Cost-Optimal Satellite-Assisted Video Delivery

This paper examines the cost-effective design of a hybrid video distribution system that combines satellite-based broadcast delivery with the traditional Internet and CDN-based streaming pipeline. Satellite delivery costs are calculated based on the total bandwidth of all broadcast channels, while CDN costs depend on the total edge traffic from users accessing unicast streams. Using these models, we create an expression for the system's total operating cost and formulate an optimization problem to minimize it. We then derive an analytical solution that finds the lowest possible cost, enables comparison between hybrid and pure satellite- or CDN-based architectures, and shows how key system parameters affect the achievable operating cost. Importantly, our findings suggest that hybrid system designs can be more economical than purely broadcast or unicast configurations. To validate our approach, we perform a numerical study using real-world TV channel audience data and realistic cost metrics for both delivery modes. The numerical results confirm our theoretical insights.