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

Duration:

  • :06 allowed for Pre-Roll only, 15, :30, :60 for Mid-Roll (limited inventory for :60)
  • 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:
    • Quicktime (.MOV) strongly preferred
    • MPEG-2 (.mpg)
    • **NBCU also accepts MPEG-4 (.MP4), but .MOV & .mpg are preferred to ensure optimal transcode quality.
  • Video Ad-ID preferred (aka. ISCI Code) that can be encoded from the NBC Video Library
  • 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:

  • XDCAM50 or ProRes422 HQ

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 and 25 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

Other Requirements:

  • Submission Lead Time: 5 Business Days
  • Max allowance of 6 site served creatives per placement at a time with a max of 3 swaps per quarter
  • 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.
  • Stitched creatives are not permitted.
  • Please note – tags cannot rotate different durations on the back end, we only allow one duration per tag. Additionally, we cannot breakout tags per durations, for example, all 30s creatives desired must rotate on backend of one tag instead of being split out into several tags.
  • VAST/VPAID URL cannot exceed over 1024 characters.
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)
  • Stitched creatives are not permitted.
  • Please note – tags cannot rotate different durations on the back end, we only allow one duration per tag. Additionally, we cannot breakout tags per durations, for example, all 30s creatives desired must rotate on backend of one tag instead of being split out into several tags.
  • VAST/VPAID URL cannot exceed over 1024 characters.

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
  • Stitched creatives are not permitted.
  • Please note – tags cannot rotate different durations on the back end, we only allow one duration per tag. Additionally, we cannot breakout tags per durations, for example, all 30s creatives desired must rotate on backend of one tag instead of being split out into several tags.
  • VAST/VPAID URL cannot exceed over 1024 characters.

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