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This page is designed to support independent and in-house programme makers delivering television programmes for transmission by ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Northern Ireland.

For specific guidelines when making a programme for transmission by Network please go to the Network Commissioning site at bbc.co.uk/commissioning.

And for details of the Code and Business framework that governs the commissioning of TV content from independent suppliers along with information about standard programme production agreements, please visit bbc.co.uk/delivery/business-contractual.

New Commissions

Once contracted to make a programme for ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Northern Ireland, your ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Northern Ireland Delivery Co-ordinator will email you a delivery pack outlining details of your commission which will contain the following important details:

1. Contracted Delivery Dates
2. Supporting Material
3. Topicality Status
4. UID (Unique Identifier)
5. Content Durations
6. Branding Guidelines

1) Contracted Delivery Dates

On commission of your content, you will receive information about the date by which all your content and some essential paperwork must be delivered.

2) Supporting Material

In a world where we're bombarded with content every day, it's never been more important to capture striking images and supporting assets during the production of your programme as it will significantly improve promotional opportunities of your programme.

The publicity, TV promotions, iPlayer, online and social media teams at ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Northern Ireland work closely together to make the best use of the deliverable assets required to support programme publicity and promotion in both traditional and digital spaces.

It is in a production’s interest to invest a proportion of its budget and time towards securing assets that will enable effective promotion in a multi-platform world.

3) Topicality Status

This status will determine how and precisely when your programme must be delivered. Refer to the Topicality Status table below for detail about each one.

4) UID (Unique Identifier)

Every ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ programme episode version has its own UID which follows the episode throughout its life and is used for all filing, documentation, music reporting, archive and retrieval.

The UID must go on the clock, file metadata, and on all post production paperwork.

The UID is made up of two parts:

• The core number: identifies the programme at the episode level, e.g. NIG A479U
• The version number (suffix): identifies the version of the episode: e.g. /01, /02 (start at /01 and run to /49)

Together they make the UID, e.g. NIG A479U/01

Productions must not increment version numbers. If a new version of the programme needs to be delivered, contact the UID issuer for a new version number:

• For independent productions: Your Delivery Co-ordinator.
• For ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖNI In-house Production, including Sport NI, News and TV Current Affairs and ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Studios: ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖNI Scheduling (TVSchedulingNI@bbc.co.uk).

The ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Northern Ireland Archive is required to keep all transmitted programmes for a minimum of five years for research, re-use value and for critical business reasons such as legal traceability and ensuring the correct version of a programme is transmitted.

For UIDs in a series, the order in which they are issued is assumed to be the transmission order, unless agreed with Scheduling via your CRBA Manager/Delivery Co-ordinator.

If a file-delivered programme requires re-editing after it has been accepted by the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ, it will always be a new version and require a new version number.

5) Content Durations

The commissioning documentation will specify a slot duration for content. However, the programme must conform to the actual duration requirements shown below.

6) Branding Guidelines

The Creative Marketing team can offer guidance on the correct use of logos and branding on programmes.

Please contact Paul Brolly or Paul Reid with all branding queries.

Standard programme end card materials can be accessed from the link below. Please speak to the relevant Commissioning Executive for guidance on end card requirements.

What you need to deliver

1. A completed programme (or series)
2. Paperwork
3. Supporting material

For more information, refer to the complete guide to delivering a programme to the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ including all forms, documents, specifications and publicity assets.

1) Delivering completed programme (or series)

File Delivery of Linear (TV) & iPlayer Content

All programmes delivered to ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Northern Ireland must be fully editorially and technically checked and ready for transmission prior to delivery.

If this is your first time delivering, your Post Production facility will be able to guide you through this process.

If your facility is delivering for the first time to ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Northern Ireland, the facility will need to be on-boarded (approved for technical delivery). In this instance please provide details to your Delivery Co-ordinator.

For details of the technical specifications, refer to the Production and Delivery site.

The ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ requires all network television programmes to be delivered as AS-11 DPP files. Please see the

Delivery website: which do I use?

File deliveries of programmes commissioned by ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Northern Ireland:

• For access, please contact: mediacentralni@bbc.co.uk

iPlayer-only deliveries:

• For access, please contact: contentdeliveryoperations@bbc.co.uk

Once programmes have been validated successfully, an email notification will be sent to the contact given in the file metadata.

