Short-Form is a Pre-Roll video ad unit that plays prior to and in-between shorter content clips such as highlights, news, movie trailers, etc.

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

Available On:

 

Web       Mobile Web       Mobile App   Connected Devices

Short-Form Ad Formats

 

Pre-Roll

  • Length: :06, :15 everywhere; :30 allowed for Desktop, except on Movies sites/apps
  • Assets Allowed:
    • Site Served: Video Ad_ID, ISCI, .MOV, or MP4.
    • Third Party: VPAID 2.0, VAST 2.0, VPAID/VAST Hybrid

 

*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
Chromecast
Roku
Samsung
Xbox

Available Partners:

 

Approved Creative, Research & Verification Vendors:

 

Video Ads – Required Specs

 

NBCU-Served Video Submission/Encoding:

 

Dimensions:

  • 1920×1080 Minimum

Duration:

  • :06 allowed for Pre-Roll only, :15 seconds required, :30 seconds accepted
  • Video duration must be the same length as the audio track or else video cannot be transcoded.

Max File Size:

  • 10 GB

File Format:

  • Video Ad-ID preferred (aka. ISCI Code) that can be encoded from the NBC Video Library
  • Quicktime (.MOV) accepted
  • MPEG-4 (.MP4) accepted
  • The file should include the ad only and not require any editing or clipping before transcoding (no bars/tones, slates, etc.).

Minimum Bit Rate:

  • Greater than 15Mbps

Frame Rate:

  • 23.98 or 29.97 based on native frame rate
  • 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

Audio Codec:

  • 2 channels only
  • PCM preferred
  • AAC codec accepted
  • 192 kbps minimum
  • Stereo 16 or 24 bit
  • 48 KHz sample rate 115KB – sample size
  • Audio is required

Other Requirements:

  • Submission Lead Time: 5 Business Days
  • For TV shows and TV Movies, DDT (day, date and time) is not allowed
  • All vendors must be approved – see Vendor section
  • Secure 3rd Party Impression Tracking pixel tag (no script tag) accepted
  • Secure Research Tracking Pixel tag accepted (not STB)
  • Secure Click-Redirect | Click-Command to track clicks accepted
  • Secure 3rd Party Verification Tracking accepted (except STB. Ad impression blocking is NOT allowed.)
  • Comcast X1 Set-Top Box requires tracking pixels to support DualStack IPV4/IPV6 connectivity
  • Secure IAB Quartile Tracking accepted

 

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 (Required for Hulu and Streaming Stitching Environments)
  • 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:

  • 06 allowed for Pre-Roll only
  • :15 and :30 allowed (Movies only accepts :15)
  • NOTE: VAST tag cannot rotate various durations within. A separate VAST tag per duration required.
Frame Rate:
  • 23.98, 25 or 29.97 based on native frame rate
  • 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
Progressive Scan Type
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.
Partner Requirements: YouTube
  • Advertising on YouTube via NBCU Ad Sales must follow all of NBCU’s spec requirements listed on this page.
  • However, third party tag vendors must follow YouTube’s list of approved vendors.
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.

 

VAST 3.0 Skippable

 

Available on YouTube’s NBC channels ONLY

 

Dimensions:
  • 16:9 – 854×480; 1280×720; 1920×1080
  • 4:3 – 480×360; 720×540; 960×720
Duration:
  • Up to :60 seconds (skippable ads)
  • 15 seconds (non-skippable ads)
  • 6 seconds (bumper ads)
File Formats:
  • H.264 (MP4) video file type must be included for each video creative (other formats such as WebM can be included but may not be used
Max File Size:
  • 10 MB
Bit Rate:
  • Must contain at least one media file under 1 Mbps
Frame Rate:
  • Up to 30fps
Aspect Ratio:
  • 16:9 or 4:3
Video Codec:
  • H.264 – Interlaced video is NOT accepted
Audio Codec:
  • MP3 or AAC preferred
Other Requirements
  • Approved third-party vendors accepted for site-served/ 1×1 tracking or 3rd Party VAST. No VPAID.
  • Contact your Account Representative for a complete list of approved vendors.
  • All tags must be secure.
  • Must comply with YouTube’s XML summary for VAST ad server response
  • Only VAST 3.0 tags are allowed for skippable video ads. VAST 2.0 will not be accepted.
  • Must be served via a linear VAST tag (pre-fetch tag) by a YouTube-approved vendor.
  • Must NOT have geo, browser or any other targeting on the third party end.
  • Please ensure your ad server returns a valid crossdomain.xml file. If you choose to explicitly list domains, please ensure all ad serving domains are included.
  • VAST-served video ads are not guaranteed to run on all mobile web browsers, game consoles or connected TV devices (most modern updated environments are supported)

VPAID 2.0

 

  • HTML5 VPAID 2.0 AND FLASH VPAID 2.0 (must receive both) OR Dynamic VPAID 2.0 (containing both Flash AND HTML5). Most NBCU players are HTML5 compliant, but there are some exceptions
  • Site Served or VAST back-up file Mandatory with all VPAID formats (file specs above)
  • VPAID is not accepted for OTT or Set Top Box devices

 

Dimensions:
  • 1920×1080 Minimum
Duration:
  • :06 allowed for Pre-Roll only, :15 and :30 allowed (Movies only accepts :15)
  • Multiple durations are not allowed within the same tag. They must be provided separately per duration
Max File Size:
  • 2MB
Bit Rate:
  • 420 kbps
Frame Rate:
  • 23.98, or 29.97
  • 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.
Progressive Scan Type
Aspect Ratio:
  • 16:9
Video Codec:
  • H.264 – Interlaced video is NOT accepted
Audio Bit Rate:
  • 96 kbps
  • 48 kHZ sample rate
  • Audio volume should not exceed the volume of the content and must be under –2dB
  • Must follow CALM compliance loudness average of –24LKFS +/-2.
Other Requirements:
  • Submission Lead Time: 5 Business Days
  • VAST or Site Served back-up file Mandatory with all VPAID formats
  • When receiving VPAID assets, NBCU requests additional VAST or site served back up assets while we continue our Portfolio migration. Please note flash may not always be utilized
  • Videos should not directly include click messaging or call-to-action buttons, as most devices are not clickable
  • For TV shows and Movies, DDT (day, date and time) is not allowed

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