MG ALBA / BBC ALBA
INDEPENDENTS DELIVERY GUIDE AND HELP NOTES
USEFUL LINKS
BUSINESS & PRODUCTION GUIDE
http://www.bbc.co.uk/commissioning/tv/production/business-and-production-guide
DELIVERY SITE
http://www.bbc.co.uk/commissioning/tv/production/delivery/
TECHNICAL DELIVERY SITE
Material should conform to the specifications found on delivery tech spec website:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/guidelines/dq/contents/television.shtml#Guidelines
The above links are generic (note: please hold down Control key, and click on the link to activate it), and whilst they
apply in the most part, there are areas where particular local logistics and procedures apply for your delivery to the MG ALBA /
BBC ALBA partnership - therefore the following notes should be read as an adjunct to the links above and should help to
clarify the local delivery requirements.
Please take the time to read these and the relevant web pages.
Please pass these on to the relevant people in your team to help prevent delays in delivery of content or paperwok and also
prevent what can be costly Tech review failures.
PROGRAMME / SERIES TITLE(S)
Any changes should be intimated to your Executive Producer and or the ALBA Schedule Manager without delay.
PROGRAMME NUMBERS (UIDs: Unique Identification Numbers)
These will be issued to you by MG ALBA. The P4A paperwork which you will receive also contains the relevant numbers.
PLEASE NOTE: These numbers are issued in sequential order and the BBC transmission system assumes this to be
the order of transmission. However, to avoid content and delivery confusion, once you allocate a programme number
to particular material IT MUST STAY WITH THAT MATERIAL, regardless of any changes in transmission or delivery
order. Therefore, it is imperative that you inform MG ALBA and the Schedule Manager of ANY CHANGE to the
assumed TX order.
VT CLOCK
The start of the programme should be preceded by a countdown clock with the following information:
 Programme ID number with appropriate suffix
PLEASE NOTE:
The suffix denotes the delivered edit version, i.e. this would always be 01 on delivery of original material, but if subsequent
edits are necessary after successful review and delivery or after transmission, you MUST obtain confirmation of next edit
version available to be used through Schedule Manager.
 Series Title (if applicable)
 Programme Title
 Episode number where appropriate - but please ONLY include this AFTER checking with Exec Prods - often it is NOT
desired to have ep no on clock, to avoid areas of potential confusion in the event of changes to originally intended first tx
order, or of stand-alone repeat, or repeats out of original tx order
N.B. Reference to your own recording/filming order should NEVER appear on the clock
 Contact number for post production facility
 Contact telephone number for production company
 Pre/Post Watershed version (if applicable)
PLEASE NOTE:
The clock must provide a clear countdown of at least 20 seconds fading to black at three seconds prior to first
programme pictures.
The clock must appear round when viewed on a display set to the same format as the programme, i.e. for a
widescreen programme the clock should be round on a 16 x 9 display.
TIMECODE
EBU TIMECODE to be recorded on the dedicated timecode channel, and MUST be 10.00.00.00 at first frame of picture
DURATIONS
It is imperative that the programmes come in at the Channel's required finished duration.
Any deviation from these finished durations should be flagged up a.s.a.p to your Executive Producer or Schedule
Manager so that these changes can be discussed and where possible accommodated in the Schedule
END BOARDS
The end board should be HELD FOR AT LEAST 10" BEYOND programme duration.
CREDITS
Please take particular note of the Credit Guidelines:http://www.bbc.co.uk/commissioning/credits/index.shtml#websiteguidance
Credit list(s) should be sent to your Executive Producer for approval AT LEAST ONE WEEK BEFORE YOUR ONLINE.
TV COMPLIANCE FORM
Please ensure you submit to MG ALBA or your Executive Producer by e-mail, a Compliance Form for each
programme before or at time of tape delivery, which includes timecodes and descriptions of any content for which
you have checked the 'yes' button on the form.
These Compliance issues will have been discussed, addressed and signed off on liaison with your Executive
Producer and any required changes made to the material before Online.
