Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is digital TV?
What is HITS QT?
What is the difference between HITS QT and HITS?
Why should I implement HITS QT?
What equipment will I need?
What are the steps to implement HITS QT?
How do I choose which digital channels to offer in my cable
system?
What is a Satellite Map?
Do I have to offer all the channels on a transponder?
What is a unique cable map?
What costs are involved with the HITS QT system?
How are the set-top boxes installed and activated?
How do I make changes to a customer's programming package?
How will I sell digital TV to my customers?
Why will my customers buy digital TV instead of a satellite
dish?
How does the Interactive Programming Guide work?
How does Impulse Pay Per View work?
What incentives and discounts are available to CCSA members?
What innovations are coming up for the HITS QT system?
More questions?
What is digital
TV?
Digital TV is the signal transmitted by satellite providers like Star
Choice™ and Bell ExpressVu™ or large cable companies using a
full HITS system. By implementing Cancom HITS QT, small companies can
also provide digital television.
What is HITS
QT?
HITS (Headend in the Sky) QT (QAM Transmodulated or QAM Transmission)
is a system that converts satellite signals to cable format (27 MHz QPSK
satellite signals are transmodulated into 6 MHz QAM signals). HITS QT
is a low cost solution that allows smaller cable systems to offer more
than 150 digital channels without incurring the costs of a traditional
digital headend, like HITS. The analog services currently offered remain
unchanged. There are currently 25,000 HITS QT users in the United States.
What is the difference between HITS QT and HITS?
|
HITS QT
|
Conventional HITS
|
|
| Headend Cost |
$12,000 to $30,000
|
$150,000 to $300,000
|
| Headend Complexity |
Low
|
High
|
| Conditional Access |
In-band
|
Out-of-Band
|
| Training Requirement |
Minimal
|
High
|
| Distribution Plant |
1-way or 2-way
|
2-way preferable
|
| Cherry Picking |
Not possible
|
Possible
|
| Services Available |
All approved ANIK F1 and E2
Services
|
Potentially could include services
from other satellites
|
| Return Path |
Telco
|
Cable RFor telco
|
| Interactive Program Guide |
Modified DSR guide
|
TV Guide or third party guides
|
| Local Branding |
Yes
|
Yes
|
| Advanced Interactive Services |
Not offered
|
Potentially available
|
- Digital TV is essential to stop losing premium customers.
- HITS QT is cost-effective, quick and easy method to increase channel capacity.
- HITS QT is less complex and less expensive than a full HITS system.
- Headend costs are low and per subscriber costs are incremental.
- Digital cablesystems have customer growth and more satisfied customers.
- HITS QT provides all the services of satellite (hundreds of channels, interactive programming guide, Pay Per View movies, digital music) and all the benefits of cable (multiple outlets, no satellite dish to install, local and community channels, excellent customer service).
- Headend equipment - TM2000
- Set-top boxes - DSR471 (contact Motorola)
Diagram of Digital Headend with HITS QT vs. Analog Headend
What are
the steps to implement HITS QT?
1) Contact the Cancom representative for your area to get a copy of their launch guide. The launch guide includes an outline of the launch process, reference information, and copies of the forms you will have to fill out.
Western Canada: Lee-Ann Brand
Ph: (905) 272-6036 or email: lbrand@cancom.ca
Ontario: Nicole Kirby
Ph: (905) 272-6677 or email: nkirby@cancom.ca
Atlantic & Quebec: Gaston Dufour
Ph: (514) 937-7313 or email: gdufour@cancom.ca
2) Choose a satellite map. Advise Cancom of the satellite you have selected and the postal code of the headend using the System Profile Form (in launch guide).
3) Choose which digital channels you will carry from each transponder. Arrange Affiliate Agreements with programmers and send copies of the transport consent forms to Cancom.
4) Decide how to group the digital channels you are offering into packages (ex. Movies, Children's, Sports, etc.). Complete digital package names form (in launch guide) and send to Cancom.
5) Place order for headend equipment - WaveCom TM2000 transmodulators from evsl. Contact: Don Wohlberg (Phone: (306) 931-8822 ext. 11 or email: donw@evsl.com.
6) Place order for set-top boxes - DSR471 from Motorola. Contact: Sean Miller (Phone: (416) 944-2090 or email: smiller@gi.com.
7) Design cable map and place order with Motorola. If you choose to display your company logo on the Interactive Programming Guide, include this information.
8) Request set-top decoder activation from Cancom and verify cable map and logo. Forward any changes to Motorola.
9) Provide Cancom with completed Subscriber Account Form (in launch guide) for each customer who orders digital cable.
10) Cancom will provide a monthly report
including set-top decoder packages and Pay-Per-View transactions for billing.
How do I
choose which digital channels to offer in my cable system?
1) Determine what digital channels are available. For a complete list,
contact the Cancom representative for your area or search
Cancom's website (www.cancom.ca)
for an up-to-date listing.
