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Home » ContentDepot® » User Guides » Producer GuideABCs of Program Distribution Using the ContentDepot®A Guide to Distributing Programs via the PRSS ContentDepotThe PRSS ContentDepot is public radio's national program distribution system. The ContentDepot uses a combination of Internet and satellite technologies to offer services to program distributors that automate the delivery of your content to stations. The ContentDepot service includes a vast, searchable digital catalog of all public radio content delivered through the system, a public radio messaging system for sending important program notifications, and ContentDepot-provided satellite receivers at all interconnected stations that enable them to automate the receipt of the programming. The ContentDepot portal is a valuable online archive for program marketing information (metadata)—even after the program's broadcast window has passed. Being part of the ContentDepot gives station program directors a way to research, audition, and obtain your content easily using this national delivery network. Both live and pre-recorded programs are distributed via the ContentDepot, as well as accompanying marketing and promotional materials and modules. Live programs are any programs that must be passed through the ContentDepot immediately to stations in real time. Pre-recorded programs have been created in advance of their intended air date and are distributed through the system as files that are packaged for automatic playout by station automation systems. The PRSS includes over 400 interconnected public radio stations with satellite access. These stations receive both live and file-based programs via the satellite using ContentDepot equipment at their stations. Additionally, the ContentDepot enables stations without satellite access to receive file-based programs via an FTP server. In both cases, programs are automatically delivered ("pushed") to stations via a subscription process. This automated program delivery is the key to streamlining station operations and to getting your programs in the hands of stations when and where they need it. About This GuideUsing the PRSS ContentDepot to deliver your programs, promotional content, and marketing materials is easy. Follow the simple steps in this guide to use the ContentDepot portal to create your program marketing pages, submit content, and send messages. Separate guides are also available for ContentDepot administration, station operations, and Content Exchanges. Please refer to http://www.prss.org/ for additional materials. Who Should Read ThisThis guide is written for program distributors and producers that will interact with the ContentDepot portal. Please note that the areas of the ContentDepot portal to which you will have access are determined by your local administrator. Getting HelpThis guide gives you a general overview of the process for using the ContentDepot to deliver your programs. Detailed information for the ContentDepot portal is available via the "Help" link in the upper right of the portal pages. If you still have questions after reading this guide and referring to the online help, please contact the PRSS Help Desk. Website: http://www.prss.org/ Quick StartThe following is a summary of the steps to submit broadcast episodes to the ContentDepot for distribution to stations. For more detailed information, please refer to the referenced sections of this guide.
__________________________________________________________________________________ ABCs of Program Distribution Using the ContentDepot®A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z __________________________________________________________________________________ A is for Access to the ContentDepot®Before you can access the ContentDepot portal, your ContentDepot administrator must create your user account. Please note that your ContentDepot administrator is not an NPR Distribution staff person—it is a person at your organization that who has been designated to manage users and permissions. When your account is created, two emails are sent to your email address. One email contains your username; the other is a randomly generated password. When you log into the system for the first time, the ContentDepot will guide you through the steps required to change the assigned password to one of your choosing. The new password must be at least eight characters long. Tip: You must have a unique email address to have a user account created in the portal. If you do not have a unique address at your station or a personal email account that can be used, there are many sources for free email accounts, including Yahoo, Hotmail, and Google (gmail). The ContentDepot can be accessed by going to www.prss.org and following the link to the ContentDepot login. Important: The ContentDepot will inactivate your user account if you attempt to enter an incorrect username and/or password three times. If this occurs, please contact your local administrator to reactivate your account. B is for Browser RequirementsThe ContentDepot® web portal has been designed to accommodate most of the commonly used browsers and computer platforms. Important Note: Uploading broadcast files to the ContentDepot uses secure FTP (file transfer protocol). You must install a Java application on your computer to be able to use secure FTP. This Java application is free, it will not cause any harm to your computer, and it will take up minimal space. It is only invoked during the ContentDepot upload process. If you are using a current browser or Mac OSX, this application may already be on your computer. Tip: If you know your computer is up-to-date, you may want to try a test broadcast upload to determine if your computer already has the necessary Java component. Follow the procedures for episode upload in the section "Episodes." Alternatively, the website http://www.javatester.org/ offers a free browser test. (Click on the link at the top of the home page that states, "See what version of Java your browser is using.") This information does not constitute an endorsement of this third-party website or its service, and its content is subject to change. Please make sure the computer you are using meets these minimal system requirements.
