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Single and multi-stream services

Single stream require one video channel, the majority of BBC Vision services are single stream.

Multi-stream services require more than one video channel, such as Wimbledon and Glastonbury.

1. Tape and production
2. Live & Multi-stream services
3. Paperwork
4. Bandwidth requirements
5. Design
6. Text required from production
7. Marketing & Promotion

 

1. Tape and production

  • Delivery Standards: The TX master needs to be delivered to usual linear TX standards on SD digibeta NOT HD.
  • N.B. Tech review: The tape must pass BBC Technical Review before it can be broadcast. Please refer to the latest technical standards, any fixes will be the responsibility of the production team or the cost incurred to be fixed at tech review will be passed on to the production company.
  • Programme Title: should include linear programme and red button episode number e.g: Dragons Den Red Button : Episode x
  • Intro: Tapes should have 30 second titles with text explaining what's coming up or a short sting at the beginning of the film. You can use the linear programme titles or FM&T will design a holding slide. You should think about how to introduce your programme to the viewers editorially, a brief intro from the main presenter is best for non-drama programmes.
  • End Board: The programme url should be present as the end board along with any other information you want to include for your programme. Programmes should fade to black and not end on a freeze of the last frame, as most red button single stream programmes are looped.
  • Credits: There are no requirements to add credits to red button programmes. If you wish to add them please follow the same guidelines for linear delivery, although red button programmes are not squeezed.
  • Strong language / violence: If there is any swearing or violence, then an additional ‘service slide’ must be added at the beginning of the programme with the appropriate warning. E.g. ‘Guidance: Contains some strong language.’ (See design below). This may also be listed in the welcome banner (see Text section further down).

 service slide

  • Viewing Copy: A DVD or digital file viewing copy must be made for the Commissioner to sign off.
  • Tape delivery: The delivery information and date needs to be communicated to Red Bee Interactive Play Out 9. The tape must be delivered via the Media Intake Area at Broadcast Centre, 5 days prior to the Available To Schedule date. If your programme is going to be late please inform Red Bee Interactive Play Out 9.

2.    Live & multi-stream services

  • Paperwork: Tape requirements and many of the documents listed below including compliance, TX Form, Pas C and music reporting are not needed for live services. Paperwork that is needed? None
  • Delivery: A CBIS line may need to be booked for the delivery of live content, you need to communicate the delivery methods with the FM Central Editorial Platform Team and Red Bee Interactive Play Out 9
  • Multi-streams: These can be a mixture of video streams from live and tape. All tapes need to follow the standard requirements listed above, and several lines may need to be booked for live. This needs to be communicated as usual.

3.     Paperwork

   i) Pre-recorded Production paperwork:

   ii) Red Button paperwork:

Example documents and requirements will be sent by the FM Central Editorial Platform Team approximately three weeks prior to delivery

  • Call centre documents: For call centre staff to brief any viewers who enquire about the red button service.  
  • Escalation document: A document with emergency contact details during TX .
  • Walkthrough recording request: If required a recording of the red button service can be arranged.

4. Bandwidth Requirements

  • How much & when: Do you need availability directly after or during the linear TX? For how long? Is it a one off / daily / weekly? Is there one video / audio stream or several?
  • Request: Contact the Interactive TV scheduler as soon as possible to arrange bandwidth needed, and triggers (see design below). 

5. Design

i) Resource & sign off

  • BBC Red Button UX&D: If being designed by FM UX&D all details and assets need to be sent to the FM Central Editorial Platform 3 weeks before TX.
  • BBC other & external: If being designed by different BBC departments or externally then contact the FM Central Editorial Platform for advice, there are design guidelines that can be found on the FM website.
  • Sign off: Regardless of who creates the service, a PowerPoint of the designs should be sent to the exec producer and Red Button UX&D for sign off before the application is created.
  • Final upload: Due to the BBC software needed for single and multi-stream services, the final upload and elements of design (especially for multi-stream) may need to be done by BBC Red Button UX&D.

ii) Design elements

*You can view an example PowerPoint of the red button walkthrough in the downloads section of this page, top right.

  • Trigger: This is the graphic that appears in the top right of the screen to prompt the viewer to press red. You can choose the colour, style and wording to match the brand, there are limitations on text length and colour palettes. We need a separate trigger for Freeview and Sky, plus a ‘Please wait trigger’.
  • Bridge link graphic & text: This is the text, plus a small circular image that appears on the menu (bridge) when a viewer presses red, and links to your content. You decide what you want this to be, there are character count and colour palette limitations.
  • Service slides: These appear before & after the video to inform the viewer when the service will begin and end, plus if there are problems with the service, if needed a warning slide should be created for strong language / violence. The wording should be confirmed by the compliance team. Copy and an image are required for these service slides.
  • Interstitials: These are similar to slides and advertise your service on Sky and appear when waiting for another service to load. See example ppt.
  • Quarter screen design: These will usually be channel branded. This is the design that appears when a viewer presses the blue menu button to access text pages including help. There are slightly different designs needed for Sky, Freeview and Virgin Media (see example ppt) as they have different limitations.

*Separate assets need to be saved out and inputted with colour definitions provided into a BBC system called MOSS. This is usually done by BBC red button.

  • Multi-streams: Several videos (bandwidth determined) can be played out simultaneously, and scrolled between on screen. The layout and design of this can be altered and can include moving elements as well as .rss feeds using a system called Clarity. 

6. Text required from production

  • Design text: The producer needs to provide text to the designers for sub menu, interstitial slide, trigger, bridge graphic, service slides (above)
  • Text page(s):  There must be at least 1 ‘more info’ text page about the service, and can be more if needed. This text must be provided to the FM Central Editorial Platform Team the week before TX.
  • Additional: The producer should also provide text for the Welcome Banner (appears when a viewer enters a service) Sub Menu headings (needed if there’s more than 3 text pages), plus the website url - emailed to the FM Central Editorial Platform Team. For a multi-stream caption headings for each video are also required.
  • Producers can input this information themselves if they have access and are trained to use to the BBC system MOSS. 

7.    Marketing & Promotion

i) On screen promotion:

  • Triggers: Liaise with Red Button scheduler to request a trigger at the end of the programme. They will agree this with the relevant channel.
  • Call To Action by continuity: Voiceover CTAs (i.e. Press red now to get more Buzzcocks..) need to be arranged with the channel via MC&A Media Planning. Let Marketing know what times and on what platforms the red button content is available. Follow guidelines regarding reference to platforms.
  • Call to Action within the programme: It’s essential that if you’re recording a call to action for the red button programme within the network programme you must also deliver a version of the network programme without the call to action. If there’s a schedule change or repeat there might not always be bandwidth available to broadcast the red button programme. Network play out must be informed which is the correct version to broadcast.
  • End Credit Promo (ECP): Also needs to be arranged via MC&A Media Planning. It needs to meet the following requirements.

- The end credits of the linear programme will need to be delivered in the agreed BBC     format.

- The duration and wording should be agreed with MC&A Media Planning. If this is material that hasn’t been through BBC Technical Review it will need to do so and be complied, then delivered to the relevant Traffic contact at Red Bee

ii) Pre-TX promotion:

Downloads

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The BBC's business and production guide for independents

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