For an unofficial list of the services available on Anik F1 and Anik E2 choose: Adobe Acrobat format or Microsoft Excel format.
2) Contact signal suppliers for rates and terms.
3) Choose services and packages suitable for your unique situation. Tip: Some operators find it useful to examine the packages offered by ExpressVu™, Star Choice™, and major cable operators in Canada to help in this decision.
What is a
Satellite Map?
A Satellite Map is a mapping of transponders from Anik F1 and E2 to
cable channels. Several Satellite Maps have been prepared by Cancom and
Motorola to suit the needs of cable operators with different channel capacity.
Do I have
to offer all the channels on a transponder?
No. You can choose which channels you will be offering in digital
form and the remainder will be "hidden". Hidden channels will
not be displayed on the IPG (Interactive Programming Guide).
What is
a Cable Map?
Your unique Cable Map is the listing of all services you will be offering
on both the analog and digital portions of your channel line-up. The actual
channel numbers of your digital offering will be shown on the list of
VCNs (Virtual Channel Numbers) in the list of all Anik F1 and Anik E2
services.
What costs are involved with the HITS QT system?
1) Headend equipment: Ranges
from $12,000 to $30,000 depending on which channels you choose and how
many you wish to offer.
Contact Don Wohlberg for a quote. Phone: (306) 931-8822 ext. 11 or
email: donw@evsl.com
2) Motorola: Set-top boxes, cable mapping
charge, and charge for customized logo on IPG (optional). Contact Motorola
for a quote.
(Sean Miller Phone: 416-944-2090 or email: smiller@gi.com)
3) Cancom monthly access fee, box activation
fee, and transport fees.
Contact Cancom representative in your area for fees (see above for contact
info).
4) Signal fees. Contact signal suppliers for rates.
How are the set-top
boxes installed and activated?
1) Fax or email the box UAs to
Cancom so they can be entered into your account.
2) Connect the DSR471 to a valid VCN for your cable map.
3) Request an Authorization Reset from Cancom.
4) Your unique cable map will replace the factory default.
5) Install in the customer premises complete with a telco connection.
6) Call Cancom to have the box tiered for the customer's package (could
be done in advance).
How do I make changes
to a customer's programming package?
Initially, subsrciber management will be done by phone, fax or email
with Cancom. By September of 2002, Cancom plans to have a web browser
subscriber management system so the cable operator can change the packages
directly. Payment for signals and transport is similar to the current
methods.
- Focus advertising on premium customers through letters, brochures and bill messages.
- Compare pricing and digital channel line-up to that offered by Star Choice™ and ExpressVu™.
- Offer free previews, programming credit, free Pay Per View movies. Focus on the benefits of cable with digital over satellite (see below).
- Offer free previews, programming credit, free Pay Per View movies.
- Provide excellent customer service - convenience and flexibility in installation times, teaching customers how to use IPG and Pay Per View services.
- Keep in mind that most customers who buy the set-top box (premium customers) will take a full programming package. If they're going to spend the money for the box, they will want to get as much programming as they can from it.
- No satellite dish to install and align
- Includes local and communitychannels
- Competitively priced
- Excellent customer service
- Doesn't require a set-top box for every TV. The set-top box will display the digital channels on the designated television and all the analog channels will still be available on every TV.
How does
the Interactive Programming Guide (IPG) work?
The IPG includes all analog and digital
channels (ex. Analog channels
1 to 30 & Digital channels 200 to 980). The guide includes parental
controls, favorite channel list, theme search and all other features
of a satellite programming guide. An option is available for you to
display your cable system logo on the main screen of the IPG.
How does
Impulse Pay Per View work?
The DSR set-top box will be pre-loaded with a predetermined amount of
credit. When the customer orders a movie, it is reported to Motorola
by toll-free telco. Cancom will send billing information to the cable
operator monthly. The money from Pay Per View sales is divided between
the cable operator, the movie studio, and Viewer's Choice. Contact Cancom
for Pay Per View transport rates and billing information.
What incentives
and discounts are available to CCSA members?
CCSA member companies are eligible for:
- special discounted pricing for headend equipment from evsl, the CCSA's Exclusive Preferred Supplier for HITS QT equipment
- special rates from Cancom for the access, activation, and transport fees
- special discounted pricing for Motorola DSR471 set-top boxes
CCSA members can contact Debbie Randon
at the CCSA for member prices.
(Phone: 506-849-1334 ext. 207 or email: drandon@ccsa.cable.ca)
For more information on the CCSA go to www.ccsa.cable.ca.
What innovations
are coming up for HITS QT?
An RF return path version of the DSR471 set-top box is in development.
Cancom plans to have a web browser subscribe management system in place
by September of 2002.
More questions?
Contact evsl:
Don Wohlberg, ext. 11 or email: donw@evsl.com
Phone: (306) 931-8822
Fax: (306) 931-8787
