VIDEO TECHNICAL STANDARDS AND POLICY
The 3C Media Solutions Management will evaluate and approve Applications for Broadcast that meets the mission and technical standards of the the 3C Media Solutions Network. Video programs and videotapes approved may be replicated and distributed by 3C Media Solutions.
The preferred videotape format for all television program masters received is broadcast quality Betacam SP or DVCAM. Videotape masters will be evaluated to ensure compliance with production, graphic, and engineering standards and specifications. Videotapes must be clearly labeled and may contain more than one video program per tape. The videotape must have continuous control track and timecode from the videotape leader to the end of tape. The tape must start with 45 seconds of color bars and 1K audio tone at 0dB, 15 seconds of program identification slate, a 10-second countdown (last 3 seconds black and silence), then the start of the program. Following the conclusion of the program must be a minimum of 30 seconds of black and silence. Closed captioning must be included in line 21 of the video signal. Audio tracks must contain stereo or two-channel-monaural program audio.
The video levels throughout the program must not exceed 110 IRE or fall below 7.5 IRE (+/- 2.5 IRE). Any video signal that exceeds the maximum level or clipped is unacceptable. The video should maintain consistent in style, color, and absolute registration for television videotape visuals. Signal to noise ratio on all material must exceed 51dB. No noticeable digital video artifacts shall be present on source material or on material that has been processed through the digicipher system. The audio must be synchronized with the video action and must not contain dropouts. The majority of program audio levels should be between -3dB and 0dB.
Any videotape and application submitted becomes the property of 3C Media Solutions and will not be returned. By your application submittal, you grant 3C Media Solutions permission to replicate and distribute your video program. Any videotape or program that does not meet the mission, standards and specifications will be rejected. Applicants may resubmit an application after all of the problems have been corrected. The 3C Media Solutions management reserves the right to refuse acceptance based on its sole discretion.
Engineering Requirements
The signal to noise ratio for luminance must be greater than 51dB, 10kHz to 7.0 MHz at 50 IRE units flat field level. The signal to noise ratio for chrominance must be greater than 53dB. Chrominance levels must be within legal NTSC standards. The K-factor must be less than or equal to 2%. Wow and flutter must be less than 0.1% RMS, Sc/H sync-burst, all others RS-170A. The video levels throughout the program must be consistent and not exceed 110 IRE or fall below 7.5 IRE (+/- 2.5 IRE). Any video signal that exceeds the maximum level (110 IRE) or clipped is not acceptable. Metal particle tapes can have luminance range from 30Hz to 4.5MHz (+5.0dB-4.0dB), and the chrominance range from 30Hz to 1.5MHz (+5.0dB-3.0dB). All video and audio levels must conform to Sony alignment tape standards. The videotape must have continuous SMPTE, LTC, and VITC drop-frame time code and control track from the videotape leader to the end of the tape. Audio signal can range from 50Hz to 15KHz (+1.5dB-3.0dB). The audio signal to noise ratio must be 72dB and THD must be less than 1.0%. Audio tracks must contain stereo or two-channel-monaural program audio, clear and free from hiss, distortion, and background noise. No analog dubbing is permitted past the second-generation stage.
