Creating your FAST channel

CREATING YOUR FAST CHANNEL

Practical Guide to Creating a FAST Channel

Creating a FAST (Free Ad-Supported Streaming Television) channel might seem complex, but by following the right steps, you can turn your content into a channel distributed on streaming platforms (CTV, OTT, and App). Here's a simple guide to help

Content Upload

The first thing to do is to gather your content. This means either uploading videos you already have or retrieving content from a digital library. It's important to organize all this content for the following steps. Before creating your FAST channel, it's crucial to clear the rights for the content you have! Note that it's imperative to have at least 200 hours of content to create a channel. Platforms prefer integrating channels with a large volume of hours (and even "live" broadcasts) to avoid having a channel with limited content that loops. The richer your catalog of hours, the more likely you are to interest platforms and build a solid audience for your channel. Remember, it is advisable to enrich your channel's content with an average of 30% additional hours per year.

Transcoding/Encoding

Next, your content must be converted into the right format to be broadcast on various devices (like TVs, smartphones, etc.). This step is called transcoding or encoding, and it ensures that your videos are clear and of good quality, no matter where they are watched.

Cloud Storage (S3)

Once the content is ready, it must be securely stored in the cloud. This type of storage keeps your files safe and easily accessible for streaming.

Content Segmentation

The content must then be segmented, which means cutting it into small pieces to facilitate continuous streaming. This allows videos to load quickly and without interruption for viewers. More importantly, to insert ad slots, you need to cut the content at the right moment, avoiding interruptions during speech or action. At SoFAST, we use AI to detect the best moments to place ad markers.

Content Quality Assurance

It's essential to check that all your content is of high quality before broadcasting. This means ensuring that the videos are clear, the sound is good, and there are no technical errors or quality issues.

Ad Insertion

To monetize a FAST channel, it's imperative to insert ads into your content or, more precisely, to designate spaces for ads marked by Ad Markers. Ad insertion must be done in a way that doesn't interrupt the viewer's experience while maximizing revenue.

Playlist Creation (Scheduler)

Next, you need to organize your content into a playlist or schedule, like a TV guide. This determines when each video will be broadcast on your channel.

Playout Distribution

Playout is the step that enables continuous streaming of your FAST channel to the distributors (streaming platforms). This step ensures that all content, ads, and programs are broadcast correctly according to your programming guide (EPG).

EPG File Delivery

The Electronic Program Guide (EPG) allows viewers to see the upcoming programming of your channel (what content will be aired and when). It must be created and delivered to the streaming platforms to display your channel’s schedule.

Server-Side Ad Insertion (SSAI)

Server-Side Ad Insertion (SSAI) allows ads to be inserted smoothly and targeted into the streamed content. This enhances the user experience while increasing ad revenue. It is advisable to select the ad categories you want to accept on your channel from the IAB list to avoid displaying ads that are incompatible with your channel's theme.

Distribution (Pitching)

Once your channel is ready, you’ll need to contact streaming platforms (CTV, OTT, etc.) to propose placing your channel on their service, benefiting from the traffic they generate to drive views to your channel.

Delivery to Platforms

When a platform agrees to integrate your channel into its lineup (channel offering), it means your content will be accessible to a large audience. You will need to deliver the channel's stream, as well as the link to the EPG and the channel's artwork, to the platforms.

SoFAST offers a complete solution with its End-to-End service, handling all the technical steps of creating your FAST channel. Take the complexity out of the process and focus on what truly matters: your content.

Want to learn more? Contact us HERE to discover how we can help you successfully launch your FAST channel.