DIGITAL TELEVISION (DTV) REQUIREMENTS
For questions regarding this section, contact DTV Strategic Services Group at (703) 739-3997
High Definition:
Defined per industry standards as the picture formats 1920x1080(i or p) and 1280x720p with an aspect ratio of 16x9 at any frame rate.
High Definition Acquisition:
Video acquired in the above image formats at any frame rate. 35mm film is accepted as a HD acquisition format if converted to video on a high resolution-minimum 2k-telecine.
HD programs may contain non-HD content. Examples of non-HD footage are archival footage, upconverted SD footage and HDV footage. Consumer grade models are not acceptable for HDV acquisition. The total amount of non-HD content from all sources in a HD program shall not exceed 30%.
High Definition Programs:
Those programs with content that meet the criteria as set forth for herein. Programs with more than 30% non-HD content shall be considered SD Widescreen programs.
High Definition Program Submission Format:
High Definition programs should be submitted on Sony HDCAM 1080i/29.97. Regardless of the acquisition format or frame rate all program submissions must be converted to the submission format.
Programs produced as HD programs will be subject to all requirements as set forth herein and inPBS' "Technical Operating Specifications (TOS) manual". Again, all program submissions must be converted to the submission format, regardless of acquisition format.
Widescreen:
16x9 formats with less than 1280x720 resolution but in no case less than 480 lines of vertical resolution (active video). Although the letterbox format yields a 16x9 aspect ratio, the vertical resolution is only 360 lines and is not accepted as a widescreen format for digital TV. These programs will carry the designation of digital widescreen.
Widescreen Acquisition:
Video acquired in the above image formats at any frame rate. 16mm film is accepted as a WS acquisition format if converted to video on a telecine, which yields no less than 480 lines.
Widescreen Submission Format:
Widescreen programs should be submitted on Anamorphic DigiBeta.
Programs produced as digital widescreen programs will be subject to all requirements as set forth here and in PBS' "Technical Operating Specifications (TOS) manual".
PBS will upconvert all widescreen programs to 1920x1080i for distribution purposes. Producers may choose to upconvert widescreen programs and submit them on the HD videotape submission format. But, in either case the program shall carry the "widescreen" designation.
Closed Captions:
All DTV programs require 708B captions. The 608 caption flag must be included in the 708B caption data so that 608 captions can be extracted from the 708 captions.
NTSC Version:
HD and Widescreen programs require a master and back-up. A NTSC master and backup submission is required. The NTSC version may be either letterbox or pan and scan.
4x3 Content Conversion:
When submitting a DTV program that contains 4 x 3 footage, producers are required to take additional steps (and/or edits) to insure that the aspect ratio is maintained on both the DTV and NTSC versions. In other words, when 4 x 3 images are edited into an HD or Digital Widescreen program the image remains in the 4 x 3 aspect ratio (vertical black bands on either side of the image), rather than stretched to fill the 16 x 9 frame. Progressive format conversion may be used but is subject to review and approval by PBS. The 4 x 3 images will need to be edited separately onto the NTSC version, so the images are full-screen. Direct conversion to NTSC will result in black bands on all 4 sides of 4 x 3 content.
All programs available in HD or WS must have a :10 ID at the top of all versions of the program.
All HD and digital widescreen programs will require special PBS supplied digital packaging elements for inclusion on both the HD/widescreen AND NTSC (standard) versions of the program.
Those packaging elements are digital identifiers (:10 each) that identify the program as HD or Digital Widescreen and 5.1 Surround Sound, and will be the first element on the program(s). They are available on the packaging toolkits.
Please contact Program Management regarding the treatment of these elements. Note - the digital open will deduct :10 seconds from your total program running time on both versions.
Reference PBS's "Technical Operating Specifications" (TOS) manual for specifications, track assignments, and additional details about audio requirements and options.
Stereo Programs:
Channel 1: Left or Left Total
Channel 2: Right or Right Total
Channel 3: Mono Mix, Left DVS
Channel 4: SAP, Right DVS, or Mono (track should not be left silent)
Surround Sound Programs:
Channel 1: Left or Left Total
Channel 2: Right or Right Total
Channel 3: Dolby E
Channel 4: Dolby E
When using Dolby encoding, exact channel and track assignments must be adhered to as specified in the PBS TOS manual.
High definition and WS programs will also require a completed Videotape Technical Evaluation form to be submitted along with the HD or WS program master.
HD and/or WS promos are required for all programs that submit these versions. Please see "PROMOTIONS" for more information.
Producers wishing to use ancillary data of any type and for any purpose shall require prior approval of the data and the application from PBS. Data that is not approved shall not be distributed with the program.
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