You must retain a copy of the programme for the duration of the Licence Period in the event that you are required to redeliver the programme to the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ.

1.1)   Late Edits and Live TV Delivery

Depending on the Topicality Status given to you at commission, you may be required to deliver close to transmission with a late edit or a live programme. A programme is considered ‘close to transmission’ after the TX – 12 hours file delivery deadline. ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Northern Ireland can accept programmes delivered by the following options:

I) Lines Recording

The programme is played down the line and recorded by TV Presentation and then played out from server for transmission. The programme must be complete and checked on the playout server 2x duration + 30 minutes.

II) Lines to Air

The programme will not be available to deliver via lines recording by the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Northern Ireland deadline and must be played out directly to air from a facility via ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Northern Ireland Playout. The cost of lines, including communication circuits, and all other facilities deemed necessary by television for safe transmission and delivery of these programmes must be included in programme budgets. It is the responsibility of the production to book all the appropriate required circuits. For line bookings please contact the Network Booking Agency. Remember lines must be available 30 minutes earlier so they can be checked. All programmes must supply a standby programme if requested. Lines recording and lines to air must meet the .

For further information on delivery methods please contact TV Presentation or Media Central NI.

A retrospective file delivery is required within 2 weeks of TX or to the file delivery deadline if your programme has a scheduled repeat. Live events should deliver a PasB recording as an AS-11 DPP Complaint Package with a PSE certificate. This is submitted by the usual route for file delivered programmes.

2) Paperwork Deliverables

Via PTK

2.1) Compliance Form

2.2) I&RP Ofcom Compliance Form

Via Silvermouse

2.3) Billings

2.4) Music Cue Sheet

2.5) Programme as Completed (PasC)

2.6) Diamond Diversity

Via email

2.7) Albert Carbon Footprint

2.8) Transcript

2.9) Schedule of Residuals

2.10) Key Agreements

2.11) Supporting Material Paperwork

• Shortform Compliance Form

• Publicity Stills Caption List

Via online

2.12) End of Production Report

2.1) Compliance Form

Required on your programme delivery date

This form is to ensure that the Programme complies with ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ editorial guidelines and includes information of any offensive language, violence, disturbing content etc.

All compliance forms must be submitted on and signed off by the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Editorial Representative/Commissioner, then flagged to your Delivery Co-ordinator.

If you are a new production company you will need to apply . You will need your Programme Title and UID. For further questions about PTK Compliance contact PTK compliance support - compliance.support@bbc.co.uk or telephone 030 3081 5815.

2.2) I&RP Ofcom Compliance Form*

Required within four weeks of transmission/publication

* If appropriate - not required for non-linear only commissions

The I&RP Ofcom Compliance Form is also not included in Silvermouse and is submitted on . If you are a new user you will need to apply for an account by and you will need to provide a UID and contact details.

If you are unsure if your production is classed as regional, see clause 6 of your Commissioning Specification.

Silvermouse

³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Northern Ireland uses  for its Production Reporting Paperwork including (2.3) Billings, (2.4) Music Cue Sheet, (2.5) PasCforms and (2.6) Diamond Diversity Forms should be submitted via this system.

Please note that the system title which you see in Silvermouse does not always reflect the actual programme title, so please update the ‘Billed Series Title’ field within the Header with the confirmed programme title.

New users to Silvermouse . Existing users (including for other broadcasters) can use the same login details and do not need to request a new login.

.

Although many of the fields on the forms are not mandatory, please ensure you complete all the relevant fields to ensure your reporting is robust, detailed and accurate otherwise the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ may reject the form. Also please ensure that you include final durations and file names taken from the File Validation paperwork where applicable.

2.3) Billings

Required as soon as possible or by your delivery date

Includes a synopsis of your programme, for circulation to listings magazines, EPGs and websites. Please note that the wording needs to be pre-approved by your ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Editorial Representative.

The synopsis limits are: Short - 90 characters maximum, medium 180 characters maximum and Long 1,800 characters maximum. Characters includes spaces and punctuation.

Find further information about the Billing Form. 

2.4) Music Cue Sheet

Required within 2 weeks of transmission/publication

This provides the details of all music used as the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ is legally required to report to the music copyright collecting societies. All music and commercial recordings must be reported, no matter how short the duration. Find out further information on reporting music and commercial recordings.

