The Digital Production Partnership (DPP) has announced common technical delivery standards for high definition commercials/sponsorship and promotions/presentation material.
The new standards, which align with the DPP’s HD Programme Standard, aim to achieve consistency in the delivery of content and avoid the proliferation of different file types and specifications.
The UK’s major broadcasters – BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Sky, BT and Channel 5 – have worked with DPP members across the industry to agree the technical standards.
For advertisement and sponsorship material, it means that there will now be one specification for delivery to ITV, Sky, Channel 5 and Channel 4 (including broadcasters that take commercials from Channel 4 advertising sales, such as UKTV channels, The Box Plus Network, PBS America and BT Sport).
For promotions and presentation events, this standard will cover material delivery to the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Sky, BT Sport and Channel 5.
A key aspect of the new standard is the introduction of an exceptions process for intentionally quiet content, enabling producers to deliver creatively quiet content that does not meet the normal EBU R128 target level – an integral part of the R128 recommendation for short-form content.
Kim Knowlton, broadcast production consultant for the IPA, added, “The IPA welcome the work the DPP has achieved regarding the delivery of R128 intentionally quiet commercials and sponsorship idents, and their continued commitment to supporting the creative issues of the advertising industry”.
Delivery to these specifications will begin throughout 2016, with ITV expected to be the first mainstream broadcaster to act.
Ian Cottrell, director of broadcast distribution and services at ITV, said, “ITV welcomes the publication of the HD specification which further builds on the excellent standards work already delivered by the DPP.”
Further adjustments and requirements include:
– Removal of the requirement for the static descriptive metadata track and segmentation track
– Inclusion of the metadata as a separate xml file
– Inclusion of closed caption subtitles (out of vision)
– Implementation of EBU R95-1 caption safe area
– Ability to produce and deliver 5.1 multi-channel audio by broadcaster specific agreement