Internet Connectivity In order to upload files to the ContentDepot, a robust and reliable broadband connection to the Internet is required. At a minimum, cable modem service or DSL should work fine. If you upload frequently, you may want to upgrade to a commercial-grade service available through your cable modem or DSL provider. Make sure your Internet Service Provider (ISP) does not impose any file size restrictions for uploads via their service. Broadcast files are uploaded using secure FTP; however, all other types of content use HTTP for upload. On Mac OS9 computers, broadcast upload will use HTTP. Other Settings Be sure JavaScript is enabled while using the ContentDepot. This allows certain functions to work properly. If you use a pop-up blocker, you will want to allow pop-ups while using the ContentDepot to ensure all information is displayed and all ContentDepot features work properly. All pop-up blockers allow the user to turn off the blocking feature for defined sites. Cookies must be enabled for all features of the PRSS ContentDepot portal to work on your machine. Please refer to the privacy policy posted on www.prss.org for information regarding the use of cookies. C is for CostsJoining the PRSS Program distributors who use the ContentDepot must sign a registered source agreement. Joining the PRSS as a registered source requires a $25.00 fee. This fee is one-time only, provided that your account remains active with NPR Distribution. Any producer distributing programming using the ContentDepot must be protected against claims that may arise from the broadcast, electronic distribution, and/or other transmission of a program or related material. Each producer is required to be covered by a multimedia liability policy with a minimum limitation of liability of $1,000,000. You can either obtain this insurance yourself, or, if you distribute programming over the satellite system, pay to participate in a group policy covering the PRSS. More information about registration and insurance are available at www.prss.org. Costs to Distribute Programs Program distributors incur two types of charges to take advantage of the ContentDepot distribution network. Important Note: For a listing of the current fees, please refer to www.prss.org. Pricing and fee structures are subject to change. If you have any pricing questions, please contact your Public Radio Services Representative. Delivery Fees Delivery of live streams or files to stations is measured and charged in terms of data capacity. A quarter hour of programming is approximately the equivalent of 14.4 megabytes of mono or 28.8 megabytes of stereo. Delivery charges are based on these quarter-hour units. Delivery charges apply to the delivery of broadcast episode files only. The delivery of promos, rundowns, and web modules do not count towards your delivery charges. Additionally, you are not charged for station downloads of promotional content. If you update a segment of a pre-recorded episode after the initial file has already been delivered, you will be charged for the delivery of the updated segment. However, the ContentDepot will only redeliver the updated segment of your episode—not the entire episode. For more information about segments, please refer to the section on "Programs." Full-Time Services Large program distributors may purchase megabyte "buckets" for the delivery of multiple programs (live and/or pre-recorded) or live streaming services for 12-hour or 24-hour continuous services. Again, for pricing questions, please contact your Public Radio Services Representative. D is for Digital Audio StandardsThe quality of your audio is critical to the way your program will sound when stations air it. The following provides an overview of basic standards and specifications for programs submitted to the ContentDepot. For more detailed information about audio standards, please refer to www.prss.org. Program formats As the program distributor, you will determine the appropriate format for your program and how it is sent to ContentDepot as well as how it is delivered to stations. Live streams, in addition to being delivered to the ContentDepot in real time over ISDN or other circuits, can also originate as playbacks of pre-recorded media or computer files that you send to the Network Operations Center (NOC—formerly the STC) for playout. Live programs are delivered to stations as streams that stations can send directly to air in real time or record for later playback as permitted by your broadcast rights. File deliveries of pre-recorded content to stations originate from the ContentDepot as files that you upload via the ContentDepot portal in MP2 audio format. File deliveries can also originate from CDs that you send to NPR Distribution for conversion into MP2 audio files. There is a service charge for us to do this conversion on your behalf (refer to "Costs"). Content for file transfers may also be delivered to the NOC in real time via ISDN or other circuits to be recorded as MP2 files for delivery. Regardless of the methods chosen for delivery to the stations or to the ContentDepot, it is important that producers adhere to the standards below when producing their content. Failure to observe these standards may result in poor audio quality when the content is played on-air at a station. NPR Distribution will not be responsible for providing any additional transmissions of programs that do not meet the standards. Tip: Pre-recorded, file-based programs can be automated by stations for broadcast and require the least manual intervention. Therefore, program distributors are encouraged to use the features of the file delivery system whenever possible if this format is appropriate to your program content. Obviously, programming that must be aired in real time (e.g., news and live music events) must continue to be delivered through the system as live streams. Digital Production Recording Levels The following are general guidelines for ContentDepot recording levels that must be observed when constructing your program master. For more information about recording levels, please refer to www.prss.org. In referencing recording levels, dBfs (decibels or dB relative to full scale) is the scale most often used. This indicates the maximum peak record level as indicated by a metering device such as a digital audio workstation, DAT or CD recorder, or a plug-in metering device. Generally speaking, 0 dBfs is the maximum level. Levels are expressed as negative numbers relative to full scale (fs)—for example, –15 dBfs. Please note that decibel values have no absolute relationship to the electrical power output of an audio device. The desired maximum dynamic range between peak and average levels for the ContentDepot is 12 dB. Recommended levels are: 0vu at –15 dBfs The remaining 3 dB should be left as headroom to allow leeway for future processing and for the inexactness of signal chains. Tip: Managing program levels is an ongoing discussion of tools and best practices; detailed recommendations are well beyond the scope of this overview guide. In general, you should produce programs for file delivery with smooth and consistent average levels. Merely keeping peak levels within ContentDepot-recommended limits does not guarantee smooth integration with other programs. If you are adding automation cue tones to your program, they should be recorded 5 dB below the selected reference tone level.
E is for EpisodesEpisodes are the individual occurrences of your program that are delivered to stations for broadcast. An ongoing program or series may consist of daily, weekly, or monthly episodes. A one-time special may have only one episode. Regardless of the frequency of the occurrence, every program that is intended for distribution to stations must have at least one episode. When stations subscribe to your program (see the section on "Subscription Lists"), the broadcast file(s) for every episode of your program will be delivered automatically to those stations. Additionally, the subscription package will include any episode-level promos, rundowns, and web modules that you may also provide. In advance of an episode's air window, the delivery system will send a pre-recorded program more than once to guarantee that every station receives the file, eliminating the need for refeeds. (Producers are only charged once for the transmission time to deliver the files—you are not charged for these additional delivery cycles of the same content.) In order to create an episode in the ContentDepot, you must have a program page already set up and published. (Refer to "Programs" for information on setting up a program page.) Episodes must follow the format for the program established at the program level. For example, a live program can only have live episodes, and pre-recorded programs can only have