File Delivered Programmes - Programme Format

This part of the document details the additional technical requirements that programmes must comply with for delivery of files.

Programme Layout for File Delivery

Programme Layout for file delivery

Single Part or Soft Parted Programme

Single Part or Soft Parted Programme

Single Part or Soft Parted Programme

A single part programme will always be played from the start point to the end point without interruption. Soft parting is where a programme is provided as a single continuous programme, but a broadcaster may break the transmission of the programme at several points to insert commercials or for other reasons. IN and OUT points for continuous playback must be included with the delivery metadata; suggested timecodes for breaks should not be included.

Hard Parted Programme

Hard-parted Programme

Hard Parted Programme

Multi-Part Programme Delivered on Multiple Files 1

Multi-part Programme Delivered on Multiple Files - File 1

Multi-Part Programme Delivered on Multiple Files 2

File 2

A hard-parted programme is billed and scheduled for transmission as a single entity, but is delivered as a single file containing clearly separated parts between which adverts, trails etc. could be inserted. The start timecode and duration of each part must be included in the metadata.

Multi-Part Programme Delivered on Multiple Files

Where a programme’s delivery must be split over more than one file, it must comply with the formatting below.

Start and End

Note that it is usual for sound and vision to be automatically cut to air on transmission, so early vision or sound is not normally required. Vision may fade up from black starting at 10:00:00:00 if desired.

All programmes must end with a fade or cut to silence before the intended end point. Any fade out or reverb must be allowed for within the programme duration.

Black, vision freeze or ‘living hold’ must be held for a further five seconds (5”) after the end point.

Any other programme elements after the end of the programme should not start less than one minute (1’) after end of programme.

The Ident Clock or Slate

Optionally, a countdown clock or slate may precede the start of programme. A clock or slate is optional for subsequent parts of a multi-part programme.

Audio Channel Allocations HD and SD

Audio Channel Allocations HD and SD Chart

Audio Channel Allocations HD and SD Chart

The files must contain a group of either 4 or 16 channels, with channel allocations as in the table below. Unused channels must carry 48 kHz, 24-bits/sample, PCM digital silence.

The EBU R 48 or R 123 code must be included in the spreadsheet Programme Metadata File, available here Excel, 346 kB., to identify the channel allocations.

R48:2a, R123:4b, R123:4c, R123:16a, R123:16b, R123:16c Option 1 and R123:16c Option 2 must only be used for programmes with single language audio;

  • R123:16b (not R123:16a) is the preferred channel allocation for delivery specifically to SVT;
  • R123:16d must only be used for programmes with dual language audio;
  • R123:16f must only be used for programmes with three different languages.

For compatibility with stereo systems, any audio generated as mono must be presented as ‘Dual Mono’ on two phase-coherent channels, and flagged as stereo.

In the case of multiple 1-channel (mono) WAV files, the file names must match those specified above in the cells to indicate the content of the file, e.g. PG-1234567-001A-PROGRAMME_TITLE-321_ME_LS.wav indicating the left surround channel in a 5.1 (3/2/1) multichannel music and effects mix. See ‘Appendix B – Naming of Audio Channels when delivering multiple mono WAV files’ for naming of all channel possibilities.

Audio Channel Allocations AS-11 DPP X1

Ultra-High Definition (UHD) programmes are not accepted by SVT.

Audio Only Files

Additional audio only files related to a programme, such as Audio Description files, must be supplied as BWF (sometimes called B-WAV) files, conforming to the specification in EBU-Tech 3285, or (optionally) multiple 1-channel (mono) WAV files.

File duration and timecode must exactly match the principal video file.

All audio channels must be encoded as PCM with a sample rate of 48 kHz at a bit depth of 24 bits/sample.

Closed Captions (Subtitles)

SVT is interested in any manuscripts used during the production of the programme, or transcripts of any dialogue, for use by SVT’s in-house subtitling department when creating subtitles.

Naming of associated material must adhere to the following convention:

PG-<identifier_provided_by_SVT_including_programme_name>-<suffix_describing_content_of_the_file>.<extension>

Examples:

  • PG-939393-001A-SA_SKA_DET_LATA-Manuscript1.doc
  • PG-939393-001A-SA_SKA_DET_LATA-Manuscript2.doc
  • PG-939393-001A-SA_SKA_DET_LATA-Transcript.doc
  • PG-939393-001A-SA_SKA_DET_LATA-Subtitles.xif

The text describing the content of the file should only contain A-Z, 0-9, i.e. umlaut characters (e.g. Å, Ä and Ö) are not allowed