Broadstream Communications and SkyStream Networks have announced an agreement to offer U.S. telco operators an entirely outsourced, multichannel video service comparable to cable or satellite TV.
Broadstream, a specialist in outsourced IP headend and video distribution services, and SkyStream, a provider of IP Video delivery, demonstrated the new service at the recent TelcoTV 2003 Expo in Las Vegas. The companies said they aim to improve the economics of offering the “Triple Play” — voice, video and data — for telcos by allowing them to roll out services within 60 days of sign-up and by eliminating capital expenditures for purchasing, operating and maintaining a complete video headend and operations center.
Broadstream completely outsources the head-end infrastructure and content provisioning to provide a video signal over its IP TV Transport Network. Telcos pay a monthly service fee. By eliminating the barriers to entry of purchasing the necessary video headend equipment, the partnership between Broadstream and SkyStream allows telcos to deliver advanced television services over their existing broadband infrastructure at a lower cost, the companies said.
The outsourced service allows telcos to add a complete package of digital TV programming—including broadcast network content, specialty channels, movies, sports and local programming—and a full-suite of digital music programming to existing data and voice services.
Broadstream’s edge platform, located typically at the telcos central office, incorporates SkyStream’s Mediaplex-20 Video Delivery Platform, a multichannel, high-density switched video headend system that provides encoding with built-in pre-processing, video multiplexing and de-multiplexing, video rate-shaping, stream replication, DVB and ATM to IP gateway and DVB/ASI conversion.
For more information visit www.broadstream.tv and www.skystream.com.