file-based episodes. Live and pre-recorded episodes are handled differently in the ContentDepot. If you will be uploading broadcast episodes as files, you can create episodes and upload them yourself via the ContentDepot portal. If you are transmitting a live program, episodes are created automatically when they are scheduled by the ContentDepot scheduling system. Important Note: Episode format consistency is critical for stations to automate your program. In order to receive your program, a station will subscribe to it—most likely at the program level for an ongoing series. That means that the station will expect to receive a live program at the same time and for the same duration each week. For pre-recorded programs, stations expect to receive the same number of file segments each week. Tip: Once an episode is created, there are many ways for you to navigate easily to that episode. Your published programs will display on your home page as quick links to navigate to the program pages. From there, you can locate episodes under the "Episodes" tab. Additionally, the "My Programs" link under "Programs" in the left navigation will allow you to quickly find all programs to which you have access. Pre-Recorded (File-Based) Episodes To create a new episode of your pre-recorded program, click on the "Add New Episode" link in the left navigation. Tip: If you do not have a link to "Add New Episode" in the left navigation, you should verify with your local ContentDepot administrator that you are authorized to add and update episodes on behalf of your organization. Select the program for which you want to add an episode. You will then be given the basic episode input form to complete. You must fill in minimal information or metadata to create an episode, including:
Tip: It is recommended that you give episodes unique titles. If your episodes are not already uniquely named, the recommended convention is to use the program title followed by the episode date in yymmdd format (e.g., Beale Street 070801 for Beale Street Caravan's August 1, 2007 episode). Air Windows The air window is the duration during which stations are permitted to air a particular episode. The air window for your episode is defined by the begin and end air dates that you input. Remember that consistency is important for station automation. If you have a weekly program, make sure that the air window always begins on the same day of the week. Cut identification numbers are assigned to each segment of your program when the episode files are initially uploaded. These numbers enable stations to set up templates in their automation systems to automate your program. Cut identification numbers will repeat consistently from day-to-day or week-to-week depending on the frequency of your program. If you have episodes with overlapping air windows, multiple episodes of the program will be available to the station for broadcast at any given time. Because the cut identification numbers for the episodes will be the same, the last episode delivered will be the one placed in the station automation schedule. File names for each segment are always unique so stations can keep track of your episodes. The duration of any episode's air window cannot exceed 12 months. This limit helps to manage episode overlap for stations and files that are stored in station receivers. Tip: If you have a program with an unlimited air window or an air window that exceeds 12 months, we recommend that you also post copies of the episode files on the program page as the "evergreen episode." This evergreen episode can be available for as long as you like and can be requested at any time by stations that are subscribed to your program. When a station requests an evergreen, it can elect to have it delivered via Internet, FTP (if the station has an FTP site configured for ContentDepot), or satellite. During the air window for your episode, stations can also download the broadcast file, promos, and applicable promotional materials via the ContentDepot portal if they so choose. After the air window passes, stations will no longer be able to download that content via the ContentDepot. However, as the program distributor, you will continue to have access to the content until you delete it. Publish By default, the episode "Publish" box is checked at the bottom of the "Add Episode" page. If you need to unpublish an episode, you can uncheck the box. Unpublishing an episode will make it available only for members of your organization to search and edit. Stations will not be able to view the episode, and content associated with this episode will not be delivered. Therefore, use the unpublish feature very carefully. See the section on "Quality Control" for more information. If you do unpublish an episode, you can publish it by selecting the "Update" button in the top right of the content area of your episode page. This takes you back to the edit screen for the basic episode information. Checking the publish box at the bottom of the episode page will publish your episode, making it available for stations to view and for content to be delivered. Once you have completed the initial form to add an episode, you can now add broadcast files, promos, rundowns, promotional materials, and additional information to your episode record. How much additional information you add is up to you. Additional information you add to your episode metadata enhances searching for your content based on the additional criteria. It also gives stations more materials and information to enrich their promotion of your content. Episode Page for a Pre-Recorded Program Stations will see the same episode page that you can view, except that stations and other program distributors will not be able to edit your information. If you have been given episode edit permissions by your local administrator, clicking on the "Update" button next to each section of an episode page will allow you to edit the information in that section.
Refer to the online "Help" system available via the ContentDepot portal for more specifics about program and episode pages and metadata. Deadlines for Broadcast Upload of Files In order to guarantee delivery of pre-recorded episodes to stations by the beginning of your episode air window, you must adhere to the following upload deadlines:
Tip: If you have created an episode page but have not uploaded content by the deadline, you will receive a reminder that the upload is overdue. Stations will also be notified that the content is late. We strongly recommend that you provide an evergreen episode on your program page for stations to download in the event they miss an episode. Should you miss an upload deadline, delivery of your episode cannot be guaranteed by the start of the air window but will still occur. However, it may still be worthwhile to provide the content for stations that may air your program later in the air window. To Add Broadcast Audio Files The update buttons on the right side of each section of the episode page allow you to edit that section and/or add content. To add broadcast audio, select the "Update" button in the "Episode File(s)" section. Tip: If you do not have an "Update" button for episode files, check with your local ContentDepot administrator to make sure you have been given permission to upload episodes for this program. The "Episode Segments" page will allow you to select MP2 files from your local computer for upload. The number of segments that are available for you to upload is set at the program level. Keep in mind that the number of episode segments must be consistent from episode to episode for station automation. (Refer to the section on "Programs" for more information about program segments.) Tip: If, by its nature, a program has variable segments from episode to episode (e.g., a classical symphony that has a different number of movements each week), designate the maximum number of possible segments for the program. When fewer segments are required, insert a "zero-length segment" (a one- or two-second audio file with no actual audio) to satisfy the automation requirements for consistency. Stations are still required to do local adjustment for proper playback, but the existence of zero-length segments assures continued (but not programmatically correct) operation in the event the station does not make the proper adjustments. Please advise stations when you insert a zero-length segment by sending a ContentDepot message and by noting this in the episode metadata under "Programmer's Notes." When you have selected all your files for upload, make sure you "Submit" the page. If your computer is properly configured, the secure FTP application will launch in a small application window. Important Note: If you are using a Mac OS9 computer, uploads will use HTTP. The secure FTP application is not compatible