Output Guidelines
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VH1 3rd Party Handbook
June 24, 2010
Output Guidelines
Tape Delivery – Standard Definition
Shows should be delivered to Vh1 Production Management at least 48 hours prior to air. Failure to deliver
show 48 hours before air will result in spot check of material rather than full audio and video QC. It may
also result in program airing from tape for premiere rather than a server.
NOTE: If delivering less than 48 hours before air, contact your Vh1 Production Management contact and you
will be given an alternate delivery.
Aspect Ratio
Aspect Ratio should be 4:3 (full screen), if not, it should be noted other wise as “Letter Box” on the Tape
Labeling and Slate Information (note sections 1.2 and 1.6).
Productions which originate or are produced in 16:9 but delivered in 4:3 should shoot and produce graphics
using 4:3 action safety, keeping the 4:3 down conversion process (note section 1.11) in mind throughout all
phases of the production and post production cycles. If program material has already been produced and
is not in 4:3 action safety, we require a 4:3 Pan and Scan version (anamorphic or cropped is not
acceptable).
Video Tape Specifications
• All material must be delivered on Digital Betacam (BETA SP & D2 ARE NO LONGER ACCEPTED)
• Tapes shall be free of dropouts, flash frames, and glitches.
• The size or length of tape is not relevant.
• All video tape programs are to be supplied on new tape stock.
• Tapes shall be recorded on VTR’s which have been maintained and calibrated in compliance with the
manufacture’s specifications
• Chrominance level should not exceed 100 IRE units in bars and 120 IRE units in program
Video Specifications
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NTSC component digital video blanking & synchronization signals shall comply with SMPTE 259M.
NTSC analog video blanking and synchronization signals shall comply with SMPTE 170M – 2004
Tapes will only be accepted in NTSC 525 (59.94Hz) standard.
Luminance level should not exceed 100 IRE units.
Chrominance level should not exceed 100 IRE units in bars and 110 IRE units in program.
Set up level should not exceed zero IRE units (digital), 7.5ire (analog).
Vertical Blanking Usage:
Field 1
Line 10 – Blank
Line 11 - Blank
Line 12 – Blank
Line 13 – Blank
Line 14 – VITC
Line 15 – Blank
Line 16 – VITC
Line 17 – Blank
Line 18 – Blank
Line 19 – Blank
Line 20 – Blank
Line 21 – Closed Caption (CC1)
Line 22 – Active Video or SID/AMOL
Field 2
Line 10 - Blank
Line 11 - Blank
Line 12 – Blank
Line 13 – Blank
Line 14 – VITC
Line 15 – Blank
Line 16 – VITC
Line 17 – Blank
Line 18 – Blank
Line 19 – Blank
Line 20 – Blank or SID/AMOL
Line 21 – Closed Caption (CC2)/Ancil Data**
Line 22- Active Video
** ”Ancillary” data (e.g. “Ratings Measuring”, “Interactive”, “water-marking”, etc.) inserted in the Vertical
Blanking or embedded into the Active Video and/or embedded in the Audio must be noted on the Video
Tape Labeling.
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Output Guidelines (cont.)
Audio Specifications
• Program audio shall be delivered without static, dropouts, distortion, heavy dynamic compression
or heavy limiting.
• NOC house reference Test Tone is -20dBfs (+4dBM) @ 1 KHZ.
• In bars, Test Tone audio levels should be -20dBfs or 0Vu.
• In bars, Test Tone should be on all audio channels which program audio is present.
• Digital Audio shall comply with AES3-2003 standard.
• Digital Audio shall comply SMPTE 155-2004 for reference level and headroom.
• Headroom should achieve 20dB above nominal
• Sampling Frequency should be 48kHZ.
• Quantization should be 20 bit/sample.
• In program, audio should average – 15dBfs and not exceed -10dBfs.
• There should be no discernable aberration in the lip sync
~ Audio sync relative to video frame shall not deviate by more than +/-15ms
• All multiple track recordings must be properly phased and separation shall correspond properly
with visual separation.
For Air Masters
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Audio configuration should be as follows:
Channel 1: Program Left
Channel 2: Program Right
Channel 3: (SAP) Secondary Audio Program*
Channel 4: (DVS) Descriptive Video Service*
* In the event that SAP and/or DVS audio are not present, the following should be supplied to channel 3
and channel 4;
~ Mono mix of channels 1 and 2.
~ If a mono mix is not available, channel 1 should be placed on channel 3 and channel 2 should
be placed on channel 4
For Source Reels
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Audio configuration should be as follows:
Channel 1: Program Left
Channel 2: Program Right
Channel 3: Music & Effects Left**
Channel 4: Music & Effects Right**
** In the event that Music & Effects audio are not available, the following should be supplied to channel
3 and channel 4;
~ Mono mix of channels 1 and 2.
~ If a mono mix is not available, channel 1 should be placed on channel 3 and channel 2 should be
placed on channel 4
* Music & Effects may be supplied on channels 3 & channel 4 for SD material only.
