Globecast is now providing Crown Media with evolutionary primary cloud playout services for its three channels: Hallmark Channel, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, and Hallmark Drama — which reach more than 150 million homes in the US.
The five-year deal solidifies Globecast’s management of the primary playout of both the linear and OTT feeds of the channels, alongside all terrestrial and satellite distribution to MVPDs and VMVPDs.
Globecast is also handling the streaming of Hallmark’s TV Everywhere offering to mobile devices.
Globecast began working with Crown Media in 2017 and together the companies designed an evolution of Crown’s channels from traditional hardware-based, on-premise playout to a virtual cloud platform.
The new platform supports a number of different linear services including both HD and SD for all of the Crown Media channels, as well as OTT variants of the linear product.
Globecast has been developing its cloud services for several years and this, combined with decades of playout and distribution experience, has allowed the company to rise to the considerable workflow challenges.
The company has engineered a completely cloud-based solution in partnership with its major cloud service provider. Crown Media has its content library managed in the cloud, which feeds into Globecast’s media supply chain.
Globecast’s media management solution and automation integrates ready-to-air files to the playlist. The integrated channels are then distributed via satellite and terrestrially from Globecast’s Culver City facility.
Hallmark Channels operate with a high degree of operational complexity, having considerable onscreen graphics requirements, alongside regular template and branding changes that occur throughout the year to highlight various holidays and other events.
Eddie Ferraro, MD, Globecast Americas, said: “We are very pleased that our long-standing relationship with Crown Media has led to this groundbreaking project.
“Our development work has led to the creation of an industry-leading technology platform that will provide extensive operational and financial flexibility for our customers.
“We are absolutely confident in our market-leading playout technologies, further validating Globecast’s positioning in complex cloud-based media management services.”