Get started with FAST channels

Free Ad-Supported Streaming Television (FAST) channels are linear channels that viewers access to watch TV shows, movies, and other content without paying a subscription fee. These channels generate revenue through advertising.

Through JWP's FAST Channels partnership with ViewNexa, you can create and syndicate FAST channels to various FAST distribution platforms or integrate them into your apps. Each channel can include VOD assets stitched together to simulate a live stream, scheduled live programming, or breaking live events.

Powered by ViewNexa, this collaboration offers several benefits, such as:

• Expanding your content reach to FAST distribution platforms and devices
• Monetizing your content with advertising
• Creating a traditional broadcast TV experience from your existing VOD and live content

📘

Distribution to FAST platforms requires a business relationship with the desired FAST distribution platform. Your JWP and ViewNexa representatives can provide guidance.

High-Level Workflow

The following workflow illustrates how your JWP-hosted content gets distributed.

1. ViewNexa ingests your JWP-hosted content and associated metadata.
2. Once ingested, you manage schedules and advertising for your FAST channels.
3. ViewNexa prepares your content for distribution and streams the content as a linear stream to FAST channel distribution platforms or your apps using JWP's CDN where permitted.

Requirement

• FAST Channels entitlement
  Contact your JWP representative more information

Manage content in your JWP dashboard

1. Create two default custom parameters: contentCategory and cuepoints. Both custom parameters will be applied to all new media uploaded to your media library.
   
   

   ℹ️ After your media has been uploaded, the value of each custom parameter can be edited per media item. This is mentioned in step 3.

   
   
   contentCategory

   
   This default custom parameter has a list of category values, such as sports, comedy, and home improvement. Your content editors will select a listed value to assign a content category to individual media items.
   
   

   1. Under Template Type, select List of pre-defined options.
   2. In the Key field, enter contentCategory.
   3. Under Values, enter a content category in each field.
      
      

      ℹ️ The first listed value is assigned by default. To default to unselected, leave the first field blank.

   
   
   cuepoints

   
   This default custom parameter will be used for defining ad breaks.
   
   

   1. Under Template Type, select Empty text field.
   2. In the Key field, enter cuepoints.
   3. Under Default Value (optional), leave the field blank. Specific cue points can be added in a comma-delimited list to each video after upload. Cue point values are in seconds.
      
      

      💡 If ad breaks should occur at common times for all videos, set a default set of comma-delimited cue points in seconds. For example: 0, 300, 600, 900

   
   
2. Upload your video on demand (VOD) media to your JWP media library.
3. Edit the video metadata:
   • Apply tags to the media. The tags are used to manage your uploaded media.
   • If necessary, edit the values of the default custom parameters associated during the upload process.
   • Ensure that your caption files are labeled with ISO 639-2 compliant names or codes.
4. Create a playlist with your JWP-hosted media:
   • For automated playlist creation, create a dynamic playlist.
   • For custom, manual playlist creation, create a manual playlist.
   
   
   

   ⚠️ A playlist for FAST channels must contain only JWP-hosted media or registered .mp4 URLs.

   
   
5. Share the dynamic playlist RSS feed with your Bitcentral representative.
6. (Optional) For live event streams, configure your Live Channel stream to syndicate to your FAST channels.

After completing these steps, your ViewNexa representative will help you manage schedules and advertising for your FAST channels.

FAQs