Content Considerations - Film Trailers

• No date tagging should be included. Tags like "This Christmas", "May 2015" and "Coming Soon" will all have to be removed for most platforms.
• There should be no ratings or warning cards present (MPAA, FBI, Interpol etc).
• Reference to any particular product (available on DVD, Look for it on iTunes etc) will need to be removed.
• Family Friendly trailers are generally preferred.
• Should be in the same aspect ratio, resolution, bit rate and/or codec and frame rate as the feature.
• Trailers should match all technical and visual properties of the feature file (aspect ratio, frame rate, resolution, etc.).
• Should be between 30 seconds and 4 minutes in runtime.

Content Considerations - TV Episodes

• Commercial blacks should be closed (no more than 3 seconds long each).
• Any segments of content that appear to be in-program commercials may need to be removed.This includes, but is not limited to, bumpers and recaps.

Audio Only Specifications

Audio masters should be uncompressed and DRM free.

Tape Specifications

Juice is able to accept delivery of physical masters in the following formats:

• HDCAM-SR 4:2:2 (4:4:4 Not Accepted)
• HDCAM
• Digital Betacam

When delivering on tape please observe the following requirements:

• All video content must be provided at the native frame rate.
• Content that has been up-converted to HD may be unusable for some platforms (iTunes, Netflix etc.) and is not recommended.
• All tape sources must have unbroken timecode throughout the program.
• All tapes must have standard bars and tone at the head.
• A minimum of 30 seconds of black and silence is required at the tail.
• Acceptable frame rates include 23.98, 24, 25, 29.97 and 59.94. If your frame rate is not on this list contact your Juice rep.
• If delivering 5.1 on tape please be sure to also include 2.0. If you only have 5.1 please contact your Juice rep.
• All tape specs must be clearly listed on the tape label. Incorrect spec listings can cause delays and additional charges. Key specs to include on labels include:
  • Frame rate
  • Resolution
  • Name of program
  • Runtime
  • Aspect Ratio
  • Audio channel assignments
• Juice can accept Dolby-E but an additional charge will apply.

If your tape contains closed captioning please be sure that they are included as CAE-708 for HD masters and CAE-608 (or line 21) for SD masters. Captions can also be included as a separate file please see the Closed Captions tab for more details on captions.

Closed Captions Specifications

Closed Captions must include off-screen sound effects, dialogue, music etc. when it is relevant to the narrative.

• For example, if in a scene a car crash is heard and the character on-screen is startled then a caption should something like "car crashing" on-screen. Note that there are many other conventions that should be followed when creating caption files, the scope of which is beyond this document. Please make sure that you are using a reputable captioning facility when having captions created. If you would like to be referred to a caption house please talk to your Juice rep.

Some platforms and territories require that content be closed captioned and will reject any content that is not captioned.

• Contact your Juice rep if your content does not have captions and you wish to sell it in a region that requires them.

Closed captions should always be delivered as a properly formatted Scenarist caption file (.scc).

Please be sure that your file meets the requirements listed below, files that do not meet these requirements will be rejected:

• Captions must be under 400 WPM
• Captions must have a minimum duration of 13 frames and a maximum of 11 seconds.
• Captions cannot contain illegal characters.
• Captions must never have more than 32 characters per line.
• No more than 4 lines are allowed in a single caption.
• Placement information is required. Captions must respect existing on-screen text by moving to either the top or the bottom of the screen as required. Overlapping captions sill be rejected.
• Captions must line up to the video master provided and not include any redundant content.
• Caption files should be provided as "pop-on" captions, not "roll-on".
• Captions must translate off-screen dialogue, sound effects and music elements that are relevant to the narrative.
• More than one language in one caption file is not accepted, including music lyrics. Only proper names, popular slang, and colloquialisms in a different language are considered acceptable.
• Reel assembly is subject to additional charges.

Please also note:

• Some digital platforms such as Netflix no longer accept 'roll up' captions.
• Juice does not proof CC files, and is not responsible for content, spelling, grammar, or any other issue that may arise in the supplied file.
• When possible Juice will endeavour to correct problematic files, but additional charges will apply.

Subtitles Specifications

Juice accepts subtitle files in a variety of formats depending on the type of platform they are to be used for.

