Technical requirements

Program providers must ensure that all programs supplied to TVS satisfy or exceed the following minimum technical and presentation requirements:

 

1.1     Aspect Ratio

TVS expects programs to be of a broadcast industry standard and to be submitted in the PAL format, 16:9 anamorphic.

 

1.2     Tape formats

(a) All programs must be presented in one of the following tape formats:

Betacam: SP, SX or digital, any size cassette;

DVCam;

DVC Pro 25; or

Mini DV in SP format only.

(b) No program will be accepted in any other format (i.e.: DVD, VHS, SVHS, Film, U-Matic etc) without prior written permission from TVS.

 

1.3     Recorded information

Each program tape must be provided with the following recorded information:

(a) from the head of the tape, one minute of colour bars and stereo audio tone with correct channel breaking;

(b) fifteen (15) seconds of clapper which must state the following information:

the program Name;

the episode name;

the producer's name;

the transmission date (if known); and

the recording date;

(c) countdown leader continuous in one second intervals from ten (10) seconds down to two (2)seconds;

(d) two (2) seconds of clean black; and

(e) first vision to air and audio to follow first vision not sooner than twelve (12) frames after first vision.

 

1.4     Separate tape

(a) Different episodes must be supplied on separate tapes unless otherwise approved by TVS in writing.

(b) There must be no sponsorship announcements recorded within a program as part of the program, unless otherwise approved by TVS in writing.

(c) Any agreed sponsorship announcements associated with the program will be inserted from a separate tape by TVS at the time of transmission.

 

 1.5    Audio

(a) Except where special exemption has been given in writing by TVS, audio must be recorded in stereo.

(b) Audio must be clean, relatively uncompressed, should not exceed 0-VU peaks and must not be distorted.

 

1.6     Vision

(a) Vision must be PAL (if in colour), in phase, with vision levels not exceeding one (1) volt or 100 IRE units (100%) and must not be constantly under-recorded.

(b) Vision must have stable syncs and must not be white or black crushed and otherwise must be without sync breaks and not have any tape creases or glitches.

 

1.7     Pictures

(a) Pictures must be clear and without interference.

(b) TVS reserves the rights to reject programs which in its sole opinion contain unacceptable picture inserts, e.g. other broadcaster's logos.

 

1.8     No logos

(a) No program may contain or attempt to reproduce in whole or part any TVS logos, trade marks or get up (whether registered or not) without the written approval of TVS.

(b) No program may contain any logo or image as a watermark unless otherwise approved by TVS in writing.

(c) Any logo or image used as a watermark within a program may only be placed in the corner of the screen, so as not to clash with any TVS watermarked logo.

 

1.9     Segments

(a) Except with prior written approval from TVS, programs must be produced with the correct number of segments and must run to the correct times as detailed below:

Half hour Program:  Maximum of four (4) segments or minimum of two (2) segments;

One hour Program:  Maximum of six (6) segments or minimum of three (3) segments;

Programs intended for a one hour slot should run between forty-none (49) and fifty (50) minutes, but no longer than fifty (50) minutes;

Programs intended for a half hour slot should run between twenty-four (24) and twenty-five (25) minutes, but no longer than twenty-five (25) minutes.

(b) At the beginning of each segment there must be no less than thirty (30) seconds of clean black followed by countdown leader, black and vision.

(c) There must be at least thirty (30) seconds of clean black immediately following the last expected vision to air.

(d) Except at the beginning and end of the program, all segments must end with a program identifying play-off and begin with a program identifying play-on.

 

1.10   Additional requirements

(a) If any part or parts of a program are recorded in a language other than English that part or parts must be either re-voiced with an English language translation or sub-titled in accordance with TVS' sub-titling policies as determined from time to time. Program providers may be required to provide TVS with a Statutory Declaration from the person or persons preparing a script for re-voicing or sub-titling stating that said script is a true, accurate and fair translation of the original recording.

(b) All non-program material (opening and closing billboards, program promos, etc) are subject to TVS approval.

(c) TVS will use reasonable endeavours to schedule non-program material (opening and closing billboards, program promos, etc) that it approves in accordance with a program provider's written request.

(d) Each tape must be clearly identified by title, sub-title and program name on the tape and its box and must be accompanied by a cue sheet.

(e) All producer and other credits must be incorporated within the end credits only.

 

1.11   Classification of Programs 

Program providers must use their best endeavours to determine the anticipated program classification of their programs and must notify TVS of this anticipated classification, in accordance with the "Guidelines for the Classification of Films and Computer Games" issued by the Office of Film and Literature Classification (OFLC).

Program providers must notify TVS of any variation in the anticipated classification in respect of any specific episode of a series at or before the time of delivery of the program to TVS.