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Output Guidelines (cont.)
Time Code
• Continuous SMPTE drop frame time code (DFTC) as specified in SMPTE 12M shall be recorded as
longitudinal time code (LTC) on all delivered videotape.
• The time code shall be synchronous to the recorded video.
• Multiple videotape copies furnished to MTVN with the same program content must contain identical time
code.
• If the videotape contains vertical interval time code (VITC) it shall contain the same time and be
synchronous to the longitudinal time code (LTC).
• SMPTE time code should be continuous from SOT (Start of Tape) at 00:58:00:00 to 60 seconds postprogram.
• SOP (Start of Program) should be at 01:00:00:00 for reel one.
• The time code address at the first frame of program for each subsequent reel should be the next hour
after the out-cue of the previous reel (i.e. – if Tape 1 out-cue is 2:30:45 then Part 2 in-cue is 03:00:00)
Formatting
• Time code must be continuous DROP FRAME –LTC from beginning of tape to at least 1:00 post program
• Start of program should be at 1:00:00:00
• Episode should not be separated onto more than 1 tape unless content is longer than 120 minutes
• The following is required footprint sequence:
- 00:59:00 – 00:59:30 Bars and tone with 1000 Hertz tone, 20dBfs
- 00:59:30 - 00:59:40 Black with silence
- 00:59:40 - 00:59:50 Title slate ( see below for content requirements)
- 00:59:50 – 01:00:00 Black with silence
- 01:00:00 - Start of Program
Commercial Slugs
• Programs including formatted commercial breaks should have a :15 second black slug built into the tape at
each commercial position.
1. - 5 seconds black
2. - 5 seconds slate (title, episode #, segment #, record date, server ID)
3. - 5 seconds black
Safe Title Area
•All titles and credits must be contained within the Safe Title Area as specified in SMPTE RP 218
Program Times
• Half-hour show – 21:00 – 21:30
• One hour show - 43:00 - 43:30
Avails
• See attached timing rundowns for all formats (see appendix)
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Output Guidelines (cont.)
Video Tape Labeling
• The Label on the tape reel or cassette and the storage box shall contain the same typed information as the
slate. Tapes should be labeled with the following information:
~ Network
~ Program Title
~ Episode number and title
~ Version Number
~ Record date
~ Server ID, where applicable
~ Total running time duration
~ Part 1 of _ Sequence (1 of 2, 2 of 2)
~ Audio Format (Stereo or Mono)
~ Presence of SAP (Yes / No, if yes indicate channel)
~ Presence of Video Description (Yes / No, if yes indicate channel)
~ Presence of Closed Captioning (Yes / No)
~ Vertical Blanking Interval (VBI) information and / or XDS Data
~ Aspect Ratio 4:3 (Indicate of content is “full screen” or “letterbox” format)
~ Production House name of MTV edit room / location
Slate Information
• The visual program slate shall be present for at least 10 seconds and contain the following information:
~ Network
~ Program Title
~ Episode number and title
~ Version Number
~ Record date
~ Server ID, where applicable
~ Each segment’s length
~ Total run time
~ Part 1 of _ Sequence (1 of 2, 2 of 2)
~ Audio Format (Stereo, Dolby Matrix Pro-Logic I or II, Mono)
~ Audio Channel Assignment
~ Presence of SAP (Yes / No, if yes indicate channel)
~ Presence of Video Description (Yes / No, if yes indicate channel)
~ Presence of Closed Captioning (Yes / No)
~ Vertical Blanking Interval (VBI) information and / or XDS Data
~ Aspect Ratio 4:3 (Indicate of content is “full screen” or “letterbox” format)
~ Production House name of MTV edit room / location
The slate shall end at least 10 seconds before the start of program. Time code shall be continuously
ascending from color bars through the trailer.
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Output Guidelines (cont.)
File Delivery - Standard Definition
This section describes the practices and technical standards for the production and delivery of “Standard
Definition” program material in a file based delivery method to the Viacom Network Operations Center.
• File delivered material should conform to;
~ SMPTE 356M-2001 (Type D-10 Stream Specifications – MPEG-2 4:2:2P @ML 525/60).
Compression
constraints and bit-stream characteristics of an MPEG-2 video elementary stream operating at a bit
rate of 50 Mb/s I-Frame Long GOP 525/60. Bit stream is compatible with a type D-10 format digital
recorder (Sony “IMX” format). The video compression format shall be fully compliant with the MPEG2 video standard (ISO/IEC 13818-2 [4:2:2P @ML]).
~ SMPTE 386M-2004 (MXF Type D-10 Essence Data). This standard defines the mapping of
compressed picture data according to the type D-10 data stream and up to 8 channels of AES3 data
into the material exchange format generic container (MXF-GC).
~ SMPTE 379M (MXF Generic Container) specification shall use frame-based mapping, the order of
items in this mapping shall be system, picture, sound and data (if present).