In addition to providing your subtitles in one of the formats listed above please be sure that your file meets the requirements listed below, files that do not meet these requirements will be rejected:

• Subtitles must be under 400 WPM.
• Subtitles must have a minimum duration of 13 frames and a maximum of 11 seconds.
• Subtitles should not contain illegal characters.
• No more than 2 lines are allowed in a single subtitle.
• Placement information is required. Subtitles must respect existing on-screen text by moving to either the top or the bottom of the screen as required. Overlapping subtitles will be rejected.
• Subtitles must line up to the video master provided.

When possible Juice will endeavour to correct problematic files, but additional charges will apply.

Asset Bundles

This is the preferred format for delivery of content to Juice for all platforms.

If you have Compressor version 4.2 or later you can output an iTunes package (.itmsp) containing your feature video, trailer (one per region), additional audio streams, subtitles and closed captions in one bundle. It is especially useful for submitting packages that contain timed text such as subtitles and captions as it allows you to preview the sync and positioning of your timed text directly in Compressor.

Note that you do not need to be working in Final Cut Pro to use this feature, you simply need to have a copy of Compressor 4.2 or later which is available in the Mac App Store. For more information on creating .itmsp packages click here.

Feature Format

For delivery to Netflix, you will be required to send us your feature film. For details on Codecs, audio configurations, frames, and resolution, please refer to the Audio/Video tab under the Ingest Requirements section.

Along with the technical specifications outline in the Ingest Requirements section, please also note the following requirement for Netflix packages:

• Netflix does not allow content with burned in subtitles. If a subtitled version is the only version available, pre-approval from your Netflix account rep will be required.
• For clients with direct contracts, pre-approvals are to be acquired through the client and Netflix. Juice will communicate directly with Netflix for aggregation projects.
• Lower thirds (supers) can be burned into the feature file but they must be translated when providing subtitle files for additional languages.
• Netflix will only accept content in the original aspect ratio and frame rate (telecine is not accepted).
• Files must not contain bars and tone, slates, advertisements, commercial black segments greater than 2 seconds or commercial bumpers. Additional charges may apply for the removal of additional content at Juice.
• Secondary audio streams should be provided as 5.1 and 2.0 embedded in the video file. Sending secondary audio streams separately will result in extra charges and additional turnaround time.

Audio Streams

• Secondary audio streams should be provided as 5.1 and 2.0 embedded in the video file. Sending secondary audio streams separately will result in extra charges and additional turnaround time.

Closed Captions

Due to the quality expectations set out by Netflix, all text files must exceed broadcast standards. As such, Juice requires that all supporting text files (full subtitles, closed captions, and forced narratives) are either originated by or QC'd in full by a Netflix Preferred Vendor (NPV) subtitling house. Please contact your Juice representative for the full list of NPV subtitling houses if you are planning an international release.

Closed Captioning is mandatory for English audio headed to the US and is strongly recommended for all other territories. Text file requirements are laid out in your contract with Netflix. If you have a direct contract please contact your Netflix account rep for clarification, otherwise please contact your Juice rep.

Closed Captioning Style and Formatting

• All CC must be created in ‘Pop On’ style. ‘Roll Up’ and ‘Scrolling Text’ are not acceptable formats. These two formats are not easily converted to ‘Pop On’ and will need to be retimed from scratch. For detailed file specs please see the Closed Captions tab in the Ingest Requirements section.
• Any caption house credits must be removed as Netflix will not advertise for any captioning or post houses on their service.
• CC must be originated or QC’d in full by a NPV subtitling house.

Subtitles

Subtitle Style and Formatting

• Subtitle files should be provided as either EBU STL or ITT, and must be top and bottom justified to accommodate any burn-in supers. For detailed file specs, kindly see the Subtitles tab in the Ingest Requirements section.
• Netflix will reject any subtitle file that is in ALL CAPS LOCK.
• Subtitles must be originated or QC’d in full by a NPV Subtitling house

Forced Narratives

Forced Narratives must be originated or QC’d in full by a preferred NPV Subtitling house.

Common Netflix Rejections

The rejections listed below are common issues. Netflix reserves the right to reject content at their discretion.

Please Note: This is not meant to be an exhaustive list.

Artwork Specifications

The key art should be a still image representative of the movie that can be shown in the background.

Visibility will be lost from 20% to 1/3 of the bottom - for the poster swim lane.

Depending on the screen you’re viewing the app on, the display changes – we’ve been told the synopsis text on the right could overlay into as much as 50% of the total background key art (put another way, if you take a regular key art and draw a line vertically down the middle, the text on the right could extend as far as that middle line).