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Best Practices: Branded & Non-Branded IMF Deliveries

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Context

There may be cases when a title is a Netflix Original in some territories, but not all. In these scenarios, a partner is asked to deliver two versions for a single title: one with Netflix branding and one without. This document outlines best practices for these cases.

Terminology

  • Branded: Packages that contain the Netflix presentation credit at the head. A good example is the “A Netflix Original Series” card that appears ahead of a series episode.
  • Non-Branded: Packages that do not include any kind of Netflix credit.
  • Primary: The original version package containing a Composition Playlist (CPL), Packing List (PKL), Asset Map and all of the picture and (non-Atmos) sound elements (MXF Track Files) required to assemble the full program.
  • Supplemental: A version package containing an updated CPL, Asset Map, PKL and only the additional picture and sound elements (MXF Track Files) required to fix or make changes. The supplemental is created from the primary IMF/timeline and reuses previously delivered MXF Track File(s).

Note: There may be situations when the Netflix ident will need to be included in your branded IMF package. If you are unsure of whether or not this is needed on a project, please reach out to your Netflix Representative.

Scenario 1 - Branded delivery first, Non-Branded later

For most projects that require branded and non-branded versions, the delivery date of the non-branded is much later than the branded, allowing partners to implement all QC fixes into the branded version before creating the non-branded.

Workflow Example

  1. Create full program, primary IMF package that includes the Netflix presentation credit at the start.
  2. If a fix is needed - open the branded IMF in your authoring tool, apply the fix on the timeline then export as a supplemental (branded VF1).
  3. Open branded VF1 in your authoring tool, trim the Netflix presentation credit off, making sure to leave a second of black before the program, then generate the non-branded supplemental IMF package.

Composition Playlist (CPL) Examples

Branded VF1

<cc:MainImageSequence xmlns:cc="http://www.smpte-ra.org/schemas/2067-2/2016">
<Id>urn:uuid:4020b267-a325-49e6-837b-e470cceada6a</Id>
<TrackId>urn:uuid:ec2190d9-78f3-49fd-9ee1-6973d1cf0b28</TrackId>
<ResourceList>
<Resource xsi:type="TrackFileResourceType">
<Id>urn:uuid:8f224d0b-b0c0-45c9-931b-0f3c730c5efc</Id>
<EditRate>24000 1001</EditRate>
<IntrinsicDuration>2880</IntrinsicDuration>
<SourceDuration>2600</SourceDuration>
<SourceEncoding>urn:uuid:01f56c19-1410-4e17-8da1-395039e2ff46</SourceEncoding>
<TrackFileId>urn:uuid:11e736b5-605d-4101-88c5-6557bccd2be4</TrackFileId>
</Resource>
<Resource xsi:type="TrackFileResourceType">
<Id>urn:uuid:d8d0559b-e2bb-41bc-b6de-f85c31970546</Id>
<Annotation>Meridian_Test_UHD_2160p23_51en20en00000</Annotation>
<EditRate>24000 1001</EditRate>
<IntrinsicDuration>48</IntrinsicDuration>
<SourceDuration>48</SourceDuration>
<RepeatCount>1</RepeatCount>
<SourceEncoding>urn:uuid:aa031665-53ed-40f3-956a-901e66ba54be</SourceEncoding>
<TrackFileId>urn:uuid:6256e66e-df71-45e1-8ce9-077f64ad9127</TrackFileId>
<Hash>7Jl1tBN/gzZRetp4FWsihg/GuvM=</Hash>
</Resource>
<Resource xsi:type="TrackFileResourceType">
<Id>urn:uuid:8f224d0b-b0c0-45c9-931b-0f3c730c5efc</Id>
<EditRate>24000 1001</EditRate>
<IntrinsicDuration>2880</IntrinsicDuration>
<EntryPoint>2648</EntryPoint>
<SourceDuration>232</SourceDuration>
<SourceEncoding>urn:uuid:01f56c19-1410-4e17-8da1-395039e2ff46</SourceEncoding>
<TrackFileId>urn:uuid:11e736b5-605d-4101-88c5-6557bccd2be4</TrackFileId>
</Resource>
</ResourceList>
</cc:MainImageSequence>

We can see that the Non-Branded supplemental CPL snippet (below) contains all of the exact same Track File Ids as the Branded VF1 package (above), except there is now an Entry Point of 96 frames specified for the OV track. This new Entry Point tells our system to use the tracks that were already delivered for the branded version, but to start the new encode from the 96th frame (after the Netflix presentation credit).