PLEASE NOTE:
When you submit the form, you are taking responsibility for the programme being compliant with BBC Editorial
Guidelines. It is therefore essential that ONLY the programme's Executive Producer, named in the Commissioning
contract, completes the form after viewing the final edit. Upon receipt by e-mail, this will then be duly completed by
the named BBC Executive Producer and uploaded onto the BBC Compliance system.
Please also include a signed hard copy of the final Compliance Form with final hard copy deliverables
Form and Guidance Notes at:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/commissioning/delivery/edguidance.shtml
PLEASE NOTE THAT YOU SHOULD SELECT THE 'ENABLE MACROS' BUTTON TO EDIT THE FORM, AND THEN
SAVE USING 'CONTROL S' OR THE FLOPPY DISC ICON ON THE TOOLBAR.
SCRIPTS/TRANSCRIPTS
A full, timecoded post-production transcript of each programme - i.e. comprehensive timecoded transcripts of all
audio and visuals in the programme, should be e-mailed to MG ALBA as soon as possible after successful tech
review (or before if you have it). Although programmes are normally delivered with subtitles burnt-in, additional
access sub-titling may be required at a later date in which case the availability of transcripts are of significant help.
POST PRODUCTION PAPERWORK
P4A Post Production Forms for your completion will be sent directly to you. These should be downloaded by you,
completed and returned to GaelicPMA@bbc.co.uk, for reloading and submission on our central P4A system.
Please find attached here guidelines on downloading P4A forms and returning them back via e-mail, a guide to the completion
of P4A documents themselves, and a Best Practice example of each form which you should use as a
guide when
completing your own.
PLEASE NOTE: You will need the P4A Software uploaded onto your computer in order to access these forms.
If
you haven't already got this, we can supply a disc with the software. Please be aware that the software is currently
NOT compatible with Mac computers, and Vista software seems problematic also.
Accuracy
The importance of full and accurate completion of the PasCs and Music Reporting Forms cannot be over-emphasised. Their
proper completion is a requirement, and legally protects yourselves and us. This information is vital as in the case of repeats
or other further usage, we must have the means to quickly and efficiently access contributors or their agents or material
sources in order to request any further permission/clearances necessary.
Billings
These should be e-mailed to the Schedule Manager, and contain the text agreed and signed off with your Executive Producer,
together with 2 production credit names in the appropriate box on the form. Also, if the material is not yet delivered, a note of
when delivery is expected.
TX Forms
As per example attached, please note that First closing caption is literally the very first word or name as the credits begin to
roll, and the final closing caption is literally the very last caption we see, i.e. the last line of the end board (usually the copyright
line).
PasC
The completed PasC, together with the completed Music Reporting Form, should be submitted within 14 days of transmission,
or earlier if available.
The PasC must have identifying descriptions of all contributors and material together with relevant contact or reference
information and a brief note of what rights/licences/permissions, as appropriate, have been obtained, and details of
any and all restrictions, exclusions/embargoes on use – as pre-approved by the BBC
PLEASE NOTE, the Data Protection Act requires that:
NO contributor personal/financial information, or content financial information should be noted on the PasC, other
than reference numbers relating to those payments. Personal/financial details should be held on the confidential
archived production file only and/or the Schedule of Residuals, as appropriate
Stills/Artwork
Include timecodes for each use in Notes field
Film and VT
For acquired sequences, not in other categories, you should select Purchased Sequence, whether paid for or free of charge,
making notes as appropriate.
To avoid over-entry, material from the same source, i.e. same tape or programme, should be logged once as an item, then the
various clips timecoded in the shotlist area; if you have only one clip you should complete all the item info, and put the
timecode in the notes field.
Music
We have a legal obligation to report the music used within 14 days of transmission, so that payments can be made where
appropriate, and we are also under scrutiny by the Performing Rights Society (PRS) to ensure accurate reporting. Therefore It
is imperative that the information fields in the 'items' section are correct –
 All music and sound effects should be reported, including incidental and background, together with timecodes and
durations.