with OS9. Unfortunately, HTTP upload will not provide you with a progress bar, but it will return you to the episode page to verify upload upon completion. Tip: If the FTP application does not launch within a couple of minutes, make sure it is not running behind your currently active window. If this is the first time you are trying a ContentDepot upload on this computer, you may need to install the appropriate Java applications. Refer to the section on "Browser Requirements" to configure your computer. Tip: Firefox and Netscape users may be prompted to open the Java application. It is okay to accept these notifications by selecting "yes" or "okay." Once the FTP application launches, a status window and progress bar will launch as each segment file uploads. Upon the successful completion of all segment uploads, a confirmation window will display with the status of the uploaded segments. If your file is not properly formatted per the ContentDepot specifications (refer to the section on "Files"), you will get an error message. The file(s) will need to be reformatted and re-uploaded. Tip: The FTP feature is very robust and will run in the background-even if you log out of the ContentDepot. (You must, however, leave your computer running and connected to your network for the uploads to complete.) Once the upload process has begun, you can select the "Upload Complete" button to navigate away from the upload page and perform other transactions on the ContentDepot or to log out. Your upload will continue to run in the background. Depending on the reliability of your Internet connection, you may also be able to set up multiple episode-upload sessions at the same time by simply navigating to the next episode you want to upload and following the same procedures. Tip: Depending on the nature of your Internet connection, you may see your upload progress occasionally restart if there are any disruptions in the connection to your ISP. These restarts will occur automatically as necessary to complete the upload. You do not need to take any action. You may, however, see your upload progress bar temporarily return to 0% when one of these disruptions occurs. If your upload is completely interrupted for any reason, the upload will resume at the point of the interruption if you return to the episode page and select to upload the same file again. Important Note: The ContentDepot scans all ingested files for viruses. Depending on the type of file being uploaded, an alert will be provided to you when a file with a virus is rejected, or the Network Operations Center (NOC) will receive an alert and will contact you. The ContentDepot will not deliver your file if it detects a virus. Broadcast files and promos that you upload in MP2 format will be automatically converted to broadcast wave (.wav) format by the ContentDepot for delivery to stations. This file will contain your MP2 audio file but wrap in metadata for processing by station automation systems. This process does not alter the audio file. The integrity of your original audio is not affected. Important Note: Provided that you have the appropriate permissions set by your local administrator, you will be able to download broadcast audio files for your episodes. These files will have been converted to broadcast wave format. Most standard media tools will be able to play these files. However, we strongly recommend that you locally save your program master and own version of the original MP2 file for archive purposes. If you should choose to redeliver an episode at a later date, you will need to re-upload the original MP2 file to the ContentDepot. Live Episodes You will not be able to create live episodes via the ContentDepot portal. Because live episodes must be scheduled for transmission at a specific time, the ContentDepot scheduling system automatically creates episodes for live streams in the portal. When you create a new live program in the ContentDepot portal, your Public Radio Services Representative will be notified to contact you and schedule the program. Episodes can be scheduled in advance for up to one year. As with pre-recorded programs, you can set the air window for live episodes. By default, the beginning of the air window (begin air date) will be the start of the scheduled transmission time. This is the first time that your episode will be available for stations to air. By default, the end of the air window is set to 23:59:59 p.m. on the day of the transmission. (If the transmission spans midnight, the end air date would be 23:59:59 p.m. on the following day.) If you want to extend the air window for a live stream, you can change the end air date. Important Note: To enable stations to subscribe to adjacent live programs using the same decoder output, program producers must make sure to include five seconds of silence before the end of each live episode. Therefore, for example, no regularly scheduled live program audio should extend beyond :55 seconds of the final programming minute. Tip: Even if an episode is live, you can still attach promos, rundowns, and web module files to your episode page. See the instructions below for associating these files with your episodes. Cues signal to stations when a local cutaway occurs. For more information about cueing in live programs, please refer to the section called "Live Programs." If you have specific questions about the format or delivery of your live episodes, please contact the PRSS Help Desk at 800.971.7677. Episode Page for a Live Program Stations will see the same episode page that you can view, except stations and other program distributors will not be able to edit your information. If you have been given episode edit permissions by your local administrator, clicking on the "Update" button next to each section of an episode page will allow you to edit the information in that section.
Tip: If you wish to cancel a live episode, you must call your Public Radio Services Representative. Cancellation charges may apply when a live episode is cancelled. Refer to the online "Help" system available via the ContentDepot portal for more specifics about program and episode pages and metadata. Multi-Hour Live Programs Several live programs distributed through the ContentDepot are 24-hour services (e.g., Classical 24, BBC World Service) or multiple-hour programs (e.g., Morning Edition, All Things Considered). Since stations that only air selected hours of that programming throughout the day will not want to tie up their satellite decoders for the duration of the transmission, program distributors are breaking most multi-hour programs into multiple time-based programs that can be individually or collectively subscribed to by stations. It is up to you as the program distributor to decide on the level of granularity that works best for your content and to balance those needs with the way stations will use the programs. Separating programs into multiple time-based programs means that you will have more individual episodes to maintain. However, this will give you the ability to measure station usage on an hourly or even daily basis. For more information about formatting your multiple-hour programs, please contact your Public Radio Services Representative. Special Events Coverage/Breaking News Major news distributors of special live events coverage may create 24x7 Special Events Coverage programs to which authorized stations can subscribe. Since breaking news can occur at any time, stations dedicate a ContentDepot decoder output at their station to receive this content whenever it occurs. When special events coverage occurs, please contact your Public Radio Services Representative to schedule the coverage. Live Programs with Subsequent File Delivery Program distributors may elect to send programs in both live and file formats to accommodate repeat transmissions. If this distribution method is requested by a distributor, the ContentDepot automatically records the live program as it is transmitted as a stream, then delivers the episode segment files as they are recorded. Files will be segmented (see the section on "Live Programs") based on time or the cues embedded in the program stream. The number of segments is set on your program page and should be consistent from episode to episode. The Network Operations Center (NOC) will receive a notification if the expected number of segments does not record. Incomplete segment packages will still be delivered to stations but will trigger an automation error. You will probably want to correct the error by providing the expected number of segments and then notify stations of the change. Stations that are subscribed to the live program will automatically receive the subsequent file delivery, or they can subscribe only to the files. Producers can modify individual segments of the recorded files