Non-Branded Supplemental 

<cc:MainImageSequence xmlns:cc="http://www.smpte-ra.org/schemas/2067-2/2016">
<Id>urn:uuid:4020b267-a325-49e6-837b-e470cceada6a</Id>
<TrackId>urn:uuid:ec2190d9-78f3-49fd-9ee1-6973d1cf0b28</TrackId>
<ResourceList>
<Resource xsi:type="TrackFileResourceType">
<Id>urn:uuid:8f224d0b-b0c0-45c9-931b-0f3c730c5efc</Id>
<EditRate>24000 1001</EditRate>
<IntrinsicDuration>2880</IntrinsicDuration>
<EntryPoint>96</EntryPoint>
<SourceDuration>2504</SourceDuration>
<SourceEncoding>urn:uuid:01f56c19-1410-4e17-8da1-395039e2ff46</SourceEncoding>
<TrackFileId>urn:uuid:11e736b5-605d-4101-88c5-6557bccd2be4</TrackFileId>
</Resource>
<Resource xsi:type="TrackFileResourceType">
<Id>urn:uuid:d8d0559b-e2bb-41bc-b6de-f85c31970546</Id>
<Annotation>Meridian_Test_UHD_2160p23_51en20en00000</Annotation>
<EditRate>24000 1001</EditRate>
<IntrinsicDuration>48</IntrinsicDuration>
<SourceDuration>48</SourceDuration>
<RepeatCount>1</RepeatCount>
<SourceEncoding>urn:uuid:aa031665-53ed-40f3-956a-901e66ba54be</SourceEncoding>
<TrackFileId>urn:uuid:6256e66e-df71-45e1-8ce9-077f64ad9127</TrackFileId>
<Hash>7Jl1tBN/gzZRetp4FWsihg/GuvM=</Hash>
</Resource>
<Resource xsi:type="TrackFileResourceType">
<Id>urn:uuid:8f224d0b-b0c0-45c9-931b-0f3c730c5efc</Id>
<EditRate>24000 1001</EditRate>
<IntrinsicDuration>2880</IntrinsicDuration>
<EntryPoint>2552</EntryPoint>
<SourceDuration>232</SourceDuration>
<SourceEncoding>urn:uuid:01f56c19-1410-4e17-8da1-395039e2ff46</SourceEncoding>
<TrackFileId>urn:uuid:11e736b5-605d-4101-88c5-6557bccd2be4</TrackFileId>
</Resource>
</ResourceList>
</cc:MainImageSequence>

Branded_Non_IMF_Diagrams_-_Scenario_1_v2.png

Scenario 2 - Branded and Non-Branded Delivery around the same time

Initial Package Creation

If you are expected to deliver the branded and non-branded packages around the same time, you can cut down on processing time by creating the non-branded version as a supplemental of the branded package. As is the case with Scenario 1, the original track files will not need to be re-encoded or re-wrapped. Instead, the supplemental IMF will contain only updated XMLs. The supplemental Composition Playlist (CPL) will reference the original tracks but will define a new start time, which should be after the Netflix presentation credit and one second before the start of program.

Composition Playlist (CPL) Examples

In the following example, you’ll notice the video Track File Id of the Branded primary IMF and the video Track File Id of the Non-Branded supplemental are an exact match. The only difference is that the Non-Branded supplemental specifies a new Entry Point of 96 frames.

Branded Primary Package

<cc:MainImageSequence xmlns:cc="http://www.smpte-ra.org/schemas/2067-2/2016">
<Id>urn:uuid:4020b267-a325-49e6-837b-e470cceada6a</Id>
<TrackId>urn:uuid:ec2190d9-78f3-49fd-9ee1-6973d1cf0b28</TrackId>
<ResourceList>
<Resource xsi:type="TrackFileResourceType">
<Id>urn:uuid:8f224d0b-b0c0-45c9-931b-0f3c730c5efc</Id>
<EditRate>24000 1001</EditRate>
<IntrinsicDuration>2880</IntrinsicDuration>
<SourceDuration>2880</SourceDuration>
<SourceEncoding>urn:uuid:01f56c19-1410-4e17-8da1-395039e2ff46</SourceEncoding>
<TrackFileId>urn:uuid:11e736b5-605d-4101-88c5-6557bccd2be4</TrackFileId>
</Resource>
</ResourceList>
</cc:MainImageSequence>

Non-Branded Supplemental Package

<cc:MainImageSequence xmlns:cc="http://www.smpte-ra.org/schemas/2067-2/2016">
<Id>urn:uuid:286cfbd9-c596-45c6-b8de-dedb247ca9e1</Id>
<TrackId>urn:uuid:a5399d7b-b7ce-47c6-8a98-b25b50785b79</TrackId>
<ResourceList>
<Resource xsi:type="TrackFileResourceType">
<Id>urn:uuid:8c440b41-670e-4441-a7df-66a01896fc64</Id>
<EditRate>24000 1001</EditRate>
<IntrinsicDuration>2880</IntrinsicDuration>
<EntryPoint>96</EntryPoint>

<SourceDuration>2832</SourceDuration>
<SourceEncoding>urn:uuid:ac03661b-d75b-4fef-9e07-695bdeb5fc04</SourceEncoding>
<TrackFileId>urn:uuid:11e736b5-605d-4101-88c5-6557bccd2be4</TrackFileId>
</Resource>
</ResourceList>
</cc:MainImageSequence>

Fixes

Because each of the above packages represent a different version, it is important all fixes are implemented in both versions, resulting in two supplementals for a single fix. The fix workflow should run as follows:

1. Open your branded IMF in your authoring tool, apply the fix on the timeline then export as a supplemental (branded VF1).

2. Open the non-branded IMF in your authoring tool, insert the same fix on the timeline, then export as a supplemental (non-branded VF1).

Branded_Non_IMF_Diagrams_-_Scenario_2_v2.png

*For tool-specific instructions on how to create supplemental IMF packages, please refer to the video tutorials on our Netflix Post Technology Alliance page.

Backlot

Each version needs to be uploaded to its own Backlot Source Request. These versions can be identified by using the Tags column within your Backlot Dashboard.

In the image below, you’ll notice that one of the requests is tagged as “Auto Ident.” This tag is used to indicate when a request is a branded request and tells our system to automatically stitch the Netflix logo onto the package once it has fully processed in our system.

 

SourceMan_AutoIdent.png

 


 

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CHANGE LOG

2021-11-30

Added "Additional Resources" section.

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