acceptable tape formats

  • Betacam: SP, SX or digital, any size cassette
  • Sony DVCAM, standard or mini size cassettes
  • DVCPro25, size L or M cassettes
  • miniDV in SP format only

Every tape must conform
to the following requirements:

  • Continuous timecode starting at 00:00:00:00
  • 1 minute of EBU colour bars and STEREO reference audio
    1. @ 1 kHz, nominally -12 dBu
  • Black video for 10 seconds
  • A 10 second clapper ID stating:
    1. program name
    2. format (16:9 or 4:3)
    3. audio track usage
    4. series number
    5. episode number
    6. producer or company name
    7. key number if allocated
  • 5 seconds of black video
  • clock leader countdown
    1. ending with a number 2
    2. with a sync sound pip (2-pip)
  • black video for 50 frames exactly
  • fade UP to PROGRAM segment 1
    1. including any sponsor messages
  • at segment end, fade out to black video for minimum 30 seconds
  • 10 second clock leader
  • fade up to next segment
  • repeat fade in and out to subsequent segments with a 10 second clock leader before each segment
    1. until program end
    2. including any sponsor messages
  • 1 minute of black video at program end