Welcome aboard the iKOMG Starship—your passport to the fast-moving, ever-evolving universe of content delivery. Whether you’re a seasoned industry veteran or a curious new recruit, understanding the terms and technology is essential. The systems behind modern broadcast are complex, and knowing what each piece means helps you navigate with clarity and confidence.
We’re taking off on a guided tour through the tech that gets content from concept to couch.
Satellite: Launch Point
Our journey begins in orbit. Satellites are the mighty metal guardians spinning above Earth, beaming content across continents with speed and reliability. Ideal for high-reach distribution and broadcasting on a global scale.
Teleport: Ground Control
Back on Earth, the teleport is your mission control—a ground station connecting those orbiting satellites with terrestrial networks. It’s the bridge between sky and soil, the nerve center where interstellar signals meet your living room.
Uplink & Downlink: The Cosmic Commute
Uplink is the act of sending your signal skyward—from Earth to satellite. It’s the launch phase of your content’s journey.
Downlink is its graceful return—beaming that same signal back down to Earth for viewers to receive. It’s the final descent before touchdown.
Together, they’re the send-and-receive rhythm that keeps global broadcasts in sync.
DTH (Direct-to-Home): Your Home Base
No middlemen here. DTH brings satellite content directly to your audience’s home via dishes and set-top boxes. It’s high-quality, high-reach TV—no layovers required.
FTA (Free-to-Air): Tune In
These channels are the cosmic freebies. Free-to-Air means anyone can watch without a subscription. Just point, tune, and enjoy.
Playout: The Command Deck
Here’s where your mission plan comes together. Playout is the behind-the-scenes powerhouse that schedules, assembles, and sends your content to the stars (and screens). It ensures everything launches on time and in the right order—like a finely tuned flight plan.
EPG (Electronic Programme Guide): Your Star Map
A simple yet crucial feature, the EPG shows viewers what’s on and when. It’s your interactive schedule—a star map for navigating the universe of content.
Cloud: Where Your Content Lives
Forget the fluffy kind. The cloud is where media is stored, processed, and launched—all without bulky hardware. It’s flexible, scalable, and accessible from anywhere in the galaxy.
Stream: Digital Delivery on Demand
Think Netflix, YouTube, or Twitch. Streaming delivers content via the internet, either live or on-demand. Fast, direct, and device-ready—it’s the hyperspace lane of content distribution.
OTT (Over-The-Top): Bypassing Traditional Orbits
OTT skips the usual satellite and cable routes, reaching viewers directly online. No dish? No wires? No problem. OTT gets your content there over the top, straight to the end user.
VOD (Video on Demand): Watch It When You Want
Gone are the days of waiting for your show to air. VOD gives viewers the power to watch what they want, when they want. Total time-travel freedom.
FAST (Free Ad-Supported Streaming TV)
A content model that delivers free-to-watch TV supported by advertising. It combines the wide reach of linear broadcasting with the flexibility of digital streaming.
FAST on SAT: The Hybrid Hero
FAST on SAT blends Free Ad-Supported Streaming TV (FAST) with satellite’s unmatched reach. Monetized content. Ultra-wide distribution. The best of both tech worlds—seamlessly fused.
DRM (Digital Rights Management): Content Protection Shields Up
Your content is precious cargo. DRM safeguards it from piracy and unauthorized access. Because intellectual property deserves more than just a lock—it needs a force field.
NOC (Network Operations Centre): The All-Seeing Eye
Our NOC is the 24/7 watchtower, monitoring signal quality, infrastructure, and performance. If anything drifts off course, we’re on it—before your audience even notices. It’s the mission control for uninterrupted service.
Latency: The Speed of Signal
Every millisecond counts. Latency is the delay between sending and receiving data—especially critical in live events. At iKOMG, we fine-tune for ultra-low latency, so you’re always right on time.
SLAs (Service Level Agreements): Our Interstellar Oath
These aren’t just promises—they’re signed, sealed, and guaranteed. SLAs define our commitment to uptime, response times, and quality of service. We back our word with action—and contracts.
Why It All Matters
From satellites to streaming, from playout to protection, this guide gives you a snapshot of the language behind the technology that powers modern broadcast. Understanding these terms means understanding the systems that keep your content in motion—from creation to delivery, and everything in between.
And when you’re ready to launch, partner with the crew that knows the skies. For more information on our services, see here.
iKOMG. Trusted to deliver. Built to support. Ready for what’s next.