if there are updates to a specific area of content. Updated segments will be delivered automatically to subscribed stations while the air window is active. You will be charged for the additional transmission charges associated with the updated segment(s) in addition to the ordinary delivery charges for this program delivery option. If you have specific questions about the segmentation of your live episodes for subsequent file delivery or about pricing for this service, please contact the PRSS Help Desk at 800.971.7677. Important Note: As with live programs, you must speak to a Public Radio Services Representative to schedule live-with-subsequent-file episodes before those episodes can be available in the portal. Tip: If you distribute files using this record feature of the ContentDepot, make sure you verify the air window for your episode. Because these episodes follow the rules for a live program, the default air window will only be through 23:59:59 p.m. on the day of the transmission, which may need to be extended for the file-based repeats. Remember, files are deleted from station receivers at the end of the air window. Promos Promos for specific pre-recorded episodes are delivered as files. Promo files are uploaded to the specific episode page that the promo is promoting. Promo files are queued for delivery to subscribed stations as soon as they are uploaded, so make sure that you set up your episode page and upload promos in time for stations to air them prior to the episode you are promoting. Promos must be uploaded in MP2 format per the file specifications for ContentDepot (see "Files"). To add a promo, go to the specific episode page and select the "Update" button next to the Promo section. Tip: The ContentDepot will allow you to upload an unlimited number of promos per episode, but the standard format is 15 and/or 30 seconds. The initial promo upload screen will give you three promo slots by selecting "Add Additional Promos." If you need to add more, selecting "Update" again by the promo option will give you another three slots. Promos can be uploaded as files for live programs as well. These promo files will be delivered to stations on the program subscription list. Alternatively, you can continue to embed promos in your live feed as appropriate. Rundowns Rundowns provide important information to station operations personnel about the timing and cues for your episode. Rundowns should be entered on the specific episode page for distribution to stations as part of the subscription package. To add a rundown, go to the specific episode page and select the "Update" button next to the rundown section. Rundowns can either be entered as text into the rundown input box or attached as a document file in .doc, .rtf, .txt, or .html format. Tip: You do not need to enter rundowns separately as mail messages in the ContentDepot. When a rundown is entered via the episode page, stations will receive the rundowns as text files as part of the subscription delivery. They will also get an automatic notification of the rundown via the ContentDepot messaging system. Tip: In the initial release, the ContentDepot text input areas (such as the rundown box) may not handle special characters if you cut and paste text from word processing software such as Microsoft Word. Special characters that are not recognized by the browser will turn into an upside-down question mark. For best results when cutting and pasting text, first save the text in a simple text format such as .txt or .rtf to eliminate special characters. Modifying Episodes You can update metadata for your episodes at any time (even after the air window has passed). Changes to metadata (begin and end air windows, for example) can result in redelivery of your content to stations and are subject to associated charges. For pre-recorded programs, you can also update individual episode segment files, promos, and rundowns. If you update an episode segment before the initial delivery has been transmitted to stations, there is no billing consequence. However, you will be charged for any updated segments that result in additional file deliveries to stations. Only the updated segment (not the entire episode) will be redelivered and consequently charged. Updates to promo, rundown, or web module files will result in redeliveries but are not charged to you. Important Note: Updated segments and files will only be delivered to stations while the air window for your episode is still active. Changing Program Format If you decide to permanently change the delivery format for your program (from live to pre-recorded or from pre-recorded to live), you must contact your Public Radio Services Representative to assist you with this change. If you will be producing a special episode that breaks format with the rest of your series (e.g., a live special of a program that is otherwise pre-recorded), you should create a new program series for the special and advise stations to subscribe to it. Remember, consistency is key for station automation of your program, so you do not want to make changes to your ongoing series that will disrupt station operations. See the section on "Messaging" for recommendations on notifying stations of changes. Changing Time For live programs, changing the transmission time of an episode can have serious consequences. Station subscriptions to live programs allocate a specific satellite decoder output to receive your program at a specified time for a specific duration. If the start or end time changes, this may result in the station not receiving your program (or another one that they intended to receive) because that decoder output has been allocated to another program. Please consult carefully with your Public Radio Services Representative regarding any live program transmission schedule changes. If the change is permanent, stations will need to be notified and will need to modify their station equipment assignments. If the change is for a one-time special, you must set up a new program for the special to avoid disrupting existing station subscriptions. Cancellations You can cancel pre-recorded episodes yourself using the "Cancellation" feature at the bottom of your episode page. If the cancellation occurs before files have been delivered to stations, you will not be charged for delivery. If the episode has already been delivered, standard delivery charges will apply. Stations will be notified automatically when the episode is cancelled. You must contact your Public Radio Services Representative to cancel a live episode. Cancellation charges may apply. Deleting Files You can delete files from your episode pages by using the "Update" button next to the appropriate section and deleting the file. That file can then be replaced at your discretion. If you wish to delete all files for an episode that is past its air window in order to free up storage space, navigate to the episode tab from your program page and select "Past Episodes." The resulting screen will give you the option to remove all files from a selected episode (or episodes). Redelivering an Episode If you wish to redeliver an episode that is past its air window, you must create a new episode and re-upload the content to trigger a redelivery.
G is for GraphicsYou can upload graphics to the ContentDepot to brand your ContentDepot pages. You can also provide various graphics files via your program and episode pages to make them available to stations for marketing your program. Organization Logo To brand your program pages with your organization's logo, select the "Customer Information" link under the "Profile" heading in the left navigation. Select the "Branding" tab and upload your organization's logo in the space provided. Your logo must be in .gif or .jpg format and be sized per the specifications listed on the page. Program Logo To brand your program page, you can upload a program-specific logo via the program page. You can include this on the main program page (accessible via the "Add New Program" link) when you create a new program, or you can add it later. To add a program logo after the program page has already been created, go to the program page and select the "Update" button in the upper left by the basic program information. Promotional Graphics To make promotional graphics available for station marketing use, you can upload them to your program promotional materials page if they are generic to the program. Go to your program page and look for the "Promotional Materials" tab at the top of the page. Photos and logos relevant to your program can be provided in .eps, .tif, .jpg, and .gif format. Episode-specific promotional graphics can be uploaded to your episode page. Go to the episode page and select the "Update" button next to Photos/Logos to upload graphics in .eps, .tif, .jpg, or .gif formats.
