >>> >>> Subscribe/Unsubscribe: >>> http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless >>> >>> Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/ >> >> >> >> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >> WISPA Wants You! Join today! >> http://signup.wispa.org/ >> >> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >> >> WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org >> >> Subscribe/Unsubscribe: >> http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless >> >> Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/ >> > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > WISPA Wants You! Join today! > http://signup.wispa.org/ > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org > > Subscribe/Unsubscribe: > http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless > > Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WISPA Wants You! Join today! http://signup.wispa.org/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org Subscribe/Unsubscribe: http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/