 Notes such as NFI (no further information) or N/A (not applicable) should only be used when either they're strictly correct,
i.e. the source quotes that - or as an exception, when all other efforts have been made to source the info - and in that case
you should make such note in the notes box of the item.
 Track name and/or performer isn't sufficient - they need to know which recording it was in order to make any appropriate
payments (there may be several recordings - compilations etc)
 Even with track name, performer and CD title, MCPRS will probably still have to trace, and manually input composer and
CD catalogue number in order to make any composer payments
 Even with the ISRC number, the technology where this would be sufficient isn't up and running yet - it falls to MCPRS to
dig around - and too much of that and they report back on poor quality of form submission

'Unknown' is definitely not acceptable! Unless it is actually unknown, i.e. incidental or background or some other
exceptional situation
 Music Codes in the Music Log should also be accurate, with the relevant associated fields in Music Items correctly
completed - the F1 Help Key in the Music Code column gives you assistance and clearly indicates which fields in the
associated Music Item should be completed for that code.
Library Music
 The reporting of Library music and downloaded music is no different to the reporting of any other music
 Library music may still carry payments to be made by the PRS (Performing Rights Society), and if no detail is given they
cannot make any payment that may be due , which in turn can affect a mucisican’s livelihood.
 Sound Effects
If they are from a commercial or mood (library) disk, they should be reported. However, a producer using a sound effect
created by the producer will not need to report it, or any obtained from BBC Sound Effects archive.. The exception is where
BBC sound effects have been published on a commercial/mood disk - it should be clear whether the BBC item has been
directly sourced from the archive or obtained from a published disc – if published, these DO need to be reported.
It is necessary to have the 'in' timecode detailed (so identification of a specific piece within the programme is possible).
Please note that, similar to the Film & VT entry, each piece of music need only be entered into the 'Items' area ONCE,
it can then be selected from the drop-down list in 'Music Log' to indicate the number of uses and their timecodes.
See following page for assistance
 Please also detail the clearances obtained for the music, either on the front page of the Music Reporting Form if same
clearance applies to all pieces, or a note of individual clearance or embargo, if this has been sanctioned and agreed for
inclusion by BBC Execs.
N.B. You should note that for most modern music, Arranger name will not be available, but unfortunately the music
form requires a character entry in this field in order to submit - SO, please ensure that you enter N/A.
A useful website link (there are many more on the net) is attached below to assist in identifiying labels, composers,
publishers and CD serial nos.
Please Note:
It is your contracted obligation to provide full and accurate information on these forms, and where this is not done,
they will be returned to you for completion or correction.
BBC Music Reporting Unit:
http://sbsportal.bbc.co.uk/p4a/userinfo/tv.html
Other sites that may help:
http://www.allmusic.com/
http://www.everyhit.com/

On the P4A forms, according to what information field you're in, you'll often find an automatic red helpline appear at
the bottom of your screen (you may need to drag away any toolbar still in vision to see it!, or select the ‘restore’ icon
box at top right hand of the screen). Similarly, when your cursor is in most information fields, you'll get help about
required information by pressing the F1 key. This applies to the Music Reporting Form as well as the PasC.
IF YOU NEED TO MAKE CHANGES TO FORMS AFTER THEY HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED, PLEASE
CONTACT THE SCHEDULE ASSISTANT OR SCHEDULE MANAGER WITHOUT DELAY.
PLEASE NOTE THAT FAILURE TO SUPPLY TIMELY, FULL AND ACCURATE POST PRODUCTION
PAPERWORK, AND FINAL DELIVERABLES TO MG ALBA, AS CONTRACTED, MAY DELAY YOUR
FINAL PAYMENT.
CONTACTS:Schedule Manager : Margaret Taylor
margaret.taylor@bbc.co.uk
07500958509
Schedule Assistant :- Charissa Campbell
GaelicPMA@bbc.co.uk
01851 708933