Starz Entertainment Site Survey Starz Entertainment (“STE”) requires that you complete this form prior to launching STE’s video programming services. This also includes companies involved in transporting or receiving the signals to/from a third party transporter. Please complete the following questions and return to
STE for review. For questions contact Starz Affiliate support at [email protected] or call the Starz Hotline at 888-783-2275.
1. Contact Information Name
Title
Company Name
Address
Phone
Fax
2. Required Documentation a. This Site Survey
b. System channel lineup. c. Block diagram illustrating how Starz/Encore content: a. enters your facility b. all active devices it passes through in the headend c. topology to secondary hubsites (if applicable) d. topology to the customer premise equipment (CPE). 3. General Cable System Information a. Starz/Encore Services Locations: Galaxy 13 Transponder 9 127° W Galaxy 13 Transponder 15 127° W Galaxy 14 Transponder 12 125° W Galaxy 15 Transponder 13 133° W
Starz Site Survey for New Launches Page 1 of 3
UNOTE:U In order to receive Starz/Encore content you will be contractually required to pass through to subscribers each of the following for each service: all of the associated video, multiple audio tracks, descriptors, PIDs, all lines of the vertical blanking interval (VBI), closed captioning, Nielsen data, V-chip data, and DTCP. b. Do you offer or plan to offer Video on Demand services? If yes, please complete Section 9 c. If you will receive Starz/Encore services other than by a direct feed please explain in detail. (i.e., Secondary aggregator, fiber, satellite, etc…) d. Please list the satellite receivers (make and model) that you will use to downlink Starz/Encore services (Motorola DSR-4410MD, DSR-6050, DSR-6300, etc...)
4. Aggregator/Transporters—Please provide complete details of your transport facility and each headend/system to which you plan to transport Starz/Encore services.
5. Rate Shaping— STE offers our content in a format designed for cable and telco delivery. Settings were determined to provide the best viewing experience for your customers. However, if you need to rate shape our content, it must maintain parity with other premium content on your plant in regards to bandwidth allocation. If you have received specific contractual approval to rate shape our content, please answer the following questions: a. Make & model of the rate shaping equipment (Motorola, BigBand, RGB, etc.)
b. Variable or constant bitrate?
c. Minimum and maximum bitrate settings for each Starz/Encore service.
d. How are services prioritized in each multiplex containing a Starz/Encore service?
e. Projected average bitrates of each multiplex containing a Starz/Encore service.
6. Transcoding—If you are transcoding Starz/Encore content from its native format to an alternate codec (MPEG-2/4, WMV, VC-1, etc…), please answer the following questions. Provide the make, model and connection interfaces of all transcoding devices and any associated equipment utilized in reformatting Starz/Encore services.
a. Video codecs used (MPEG-4, WMV, VC-1, etc..)
b. Minimum and maximum bitrate settings for each Starz/Encore service.
c. Projected average bitrates of each Starz/Encore service in a multiplex.
d. Audio codecs used (AC3 DD5.1, AC3 stereo, MPEG1L2, PCM, AAC, HE-AAC, etc.)
e. What is the designated bitrate for each audio service?
Starz Site Survey for New Launches Page 2 of 3
7. Conditional Access & Security—The following systems are approved by STE for secure delivery to the CPE. If you plan on using a system other than one listed below, then please
Ucontact STE affiliate support. Motorola MediaCipher Cisco (Scientific-Atlanta) PowerKEY Microsoft DRM Widevine Nagravision Verimatrix STE transmits Digital Transmission Copy Protection (DTCP), Copy Control Information (CCI), and Analog Protection System (APS) data. These settings must be preserved and respected throughout your plant and be observed by your supported CPE. 8. Customer Premise Equipment a. List the makes and models of set top boxes that your subscribers will use to receive Starz/Encore services. b. Are you supporting home networking (MoCa, DLNA, wireless, etc) for premium content viewing? c. Do you offer STBs equipped with DVR functionality, external storage, or the ability to transfer to a portable media player? i. How is premium content protected on these devices? ii. Are retention limits imposed on accumulated content? Explain.
d. If you are delivering Starz/Encore content to subscribers that Udo notU require hardware / set
top box, then please Ucontact STE affiliate supportU. For example, if you are using a downloadable, secure media player that uses digital rights management, we will require a technical review meeting between your company and STE.
9. VOD a. What is the timeframe for launching VOD service?
b. Provide the name and manufacturer of the VOD system.
c. Where is the VOD content stored and how is it delivered to the STB?
d. Is the VOD content encrypted for delivery from the VOD server to the customer’s home?
By signing below, you acknowledge that your company will comply with the above technical specifications throughout the term of its affiliation agreement with STE, unless you submit a revised Site Survey for STE’s review and approval.
Signature: Date:
Printed Name: Title:
Starz Site Survey for New Launches Page 3 of 3