H is for HelpAn online help system is available via the ContentDepot portal to give you additional assistance. Select the "Help" link in the upper right corner and navigate through the help system to find the appropriate topic. If you are unable to find the information you need in the help system, please contact the PRSS Help Desk: Website: http://www.prss.org/
I is for "Internet-Only" StationsUsing ContentDepot technologies, public radio stations can now access thousands of hours of file-based public radio programming without a satellite dish. This service does not include live or real-time programs, as those currently can only be delivered via satellite. Internet-only stations will subscribe to pre-recorded content just like fully interconnected stations. Internet-based stations will benefit from the same automated content "push" to a designated FTP server. As a program distributor, you will benefit from the expansion of PRSS services by not having to mail CDs outside the network as more of these stations become part of the PRSS ContentDepot. J is for JavaBroadcast segment uploads via the ContentDepot will require your computer to have a Java code installed called Java Runtime Environment. Java Runtime Environment (JRE), available for free from Sun Microsystems for Windows machines, allows end-users to run Java applications like the ContentDepot's secure FTP function. This code will not harm your computer or take up space. For more information on downloading and installing this code, please refer to the section on "Browser Requirements." Tip: We recommend that you test a broadcast upload to see if your computer already has the necessary Java plug-ins before you download it. Refer to the section on "Episodes" for instructions on uploading broadcast audio. Alternatively, the website http://www.javatester.org/ offers a free browser test. Click on the link at the top of the home page that states, "See what version of Java your browser is using." This is a third-party website that is not affiliated with NPR, so the service and content is subject to change without notice. Important Note: This Java code is only required for upload of broadcast episode segments. All other forms of upload (including broadcast promos) use HTTP. K is for Kill DatesEvery satellite-interconnected station in the PRSS received two storage receivers to which pre-recorded content is delivered via the ContentDepot. Station storage receivers are temporary holding devices for incoming content that is then automatically transferred to the station automation systems. Pre-recorded audio files delivered via the ContentDepot will be removed from station storage receivers approximately 24 hours after the end of your designated air window. This does not remove your files from the station automation systems or alternative storage devices at the stations. The kill date is purely a station receiver maintenance feature to ensure that station receivers do not fill up and become unable to receive additional content.
L is for Live ProgramsLive programs are any programs that must be delivered to stations in real time. Live programs must be scheduled. If you wish to create a new live program, please contact your Public Radio Services Representative to schedule the transmission times for the program. Live streams are delivered to ContentDepot devices (streaming decoders) that are dedicated to live program processing. Stations have been provided with the capability for receiving four simultaneous live streams at any given time. Stations must assign every live stream to a specific output on a decoder. For this reason, changes in transmission times for live programs can have serious implications for station assignments and must be handled carefully. Discuss any changes to live programs with your Public Radio Services Representative. Important Note: To enable stations to subscribe to adjacent live programs using the same decoder output, program producers must make sure to include five seconds of silence before the end of the program. Therefore, no regularly scheduled live program clock should extend beyond :55 seconds of the final programming minute. Cues and Floating Cutaways in Live Programs Cues for station breaks are inserted into live streams based on audible signals, digital signals, hardware closures delivered from the production site, or based on fixed time posts. Each live program in the ContentDepot may have up to 30 cues that signal segment transitions. Each cue in a program is assigned to activate one of four relays (contact closures) associated with that audio stream. The relays are built into the ContentDepot stream decoders at stations and can be used to signal automation systems, consoles, or other station equipment to take action based on that program's format. For example: A cue in a program at one minute past the top of the hour will activate "relay 2" on a station decoder. That contact closure signals the station's console to switch to a newscast on another stream. At the conclusion of the newscast, another contact closure triggers the station console to switch back to the original stream. The ContentDepot automatically inserts a cue at the start and at the end (closures 1 and 4, respectively) of each live program. Depending on its format, a program may also have internal breaks signaled by cues (closures 2 or 3). The closures for internal breaks are especially useful to support floating cutaways in a program, which by definition do not take place at specific times. The internal cues (2 and 3) do not have a system-wide definition; their length and purpose are defined by individual program formats. This gives producers and stations a lot of flexibility in setting up live programs for air, and supports the way most non-program material is staged and played at public radio stations. You can insert cues into live programs several ways: For programs that have a clock-driven format with hard time posts, internal cues can be set at specific times by PRSS staff in your program's template in the ContentDepot delivery system. This is a one-time activity that PRSS staff will perform in consultation with you. Using the example above, you would tell the NOC to set your program template with the number 2 contact closure activated at one minute after program start and another number 2 contact closure at six minutes after program start. Every time your program airs, the ContentDepot automation system inserts those cues at the programmed times. If necessary, PRSS staff can hand-enter timed cues into individual programs. That activity must be coordinated well ahead of air time. "Program start" and "program end" cues (which activate closures 1 and 4, as above) are special cases of timed cues. "Program start" is automatically inserted at the beginning of a program's scheduled time. Please consult with your Public Radio Services Representative regarding programs with a "soft start" (like hearings or press conferences). "Program end" defaults to the end of a program's booked time unless a NOC operator changes the program template to end the program earlier. This has practical uses if your program is formatted to end at 30 or 60 seconds before the top or bottom of an hour; the program end cue becomes a trigger for a top-of-hour or bottom-of-hour break. You must contact the NOC to discuss your preferences for program start and program end as you're setting up your program for the first time. For programs that have "floating cutaways" (breaks that are triggered by actual program content instead of specific time posts), internal cues can be triggered by a contact closure sent to the NOC along with your program audio. You can send a closure to the NOC in a number of ways, including:
In both scenarios above, the program producer is responsible for providing the unit that activates the contact closure: a decoder for in-audio-band cues or "contact closure" card if you use a T1 or a similar fixed circuit. Initially, the preferred method for cueing in most cases will be to use your existing in-band audio cueing system; that retains legacy functions for the existing system and does not require you to develop additional functions at your production site. Please contact the PRSS Help Desk to discuss your cueing needs. Keep the following principles in mind when setting up your live program:
Tip: Stations expect that you will use the ContentDepot messaging system to notify your subscribed stations when your live programming format varies from the segments specified in the program clock. While this may seem complicated, nothing is designed to make you change the way you produce your program; most cues (if you use cues at all) can be programmed in according to natural breaks in your program format. If you have a cue insertion system that works for you, it's a very straightforward process for you to continue to use it. Please be sure to discuss your live program cueing needs with the NOC as early as possible.
