Globecast Australia launches Daystar on Foxtel
Published: WORSHIP
AUSTRALIA: Globecast Australia and Foxtel have launched faith-based network Daystar on Foxtel’s direct to home (DTH) platform. The award-winning US-based network delivers its message around the world 24/7 through all media formats.
The process of adding the network to Foxtel’s existing platform was a relatively simple one. ‘Globecast Australia was already delivering many channels onto the Foxtel platform, and we have built and configured the headend to be able to quickly and efficiently add new channels,’ explained Globecast Australia director of engineering and operations, Paul Suters. ‘The final launch of the channels is done in close conjunction with Foxtel to manage the service information and the conditional access environment.
‘The content had to be brought in from the USA, and this was sourced from Globecast America, who passed the feeds onto our POP in Los Angeles, and we then picked up that feed and brought it to Sydney to be decoded, and the re-encoded into the Foxtel platform,’ continued Mr Suters. ‘There were no real technical challenges. We needed to source the content, and then arrange for that content to be delivered to us. Globecast already delivers Daystar on our D2 platform, but this was delivered in 4:3 aspect ratio, and the requirement from Foxtel was for a 16:9 standard definition channel. Thus, it was necessary to bring in the 16:9 feed for the Foxtel delivery.’
No new equipment was required to get the network on air in Australia. ‘We utilised equipment that was already in place for the delivery to Sydney, and for the transmission of the Foxtel headend,’ furthered Mr Suters. ‘We are very happy with the end result. The quality of the picture on the platform is very good.’