2.5) PasC

Required within 2 weeks of transmission/publication

The PasC is comprised of Contributors, Copyrights and Front Page forms. This provides information about the content and contributors in the programme, including copyright items and any restrictions on re-use. Find out more about the PasC.

2.6) Diamond Diversity Forms*

Required within 2 weeks of transmission/publication

* If appropriate, not required for non-linear

Diamond Diversity forms include Contributors, Diversity Actual and Diversity Perceived - this data is collated as part of the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ’s commitment to diversity in its output. Read further information on Diversity and the Diamond system and how we commission and our diversity, representation and inclusion strategy.

Please ensure all email addresses for contributors/crew listed on the Diversity Actual form have been included - and where necessary links reactivated. Forms with a significant number of email addresses missing will be rejected.

2.7) Albert Carbon Action Plan & Albert Carbon Footprint

From January 2022 we require all productions to be albert certified, barring the following exemptions:

• Where the total programme rights license fee (PRLF) is less than £50,000
• Where the PRLF is over £50,000 but the total series duration is under 15 minutes
• Acquisitions

For co-productions where the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ is a minority funder, certification is encouraged but not mandatory.

Proof of the Action Plan and Footprint are required within 2 weeks of delivery of episode/final episode and ideally at the point of programme delivery. Please be aware that you should begin your albert Carbon Action Plan at PRE-PRODUCTION stage.

The Albert Final Carbon Footprint Approved Email should be forwarded to your Delivery Co-ordinator; cc’ing albert@bbc.co.uk.

Albert Certification: Albert certification is now mandatory and allows a production to use the ‘sustainable production’ logo on its end credits, meaning sustainable best practices are embedded within production.

Albert Logo: Programmes produced in accordance with the BAFTA Albert programme and entitled to display the Albert logo MUST display the logo as part of the end-card design. The Albert logo must appear at the extreme bottom left of the 16:9 caption safe area and must not be more than 150% of the height of the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ blocks. Files that are delivered with the logo in the wrong place will be flagged to production and they may be asked to amend and redeliver.

More information on sustainable productions.

2.8) Transcript

If available, in advance of transmission

³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Northern Ireland requests a copy of the final content script. If available please email your Delivery Co-ordinator for Independent Production Companies and TVSchedulingNI@bbc.co.uk for ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖNI In-house Production, including Sport NI, News and TV Current Affairs and ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Studios.

2.9) Schedule of Residuals

Required within 2 weeks of transmission/publication

The Schedule of residuals lists all the writers, contributors, copyright material and music to be referenced for any repeat fees. If there are no residual costs please state this on the form.

If you are submitting for a series, please put all details into one form and send to your Delivery Co-ordinator.

More information on the Schedule of Residuals.

For any queries regarding completing the form, please contact TV&MediaOperationsIndieTeam@bbc.co.uk.

Once completed, please save the form using the series/programme name and ‘Password Protect’ as advised by your Delivery Co-ordinator.

ACQUISITIONS: although Residuals do not apply, we require a ‘Nil Return’ Schedule of Residuals for our records; so please state clearly on the form ‘Acquisition – not applicable’.

2.10) Key Agreements

As defined as in the General Terms of the PPA

If any Key Agreements are listed in section 4 of your Commissioning Specification, their delivery is required. Please send to your CRBA Manager and Delivery Co-ordinator.

2.11) Supporting Material Paperwork

• Shortform Compliance Form

If you are delivering any additional footage to accompany your commission then a shortform compliance form must also be delivered. .

• Publicity Stills Caption List

Programme stills and publicity stills caption lists are required for publicity purposes – find .

2.12) End of Production Report

Required within four weeks of transmission/publication

The End of Production Report Includes Diversity Commitment and Respect At Work Guidance Implementation. This online questionnaire helps us track our diversity commitments and whether our respect at work guidance has been implemented. Read further information on the End of Production Report.

3) Supporting Material Delivery

3.1) Stills

3.2) Clips

3.3) Clean Audio Stems (only if requested)

3.4) Preview Copy

3.5) Transparent Logo

3.6) Non-subtitled master of the finished programme – if the programme contains significant portions of speech in languages other than English (only if requested).

NB: this does not include captions or other on-screen graphics.

Delivery of all supporting material is via the Press Office, Creative Marketing and Commissioning Executive. For more information on what our Press team require refer to Press Office. For more information on what our Creative Marketing team require please contact Paul Brolly.