~ SMPTE RP 204 (SDTI-CP MPEG Decoder Templates) mapping of the type D-10 stream data and 8channel AES3 data into the MXF generic container.
The MXF file format specification includes operation pattern (OP) specifications which define restrictions to
be placed on the way in which this essence container type can be implemented. File based material shall
confirm to SMPTE 378M MXF Operational Pattern 1a (Single Item, Single Package).
If your show is chosen for Hi-Def delivery, specs will be sent to you under a separate cover by your PM
contact.
VOD Specs
• VOD Texted Version (Digi Beta)
~ VIDEO: All graphics and text
~AUDIO: Channel 1 & 2: Dialogue, VO, Narration
Channel 3 & 4: Music (not mixed)
VH1.Com- Specs
• VH1.Com split and mixed versions (beta SP)
~ AUDIO: Channel 1: Dialogue and all pertinent content including VO
Channel 2: EFX
Channel 3: Music
Channel 4: Music
• DMG Form: (see appendix)
~ This form should be filled out for every tape you deliver to Vh1.Com. Please enclose a hard copy
into each tape case. In addition please email the form to Mike Rinzel and Divya McDuffie
(Mike.Rinzel@vh1.com Divya.McDuffie@vh1.com)
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Output Guidelines (cont.)
ENCODING STANDARDS
Hi-Resolution Archive Encoding Standard
MPEG 2 @ 50Mbps, I-Frame, Program Stream, .MXF file
Essence Container: SMPTE D10 (Sony IMX 50)
Operational Pattern: OP1A
4:2:2 @Main Level
720 X 512
Frame rate: 29.97
Audio: PCM 24 bit @ 48Khz (4 discrete tracks: L, R, SAP, Descriptive)
Low Resolution Proxy Encoding Standard
QuickTime .mov, MPEG-4, H.264 @ 768Mb/s, multi-pass encoding
Visible time code track
Video: 320x240
Audio: AAC multi-channel, 24khz, 16-bit, stereo, @96kb/s
Broadcast Audio Archive Encoding Standard
AIFF, 48khz, 24-bit, 16 channels, non-interleave
VOD – Video On Demand Encoding Standard
Total bitrate: 3.75Mb/s
GOP Structure: IBBPBBPBBPBB
Program Map Table: 480
Video: MPEG-2 352x480, 29.97fps, @ 3.18Mb/s, Video PID - 481
Audio: AC3, 48Khz @ 192kb/s, 2 channels, Audio PID – 482
I-Tunes Video Encoding Standard
Video: MPEG-2, 15Mb/s, long GOP, 4:2:0, Program Stream
720 x 512
Frame Rate: 29.97
Audio: MPEG-1 Layer 2 stereo
CLOSED CAPTIONING
• Closed caption data shall be inserted onto the SDI video in accordance with Electronic Industries
EIA-608 recommendations as outlined below:
• Primary Language (e.g. English) into on Line 21 Field 1.
~ Only the primary language shall be placed on Line 21 Field 1.
~ No other text or extended data should be included on Line 21 Field 1.
~ The primary language captioning data must be in sync with sound.
• Secondary Language (e.g. Spanish) into on Line 21 Field 3.
~ The secondary language captioning data must be in sync with sound.
The program supplier should be prepared to provide the captioning data as a file. The file should be
emailed to:
Chris.Heaton@mtvstaff.com and Samantha.Foerster@mtvstaff.com.
The file is to be in the DVD Caption (.scc) format. The file name should include the show name and episode
number.
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Output Guidelines (cont.)
CLOSED CAPTIONING
For New York based shows, please contact Chris Heaton (212.258.8623 or
chris.heaton@mtvstaff.com) or Samantha Foerster (212.846.7123 or
samantha.foerster@mtvstaff.com) at Assistive Technologies at the beginning of the project to
discuss procedures. For Los Angeles based shows, please contact Samantha Foerster.
Please inform them of:
~ the name of your program
~ the expected premiere date
~ the number of episodes
~ a brief show description
Once contacted, they will work with you to set up a captioning schedule that coincides with your
post. Keep in mind that it takes four or five business days to complete captioning.
For New York Productions:
• You must send an uncaptioned beta or digibeta tape at its audio lock point, then a digibeta
master once the show is fully posted.
• A final master will be accepted as first delivery only if it is delivered five business days before
the premiere.
• Assistive Technologies then creates a closed captioned master, air copy and disaster recovery
copy (when applicable).
• They will send the captioned air copy directly to the NOC and the captioned master and DR copy
to Library Services.
For Los Angeles Productions:
• You must send a VHS work cassette to your assigned vendor at the agreed upon time.
• This will be arranged by Assistive Technologies after conferring with you regarding your
anticipated delivery schedule.
• The captioning vendor will then e-mail a completed caption file to your dub house where it can
be encoded before deliverable dubbing begins.
*NOTE: You will not receive a closed captioned copy of the tape. If you would like the
uncaptioned master returned, please specify this when you deliver the tape to Assistive
Technologies. Otherwise the tape will be recycled at the end of the process.
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