Promotionals

Release: 1.2 | February 17, 2023

The purpose of this document is to facilitate and define Warner Bros. Discovery’s requirements for receiving Standard Dynamic Range (SDR) Promotional Content. This specification establishes the compositional and technical requirements for all aspects of delivery to which content providers must comply. Compliance with these requirements ensures successful deliveries into the Warner Bros. Discovery Media Supply Chain (MSC).

This specification is not intended to provide guidance on delivering High Dynamic Range content to Warner Bros. Discovery. For additional Contribution Specifications covering these deliveries please reach out to your Warner Bros. Discovery Contact.

Promos can be delivered via the content portal or via automated content delivery (ACD) through Aspera. If opting for ACD delivery, MMC metadata requirements must be met.

Quality Requirements

It is Warner Bros. Discovery’s intent to acquire the highest quality masters that preserve the original artistic intent while providing a premium viewing experience to the consumer. To meet Warner Bros. Discovery's perceptual and measured quality standards content MUST conform to the specifications outlined in this document.

Please speak with your Warner Bros. Discovery contact if your highest quality digital master does not meet the quality standards defined in this specification or if you have questions related to this specification.

Photosensitive Epilepsy Testing

Photosensitive Epilepsy (PSE) impacts a viewer population who may be prone to seizures caused by flashing images on a screen. Warner Bros. Discovery requires that all content follows the guidance for the reduction of photosensitive epilepsy as defined in ITU-R BT.1702-2.

Warner Bros. Discovery strongly recommends that providers use a “Harding Flash & Pattern Analyzer” on all content prior to delivery to ensure it meets these recommendations. Content found to be outside these test parameters will be rejected and will require redelivery.

The Digital Production Partnership has provided a list of approved tools to assist in PSE testing.

Expected Deliverables

A complete and valid delivery SHALL include:

1. Master Media File
2. Descriptive Metadata - prior to delivery, must be created in designated promo system.
3. Closed Captions/Subtitles

Master Technical Specifications

Content must be delivered in the Native Frame Rate and Original Aspect Ratio.

1. The frame rate MUST be both continuous and constant throughout the duration of the program.
2. Promo MUST be delivered as a continuous, seamless program.
3. Metadata in the file header MUST accurately indicate:

• Scan Type
• Scan Order
• Frame Aspect Ratio

Master File Format

ProRes 422

DNxHD (non-preferred)

Master Composition

Promos SHOULD be trimmed to content without padding. When using the Promo Portal one of the below options must be followed:

Option 1:

Option 2:

Option 3:

Slates are optional, but must follow the below guidelines if used.

Slate

If slate is present, the slate should follow this layout:

Audio Technical Specifications

1. Each Soundfield group should be arranged into a single track (e.g. 5.1 would be 1 track with 6 channels). Optionally, discrete track audio (i.e. 1 channel per track) is also accepted (e.g. 5.1 would be 6 tracks with 1 channel each).
2. Stereo labels must match the method used to create the Soundfield: LtRt for matrixed downmix, LR for stereo mix.
3. All audio channels must be labeled in the file metadata, where appropriate for each file format.
4. All audio tracks must conform (be synchronous) with video and have the same duration.
5. Where both exist, a near field mix is preferred over a theatrical mix.
6. content with 5.1 surround must be provided with a separate, corresponding 2.0 track.

Audio Loudness

Content must conform to ITU-1770-3.

Target audio loudness must conform with:

1. Target loudness for 2 Channel Program Audio (e.g. LtRt) must be ∑ -24 LKFS +/- 2 dB.
2. Target loudness for 5.1 Channel Program Audio must be ∑ -24 LKFS +/- 2 dB (minus LFE).
3. True Peak DOES not exceed -2 dBTP

Audio Track Layout

Closed Captions / Subtitles

Technical Specifications

Expected Deliverables

Naming Convention

Portal

If the promo is being uploaded to Portal, it must follow the below naming convention:

"<"name/title">"_CID-"<"CID">".mov

There is no limit on the length of the CID. “CID” is not case sensitive. It can be uppercase or lowercase. Portal looks for “_CID-"<"CID">"” within the file name. The name before the underscore is ignored for the purposes of Portal.

Example

ExampleName_CID-051022.mov

Guidelines

1. Filename must not include spaces or special characters, e.g. ~ ! @ # $ % ^ & * ( ) ` ; < > ? , [ ] { } ’ ” |. With the exception of – (dash) and _ (underscore).
2. Underscores must be used to separate categories within filename.
3. All filenames must contain a file type extension and must be lowercase. Uppercase extension will result in an invalid content delivery.
4. Filename category should use CamelCase: multiple words joined together with the first letter of each word capitalized, e.g. Search Party -> SearchParty.

Content Delivery Method

All providers MUST be onboarded prior to delivering any content to Warner Bros. Discovery. To begin the onboarding process, please reach out to your Warner Bros. Discovery contact for instructions.

Release History

1.2 February 17, 2023

1. Removed 25 Frame Rate
2. Removed all Audio Track Layout except English Prod Language
3. Remove EBU loudness standards
4. Fixed hyphen in Naming Convention
5. Added Audio Spec Format field
6. Added 8-bit Chroma Bit Depth

1.1 January 18, 2023

1. Removed UHD support