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 Bitcentral, 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.

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

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

High-Level Workflow

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

Bitcentral's FUEL platform ingests your JWP-hosted content and associated metadata.
Once ingested, you manage schedules and advertising for your FAST channels.
Bitcentral's FUEL platform 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

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.

Under Template Type, select List of pre-defined options.
In the Key field, enter contentCategory.
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.

Under Template Type, select Empty text field.
In the Key field, enter cuepoints.

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

Upload your video on demand (VOD) media to your JWP media library.
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.
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.
Share the dynamic playlist RSS feed with your Bitcentral representative.
(Optional) For live event streams, configure your Live Channel stream to syndicate to your FAST channels.

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

FAQs

How can live broadcasts sent to Bitcentral's FUEL platform be monetized?

Currently, you can monetize your live broadcasts in one or several of the following ways:

Trigger ads with Bitcentral's manual real-time triggering tool.
Include postroll ads in the VOD media item that is scheduled before the live broadcast.
Include preroll ads in the VOD media item that is scheduled for after the live broadcast.

Please contact your JWP representative for more guidance.

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SSAI for VOD media in your linear channel is handled automatically according to the cue points that you configure.

Is there any documentation for FAST channel setup on Bitcentral's FUEL platform?

Yes. The following Bitcentral articles address key topics in the setup workflow. You must have a Bitcentral account to have access to these documents.

While Bitcentral provides this documentation, your Bitcentral representative will guide through the entire setup workflow in the FUEL platform. Your Bitcentral representative will be able to tailor the workflow to your business needs.

How are media metadata synced between JWP and Bitcentral?

Currently media is only imported into Bitcentral from JWP. There isn't a syncing mechanism.

After your MRSS feed is set up, Bitcentral's platform will periodically pull any new media items that have been added to the JWP MRSS feed. Bitcentral is only importing new media items from your JWP MRSS feed. Changes made in JWP to a media item that has already been imported into Bitcentral will not be reflected in Bitcentral and vice versa.

Does Bitcentral's FUEL platform have multi-factor authentication?

Yes. Bitcentral's FUEL platform has enhanced security with the use of Google Authenticator for 2-step verification. This feature can be enabled on a per-user basis by your Bitcentral representative.

Learn more about Setting Up Multi-factor Authentication by logging into your Bitcentral Help Center account.