M is for MessagingSend and Receive Messages The ContentDepot messaging system is designed to provide information related to public radio program delivery. The messaging system is primarily used for the system to automatically notify stations of important delivery-related events, and for program distributors to send out program or schedule information. For more information on the ContentDepot messaging system, please refer to the message system guide.
N is for the Network Operations Center (NOC)The Network Operations Center (NOC—formerly the STC), located at NPR headquarters in Washington, DC, is the nerve center of the PRSS ContentDepot. It operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The NOC oversees the overall system operation to ensure that deliveries to stations are being properly executed, and it monitors the satellite transponders to assure that all channels are operating within proper power and bandwidth limits. The NOC also serves as the master uplink for all live programming. It is owned by the Public Radio Satellite Interconnection System Charitable Trust and is operated as a system resource. The NOC can assist you if you need emergency restoration of your live program streams.
Top of Page ABC Index __________________________________________________________________________________ P is for ProgramsA program is a radio show or series. Every program in the ContentDepot must have a basic program page. This page provides marketing and format information about your program. In addition, you can post promotional materials to your program page, including:
Segments Your program probably has a clock that determines its duration, any cutaways (floating or fixed), and its content areas. For live programs, cues will determine how stations process the breaks in the live stream. (Refer to the section on "Live Programs" for more cueing information.) A pre-recorded program in the ContentDepot might consist of multiple files or segments. Your program may have cutaways for stations to insert local content or the station identification. From a station's perspective, this divides a program into multiple segments around the breaks. In order to insert the local content, the station must "cut" the program so the breaks can occur. By providing file-based programs in segments, you have complete control of the placement of the breaks, and station automation systems can simply insert local content between the segments. As noted before, consistency is key to a station's ability to automate your program. Make sure the number of segments for your file-based program is consistent from episode to episode. The duration of each segment can vary. A File Segmentation Example The following is the program clock for American Public Media's program The Splendid Table. This clock translates into a weekly eight-segment program as follows: Tip: Music beds for newscast holes and floating breaks should be included as separate segments. This gives stations the option to play the music for continuity if they do not break away. Tip: Take advantage of segmentation in your workflow. Producing in segments may give you opportunities to repurpose segmented components of your episodes for podcasting, web streaming, and other services. Program Page Overview Stations will see the same program page that you can view, except that stations and other program distributors will not be able to edit your information. If you have been given program edit permissions by your local administrator, clicking on the "Update" button next to each section of a program page will allow you to edit the information in that section.
Refer to the online "Help" system available via the ContentDepot portal for more specifics about program metadata. Tip: In the initial release, the ContentDepot text input areas, such as program description and broadcast rights and fees, may not handle special characters if you cut and paste text from word processing software such as Microsoft Word. Special characters that are not recognized by the browser will turn into an upside-down question mark. For best results when cutting and pasting text, first save the text in a simple text format such as .txt or .rtf to eliminate special characters. Additionally, please be aware that the first release of the ContentDepot will not allow you to use HTML in text areas. Any links that you may wish to provide should be added in the "Related Links" area. Evergreen Episodes It is strongly recommended that you provide an evergreen episode of your program for stations to use in the event that a live stream is impaired or a pre-recorded episode is not available. Evergreen episodes are uploaded on your program page. For a pre-recorded program, the evergreen episode must follow the segment template you established for your program. For a live program, you must create a separate program in order to be able to upload an evergreen episode. It is recommended that you append "Evergreen" to the program title to clearly designate it. For an evergreen version of a live program, designate that the evergreen program is file-based for ingest and delivery to stations, and define the number of segments for your evergreen. The subscription list for the evergreen program should follow your live program. Tip: After their initial delivery, special programs that do not have a limited air window can be stored as evergreen episodes on a program page for future download by stations. There is no charge for stations to download your evergreen episodes; however, they do count against your available storage allotment. ContentDepot Storage ContentDepot storage is allocated based on the program type, frequency, and length. Program distributors will be set up with an initial storage limit that is an aggregate of the storage allocation for all programs they distribute. The storage allocation should be sufficient for a program distributor to offer approximately three months' worth of content at any given time. It is up to program distributors to manage their storage space. The ContentDepot does not automatically delete files from the ContentDepot. Your available storage is displayed on your home page as well as at the top of each program page. When you near the limit of your available storage, the storage display will turn red, and you will receive a notification from the ContentDepot. The ContentDepot will not prevent you from uploading if you exceed your storage limit; however, adherence to the storage allocations is necessary to maintain the equitable and efficient use of this shared distribution system. To delete files, you can navigate individually to the episode pages and delete content from the specific sections, or you can use the "remove files" feature. Navigate to your program page, select the episodes tab, and click the link for "Past Episodes." Checking the box under the "Remove Files" column will automatically remove all files associated with those episodes. Programs That Are Not Delivered via the ContentDepot If you are an active registered source with the PRSS, you can post program pages in the ContentDepot portal that are not yet intended for delivery via the ContentDepot. This service is available to you to market programs in advance of their distribution or to gauge station interest. You can set up the program page per the instructions above and post audition audio samples. Important Note: Once you create an episode and post file-based content that a station requests, you will be charged for delivery. Please make sure you do not post any broadcast audio for your program until you are prepared to pay for delivery. Searching for Programs The ContentDepot provides a variety of search tools for stations and program distributors to locate content and information. Simple Search The simple search tool is located above the left navigation bar. Use simple search to find content by keywords. Search results will be ordered by relevance, with programs and then episodes displaying first.