3.1) Stills

Guidance for the delivery of production stills is available here.

Press Stills Photography

Please contact the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Northern Ireland Press Office (pressofficebbcni@bbc.co.uk  or 028 9033 8978) before you begin filming and we can provide you advice regarding photography, our requirements (depending on programme’s content etc) and a checklist.

Photography for publicity use should be cleared in advance – e.g. with contributors, archive photography used in filming, issues of copyright and adhere to ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Compliance guidelines. Please refer to ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Editorial Guidelines.

There is a useful .

Don't wait until you deliver your programme. The earlier we get the photography, the better – i.e. photography for commissioning announcements/filming announcements etc. And obviously if it's a central element of the film that can't be reproduced, or it's being filmed on location, it's good practice to make sure it's captured.

For best practice and examples, refer to the latest . 

3.2) Clips

An MP4 extract clip must be provided for every programme and episode. Please contact the press office in advance and we can guide as to which clips would be appropriate for publicity purposes. On occasion we may need more than one clip.

3.3) Clean Audio Stems

In addition to the programme delivered as a DPP Compliant file to ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Northern Ireland, for promotional purpose we require Clean Audio files.

These are the clean, unmixed (no background or incidental music (unless recorded as source) audio stems for:

• Dialogue
• Narration
• Effects
• (If the programme features bespoke or editorially important music tracks please include a Music Track Stem)

Delivered via download link as .Wav files (sample rate 48kHz/depth 24bit/sample) to Paul Brolly in Creative Marketing (paul.brolly@bbc.co.uk)

AND

Script of programme(s) to assist with the creation of subtitles and captions for social content

In the event of a sensitive/highly topical programming that will be edited and delivered close to broadcast (e.g. Current Affairs) please provide:

A copy of the programme via Dropbox in the following formats:

• AVC Intra 100 as an OP1a MXF
• XDcam HD50 as an OP1a MXF
• DNxHD185x as a Quicktime MOV
• Pro Res 422 HD as a Quicktime MOV

3.4) Preview Copy

One copy of the full programme for each episode, required prior to your programme delivery date, must be uploaded directly to the Previews Mediashuttle by MP4 file. Please contact the Previews team for an account to be setup.

Technical specification

• File type: MP4 only
• Compression/Codec: H.264
• Data rate: Minimum 800kbps - Maximum 1.5 Mbps
• Sound: MPEG-4 AAC, Stereo, Auto, maximum 160kbps (or other compatible MPEG-4 audio)
• Frame size: always 16/9 – 640 x 360
• Enable ‘Fast streaming’/’fast start’/’quick streaming’

When ready to upload:

• Uploaded files named as follows: ProgrammeName_ep# (eg EastEnders_ep1) NOT FD38429389/01
• Titles should also include the series number ie S4 (series four)
• Titles should not be too long and can be abbreviated where necessary 

3.5) Transparent Logo

To best represent your content online across all available platforms, we require a transparent logo (as .png) to be uploaded alongside your other supporting material.

3.6) Non-subtitled master of the finished programme – if the programme contains significant portions of speech in languages other than English

Only if requested.

To allow for trails and clips to be cut and re-subtitled please supply a full master programme without subtitles.

This can be delivered via Dropbox in the following formats:

• AVC Intra 100 as an OP1a MXF
• XDcam HD50 as an OP1a MXF

Contacts

Scheduling

Briege McClean, Scheduling Manager

TVSchedulingNI@bbc.co.uk

Tel: 028 9033 8405

Presentation

Mark Simpson, Head of Presentation

mark.simpson.02@bbc.co.uk

Tel: 028 9033 8214

Aaron Alexander, Senior TV Presentation Announcer/Director

aaron.alexander@bbc.co.uk

Marketing and Promotion

Paul Brolly, Head of Creative

paul.brolly@bbc.co.uk

Press & Publicity

Jeff Magill, Senior Head Of Communications

jeff.magill@bbc.co.uk

028 9033 8986

Media Intake

Media Central NI

Tel: 02890338500

mediacentralni@bbc.co.uk

Subtitling (Access Services)

Subtitling, signing & audio description of programmes.

Daniel Levy

daniel.levy@ericsson.com

Tel: 0208 495 5381

Dominic Mansi

dominic.mansi@redbeemedia.com

Tel: 0208 495 5378