TV Commercials – encode setttings

[Mike Kujbida]

You need to ask each station what they require as specs will differ from one to another, even in the same market.

[Duane Weed]

Let me rephrase my question. Mov files for broadcast what settings do people use. Most of the spots are 30’s with a 1 gig limit. I am wanting to know what others use. Trying to get the best file at the smallest size.

Thank you

DW Video & Multimedia, LLC
“Using Today’s Media To Market Your Business”

[Steve Rhoden]

For me most times they simply request it as DV on MiniDV Tapes.
or if its HD i give them as a Quicktime format and i prefer to
use the Photojpeg codec, because it handles compression well for
smaller file sizes, while at good quality and can be played back
on the most basic computer systems and can be re-edited on any
software they have in house.

Steve Rhoden
(Cow Leader)
Film Maker
Filmex Creative Media.
1-876-832-4956
https://filmex-creative-media.blogspot.com/

[Jonathan Thomas]

HD Technical Specifications

Acceptable formats for HD spots

Disks
CD or DVD (be sure to list the titles on the Disk)
MPEG-2 files or QuickTime (.mov, H.264) files are the only files accepted

Electronically
FTP *
MPEG-2 files or QuickTime (.mov, H.264) files are the only files accepted
DG Systems**

In order to receive a username/password to access the HD side of our FTP site you first must send us an HD spot to test and make sure it can go through the system correctly. You can test this by calling Time Warner.

• Once we have a successful test, a username and password will be given to you to use. Please allow up to 5 business days for the username and password.
• * Site address is ftp://24.106.236.181/. Internet Explorer must be used to access the FTP site.
• Place all HD spots into the HD folder in either the “720” or “1080” subfolders.
• The filename should be in all UPPERCASE
• The filename should end with “HD” (to designate HD).
• The filename should consist of only letters or numbers.
Example. ABCHARDWARE – CLEARANCE_SALE_2009HD
• File name can’t include periods, slashes or the pound sign
• Each file submitted must contain only one commercial.
• All commercials must have 5 seconds of black from the end of the slate to the start of each spot and 5 seconds of black from the end of the spot.
** Must have a DG Systems account setup. The phone number to contact DG Systems is 1-800-324-5672. Our System Code box # is 76.

Video Format

Format Vertical Lines Scan Type Frame Rate
720p (1280×720) 720 Progessive 29.97 Progressive
1080i (1920×1080) 1080 Interlaced 29.97 Interlaced

Sampling Rate: 48KHz Average Audio Level: 0 dBfs
Aspect Ratio: 16:9 Video Bit Rate: 15Mbps or higher

Audio must be two channel audio.
CH1 Stereo Left
CH2 Stereo Right

Video levels must not exceed 100IRE, Chroma levels must not exceed 110 IRE and Black levels must not go below 7.5 IRE at any time.
Disks should be sent to the following address: Time Warner Cable Media Sales

Attn:MasterControl

Here are general specs for TimeWarner Cable. But others like WOW or AT&T may differ.

[Jonathan Thomas]

General File Specifications

Maximum Setup Levels
7.5 IRE (SD) and ITU-R BT.79 compliant (HD)

Maximum Luminance Levels
100 IRE (SD) and ITU-R BT.79 compliant (HD)

Maximum Chroma Levels
120 IRE (SD) and ITU-R BT.79 compliant (HD)

Average Digital Audio Levels
Between –16 dBFS and –20 dBFS with high peaks
between -10 dBFS and -12 dBFS and a maximum
of three peaks per second

Recommended SD Settings
Video
MPEG-2 program stream
18 Mbps
4:2:2
9 frame GOP
29.97i frames/sec.
4:3 aspect ratio
720×480 (720×486 if captioned)
Lower (bottom) field first
Audio
MPEG-1 Layer 2, 2 channels (L-R), 48 kHz, 20 bit, 384 Kbps

Recommended HD Settings
For HD spots that are ready for delivery, DG can accept H.264 files
at its regional FTP sites. However, Apple ProRes is the preferred
format for files requiring production services such as watermarking
and tagging.
H.264
Video
H.264 (.MOV)
50 Mbps
4:2:2
GOP structure not defined
29.97i frames/sec.
Field dominance not applicable
1920 x 1080 (16:9 aspect ratio)
Audio
LPCM Integer (big endian)
2 channels (L-R), 48 kHz, 16 or 24 bit, OR
8 channels, 48 kHz, 16 or 24 bit
Ch. 1 – 2: L – R front
Ch. 3: Center
Ch. 4: LFE
Ch. 5 – 6: L – R surround
Ch. 7 – 8: Lt – Rt stereo

Apple ProRes
Video
Apple ProRes 422 HQ (.MOV)
Automatic bit rate
4:2:2
GOP structure not defined
29.97i frames/sec.
Top field first
1920 x 1080 HD (16:9 aspect ratio
Audio
LPCM Integer (big endian)
2 channels (L-R), 48.00 kHz, normal quality, 24 bit

DG Layout Requirements
One spot per file
File structure
Minimum 1 second of black / silence
5 seconds of slate
2 seconds of black / silence
Content – up to 120 seconds
Minimum 1 second of black / silence

Slate requirements
Ad code (ISCI / Ad-ID)
Spot title
Spot length
Closed captioning (if applicable)
Do not include resolution (e.g. 1080i) in the slate information

Naming conventions
The filename must match the ISCI or Ad-ID,
e.g., for ISCI/Ad-ID ABCD1234,
the filename would be ABCD1234.MPG
For HD spots, the filename must end with an H
(e.g., ABCD1234H). When submitting HD and SD
versions of the same spot, the filenames should match,
e.g., ABCD1234.MPG & ABCD1234H.MOV
The filename must contain only alphanumeric characters.
The filename must be all upper-case.
The filename (excluding the extension, e.g., .MPG)
must not be less than 3 or more than 15 characters
(including the H to designate HD content).
Incorrectly named files can delay processing of your spots.

Here is another setting from DG FastChannel.

[Stephen Mann]

Hi Duane – haven’t seen you around the forums in quite a while.

Steve Mann

Steve Mann
MannMade Digital Video
http://www.mmdv.com

[Kent Vanderberg]

When shooting HD and framing for 16:9, must one always protect for TV to center-cut crop the sides of the frame on 4:3 TVs? Our intent was to use the entire width of the 16:9 image and then letterbox it for 4:3 distribution. But a broadcast engineer wandered onto the set and said the letterboxed version would appear both letterboxed and pillarboxed on 16:9 TVs. Our frame included text on a sign which cannot be cut off if center-cropping might occur.
I have a 4:3 TV at home. How is it that I see letterboxed 16:9 national spots all the time? I cannot believe that those spots are being letterboxed and pillarboxed on 16:9 TVs; they’re filling the 16:9 frame.
I would like to distribute the spots in full raster 16:9 for everyone that is viewing on 16:9 TVs, whether viewing the SD channels or HD channels. But I DON’T want those viewing 4:3 SD to have the image center-cropped. How do the national advertisers manage to have their spots letterboxed on my 4:3 TV while playing full screen 16:9 on newer Tvs? Please explain. Thank you.

Kent