Station program directors that are looking for a new program to fill an available time slot or seeking a program in a specific genre will use the "Browse for Programs" feature in the left navigation under "Programs." Top of Page Q is for Quality ControlThe ContentDepot provides tools for different people in your organization to review content before it becomes available for stations to access. At both the program and episode level, the option is available to "publish" the content. By default, programs and episodes are always published, because that is the only way the associated content will be delivered. However, you may elect to unpublish content until it is ready for general access. To unpublish a program or episode, simply uncheck the publish option at the bottom of a program or episode page. You can access this option by selecting the "Update" button at the top section of the program or episode page. While a program or episode is unpublished, it can only be viewed by members of your organization. Tip: Use the unpublish feature very carefully! If you neglect to publish a program or episode, your content will not get delivered to stations. R is for ReportsA variety of reports are available via the ContentDepot to help you manage content deliveries to stations. To run reports, select the "Reports" link under the "Tools" section of the left navigation. Tip: If you cannot access reports, please check with your local administrator to make sure you have authorization to view reports. Program Subscription Report List of stations currently subscribed to programs with their intended air schedule. Distributor Usage Report Usage information regarding which stations have been sent your programs with the intent to air or audition Distributor Storage Usage Report ContentDepot storage usage for your account Distributor Schedule Report Information about live program transmission schedules Distributor Content Expiration Report Episodes stored in the ContentDepot that are past their air window User Account Report Your organization's users and their permissions S is for Subscription ListsIn the ContentDepot, stations must subscribe to your program to have it delivered. Subscription significantly streamlines station capture of programs. The ContentDepot will allow stations to select and receive only the programming they want. Pre-recorded programs sent as files will be sent directly to a station's storage receiver. Live programs will be directed to the streaming decoder specified by the station when it subscribed. Subscription gives program distributors the ability to manage and maintain lists of authorized subscribers. As a program distributor, you can report back usage information for your programs. You will determine which stations can air your programs. The ContentDepot gives you the ability to determine a program's authorized subscriber list for each program. This authorized subscriber list determines which stations can subscribe to your program. Only a station can subscribe—a program distributor cannot subscribe a station on its behalf. Tip: You can modify subscription lists for a specific episode. If you produce an episode for which the subscription list should be different than the program's regular subscription list, you can do this by going to the "Subscription" tab and selecting to modify the list for a specific episode. You can only add additional stations to a subscriber list at the episode level. You cannot remove stations if they are authorized on the program-level subscription list. Only stations on the authorized subscriber list will have the option to subscribe to a program (or episode). Stations not on the list will be able to view the program information page and listen to MP3 audition samples but must contact the program distributor to arrange to be an authorized subscriber. Tip: By default, program subscription lists are set to all stations. Therefore, if you do not wish to restrict the stations that can subscribe to your programs, you do not need to modify the subscription list. Subscription lists can be created by program. Or, for program distributors that produce several programs, subscription templates are available that can simplify subscription list setup. To create or modify a subscription list, you must have permissions to this feature (assigned by your local administrator). To modify a subscription list by program, navigate to your program page and select the "Subscriptions" tab. Select the option to "Modify Subscriber List." You can modify authorized subscribers by opening listings by state or select the "Open All" link to pop up the complete list of available PRSS stations. You can then deselect stations that should not be included on your list. Make sure you save your changes by clicking the "Save" button at the bottom of the page. Tip: Once you have modified a subscription list, you must manually add stations that may join the PRSS at a later date if you wish to include them on your authorized subscriber list. Any time a station joins the PRSS, you will receive an automatic notification via your ContentDepot inbox. If you have not modified your program subscription list (i.e., all stations are authorized), any new stations that join the PRSS will automatically be included on your authorized subscriber list. Important Note: The station subscription list will include commercial entities such as XM Radio, Sirius Satellite Radio, and other non-public radio entities that use the ContentDepot to take selected programs as authorized by program distributors. You can deselect these organizations just as you would any other station. Subscription Templates Subscription templates allow you to create generic subscriber lists that can then be applied to multiple programs. To create a subscription template, select the "Manage Subscriptions" link under the "Profile" heading. Select the link to "Add a new template." You must then create a unique name for your template. Customize your list of subscribers by opening listings by state or select the "Open All" link to pop up the complete list of available PRSS stations. You can then deselect stations that should not be included on your list. Make sure you save your changes by clicking the "Save" button at the bottom of the page. Once your subscription template is created, you must assign it to a program. Navigate to your program page and select the "Subscriptions" tab. Select the option to "Apply a subscription template to this program." Once the template has been applied, you can further customize it as necessary for the program by deselecting any additional stations that should be removed. Tip: If you modify a subscription template for an individual program, that subscriber list is then customized for the program. Subsequent changes you make to the master subscription template will not affect the program to which that template was applied and subsequently modified. If you do not modify the template at the program level, any changes you make to the master template will apply to the program as well. Assuming your template has modified the list of authorized stations from its original default setting of all stations, you will need to manually add new stations to your lists if you wish for them to be able to become subscribers.
T is for Transmission of ProgramsThe ContentDepot uses the latest satellite and Internet technologies to transmit your programs to stations. For the foreseeable future, the ContentDepot will continue to incorporate satellite distribution, as this technology is still the most cost-effective and reliable means of delivering high-quality, real-time audio programming to a national network of radio stations. The ContentDepot also provides alternative distribution methods that give stations flexibility in receiving and storing programs and other information from the PRSS. U is for UsageUsage reports provide you with detailed information about episode deliveries to stations. The report will identify the program, episode segment, date and time, station, and delivery method. This report can be exported in Microsoft Excel (.xls) or Rich Text Format (.rtf) for further analysis. For information on how to access the Distributor Usage Report, please refer to the section on "Reports." X is for XylophoneX is always for xylophone.
Y is for You're Almost Done!
Z is for "Zero-Length" SegmentsIf a pre-recorded program has variable segments from episode to episode (e.g., a classical symphony that has a different number of movements each week), it can still be standardized for automation at stations. Designate the maximum number of possible segments you anticipate will be required for the program. When fewer segments are required, insert a "zero-length segment" (an audio file with no actual audio length) to satisfy the automation requirements for consistency. Stations are still required to do local adjustment for proper playback, but the existence of zero-length segments assures continued (but not programmatically correct) operation in the event the station does not make the proper adjustments. For more information, refer to the "Episodes" section.
If you still have questions after reading this guide and referring to the online help, please contact the PRSS Help Desk. Website: http://www.prss.org/ ABC Index |
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