NBCUniversal Live Streaming allows viewers to watch wherever and however they want. On NBC News, MSNBC NBCSports.com, the NBC Sports App, the Golf Channel App and NBC Sports Gold, viewers can find extensive live streaming of NBC events, political coverage, Golf, Olympics, NBCSN events across desktops, mobile devices, tablets and connected TV.
Advertisers can showcase their video ad units in Pre-Roll and Mid-Roll formats.

For any questions, please contact @NBC Uni Specs & Guidelines.

Available On:

 

Web       Mobile Web       Mobile App   Connected Devices

Livestream Ad Formats

 

Pre-Roll

  • Length: :15s
  • Assets Allowed:
    • Site Served: Linear/Broadcast Ad-ID OR Hard Asset with Ad-ID (MP4/MOV)
    • Third Party: VAST 2.0 only

Mid-Roll

  • Length: :15s, :30s, :45s, and :60s are accepted

 

*Durations, Assets and Skippable allowances by Brand. See below for details*

Available Platforms

 

Web
Desktop
Tablet
Mobile
Mobile App
iOS
Android
Connected TVs
Amazon Fire
Apple TV
Android TV
Chromecast
Roku
Samsung
Xbox
PS4/PS5
Vizio
LG TV
X1

Creative Guidelines

Creative is due 5 business days prior to campaign launch.

All Clients must be registered with Ad-ID and assign a valid Ad-ID code to each creative prior to submission of advertising creatives.

  • Clients can contact Ad-ID customer service at cs@ad-id.org or 646.259.4171 for assistance.
  • NBCUniversal will provide support in the onboarding process.
  • For information on Ad-ID, please visit: http://www.ad-id.org/.

 

Video Ads – Required Specs

 

NBCU-Served Video Submission/Encoding:

 

Dimensions:

  • 1920×1080 Minimum

Duration:

  • :06s allowed for Pre-Roll only, :15s, :30s, :60s for Mid-Roll (limited inventory for :60s)
  • Video duration must be the same length as the audio track or else video cannot be transcoded.

Max File Size:

  • 10 GB

File Format:

  • Formats Accepted:
    • Video Ad-ID is required
      • All clients must be registered with Ad-ID and assign a valid Ad-ID code to each creative prior to submission of advertising creatives. Clients can contact Ad-ID customer service at cs@ad-id.org or 646.259.4171 for assistance. NBCUniversal will provide support in the onboarding process. For information on Ad-ID, please visit: http://www.ad-id.org/
    • Quicktime (.MOV) strongly preferred
    • MPEG-2 (.mpg)
    • **NBCU also accepts MPEG-4 (.MP4), but .MOV & .mpg are preferred to ensure optimal transcode quality.
  • The file should include the ad only and not require any editing or clipping before transcoding:
    • Files must be formatted cut-to-cut
    • No bars/tone/slate or black is allowed at the top or tail
    • Content should begin at 01:00:00:00

Minimum Bit Rate:

  • Greater than 15Mbps

Frame Rate:

  • Native Frame Rate as 29.97fps, 23.98fps, or 25fps
  • Frame Rate must be constant (CBR)
  • **In order to ingest and fulfill creatives in the most efficient and reliable manner, deliver content in native frame rate and scan mode. NBC does not accept any pre-processing (i.e apply Telecine, Inverse Telecine, scan mode conversion) of creatives. Applying any kind of pre-processing will hinder or degrade the creative renditions and thus, can impact monetization and viewer experience

Aspect Ratio:

  • 16:9

Video Codec:

  • Apple ProRes 422 HQ codec preferred (Video Bitrate must be at least 800 Kbps)
  • H.264 codec is accepted (Video Bitrate must be at least 50 Mbps)
  • DV codec | DVC Pro NTSC (DV25) or DVC Pro NTSC (DV50) accepted
  • Interlaced video is NOT accepted

Scan Type:

  • Native Scan Mode, Progressive or Interlaced (Ex. capture/edit in 23.98p, deliver in 23.98p, capture 29.97i/edit 29.97i, deliver 2997i)

Field Dominance:

  • Upper Odd (for 29.97fps)

Time Code:

  • Time code track & QuickTime wrapper. All 29.97 content must be Drop Frame. 23.98 must be Non-Drop Frame

Color Space:

  • 4:2:2

Audio Codec/Format:

  • PCM, Little Endian

Audio Tracks:

  • 2 CH Stereo
  • Note: If you are sending a promo without any sound, 2 MOS tracks are required.

Audio Track Assignments:

  • CH 1 – LT Stereo
  • CH 2 – RT Stereo
  • Audio must be discrete, single track audio (1 track per channel

Bit Depth/Sampling:

  • 24-Bit 48kHz

Bit Rate:

  • 96-194kbps

Average Loudness:

  • -24 LKFS (Full Program Mix, not just Dialogue) using the ITU-R BS. 1770-3 measurement method

True Peak Limit:

  • -2 dbfs

Duration:

  • Audio track duration must be the same length as the video duration

 

Approved Creative, Research & Verification Vendors:

  • Secure 3rd Party Impression Tracking pixel tag (noscript tag) accepted
  • Secure Research Tracking Pixel tag accepted (not STB)
  • Secure HTTPS tags only
  • Comcast X1 requires tracking pixels to support DualStack IPV4/IPV6 connectivity
  • Secure Quartile Tracking accepted
  • For a list of approved third-party vendors please reference NBCU’s Approved Creative, Research & Verification Vendors

 

VAST 2.0:

 

  • In order to hit rendition targets reflected in the NBCU specification (Mezz, High, Medium and Low) it is NBCU’s recommendation to use the highest quality source file.
  • To ensure accuracy across the various transcoding platforms in market we recommend a minimum bitrate threshold for source material of 50mbps.
  • Secure HTTPS tags only
  • All direct sold VAST tags are subject to internal NBCU QC processes and will be rejected if spec requirements are not met across all platforms.
  • For a detailed list of NBCU creative quality checks and descriptions, please Click Here
  • NBCU requires a total of FOUR files to run, no exceptions.
    • Mezz, High, Medium and Low. Details below.
    • This allows for the highest quality content and advertisement playback to run on all viewing endpoints: desktop, mobile web, apps and OTT.

 

Mezz
  • Dimensions/Resolution:
    • MP4/MOV: 1920×1080 HD or 1280×720 HD also allow 720×480 (SD)
  • Max File Size:
    • 10 GB
  • Bit Rate:
    • A minimum of 15 Mbps required, but 15-30 Mbps recommended
  • Audio:
    • At least 192 Kbps
    • Sampling Frequency should be 48000Hz
  • Aspect Ratio:
    • 16:9
High
  • Dimensions/Resolution:
    • MP4 ONLY: 1920×1080 HD or 1280×720 HD, 720×480 (SD) also allowed
  • Max File Size:
    • Variable based on bitrate
  • Bit Rate:
    • 3.25 – 5 Mbps
  • Audio:
    • At least 96 Kbps
    • Sampling Frequency should be 48000Hz or 44100Hz
  • Aspect Ratio:
    • 16:9 or 4:3
Medium
  • Dimensions/Resolution:
    • MP4 ONLY: 960×540 or 640×480
  • Max File Size:
    • Variable based on bitrate
  • Bit Rate:
    • 1 – 1.5 Mbps
  • Audio:
    • At least 96 Kbps
    • Sampling Frequency should be 48000Hz or 44100Hz
  • Aspect Ratio:
    • 16:9 or 4:3
Low
  • Dimensions/Resolution:
    • MP4 ONLY: 640×360 or 416×234
  • Max File Size:
    • Variable based on bitrate
  • Bit Rate:
    • 340-460 Kbps
  • Audio:
    • At least 96 Kbps
    • Sampling Frequency should be 48000Hz or 44100Hz
  • Aspect Ratio:
    • 16:9 or 4:3

Duration:

  • :06s allowed for Pre-Roll only
  • :15s and :30s allowed (Movies only accepts :15s)
  • NOTE: VAST tag cannot rotate various durations within. A separate VAST tag per duration required.
Frame Rate:
  • Native Frame Rate as 29.97fps, 23.98fps, or 25fps
  • In order to ingest and fulfill creatives in the most efficient and reliable manner, deliver content in native frame rate and scan mode. NBC does not accept any pre-processing (i.e apply Telecine, Inverse Telecine, scan mode conversion) of creatives. Applying any kind of pre-processing will hinder or degrade the creative renditions and thus, can impact monetization and viewer experience
Video Codec:
  • Interlaced video is not accepted
  • Apple ProRes 422 HQ or H.264 is accepted for mezzanine renditions
  • H.264 is required for all others (High, Medium, Low)
Audio:
  • Volume should not exceed the volume of the content and must be under –2dB.
  • Must follow CALM compliance loudness average of –24LKFS +/-2.
  • Secure HTTPS ONLY
Additional Notes:
  • VAST tags can also include MOV files, but MUST include a MP4 for each rendition: High, Medium and Low. If MP4 is not included for each then the asset will not pass and it must be revised or it cannot run.
  • For TV shows and Movies, DDT (day, date and time) is not allowed
  • Flighting, Capping and Targeting to be applied by NBCU only to ensure contractual obligations and correct delivery.
  • Time targeting, Frequency caps, Demo targeting, Geo targeting, etc.
  • In order to secure the best livestreaming experience possible NBC Sports will now require Ad-IDs to be associated with every video creative to run in live events. For any VAST tag running in Live, please provide a backup asset with Ad-ID and tracking 1x1s as a contingency to ensure delivery across all endpoints
Partner Requirements: YouTube
Partner Requirements: Hulu
  • The Mezz file required for NBCU can also be used for Hulu, but creative targeted directly to Hulu must follow Hulu’s technical specs and acceptance policy.
  • Note: NBCU cannot utilize Hulu’s programmatic offering: “Third Party Tags – Programmatic” section is not relevant.

 

 

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