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Once you have logged into the ContentDepot, you should start by configuring your profile. The main benefit of the profile is to establish your messaging preferences before the ContentDepot begins to send you messages and alerts.
To get to your profile page, select the "My Profile" link in the blue welcome box in the upper right corner or select the "My Information" link under "Profile" in the left navigation. On the profile page, you can edit your contact information.
On your mail profile page (look for the center tab on your profile page), you can specify alternative email addresses or external devices to which messages should be forwarded as well as the types of messages you want forwarded. You can also specify if you want to be notified about new programs in your categories of interest.
Tip: Mobile phone and paging address fields will only accept properly formatted email addresses. You must have a text messaging service established with your provider that enables email service to your phone or pager.
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Important information about the status of your programs, rundowns, and other notifications are sent to your inbox. These messages are stored on the ContentDepot server and available for you to view via your ContentDepot inbox. To access your inbox, select the "Inbox" link under "Mail" in the left navigation. Messages can be sorted by priority—an exclamation point (!) indicates a high priority alert message. You can also sort by sender, subject, and time.
Search fields above the inbox allow you to quickly find messages by keyword, date, and message type.
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 you of important delivery-related events, and for program distributors to send out program or schedule information. Stations can use the ContentDepot messaging system to send limited types of messages. To send messages, use the "Send Messages" link under "Mail" in the left navigation. Station personnel will only be able to send messages of type "Other" or "Jobs."
If you are unable to send messages via the ContentDepot, contact your local ContentDepot administrator to make sure you have permission to send messages.
Tip: Messages are archived off the system after one month. However, you must manage and delete any messages you have forwarded to an alternative email address or device.
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The ContentDepot provides a variety of search tools for you 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.
Browse for Programs
If you are looking for a new program to fill an available time slot or seeking a program in a specific genre, you can use the "Browse for Programs" feature in the left navigation under "Programs." >> Next step
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Important: To proceed with the following steps, your station must have the ContentDepot equipment (streaming decoders and storage receivers) installed and configured. Please refer to the ContentDepot Station Installation Guide for further details. Additionally, the storage receiver must be connected to your station automation system in order for delivered files to be automated. (While automation is recommended for playing pre-recorded program files, stations may elect to use the manual file playback capabilities of Digital Audio Workstations.) For assistance in configuring your station automation system to work with the ContentDepot, please contact your automation vendor directly.
Your station's storage receivers and streaming decoders have unique identification numbers. These numbers have been configured in your station's delivery profile by NPR Distribution.
Subscription Overview
In order for your station to receive a program via the ContentDepot, you must subscribe to the program.
Your station will automatically receive any available promos, rundowns, and web modules as part of the ongoing subscription package. For an ongoing series, you only need to subscribe to a program once. Thereafter, you will receive the ongoing individual episodes on a continual basis until you elect to unsubscribe or the program distributor cancels the series or modifies the broadcast rights. You can also elect to subscribe to only one episode in a series if the distributor's broadcast rights allow it.
You may also choose to subscribe to a program only for audition purposes. This allows program directors to listen to several actual episodes of a series before making a final decision about airing it. Using the audition option, your station will receive a predetermined number of episodes for evaluation (currently, this number is set to four episodes). If your station decides to pick up the series, you can simply modify your subscription from "Audition" to "Intent to Air" and the subscription will be ongoing.
Tip: The ContentDepot offers a "watch list" feature. If you find a program you are interested in but you are not ready to subscribe yet, you can add the program to your watch list by clicking the "Add to my watch list" link on the program page. Thereafter, you can view programs on your watch list by selecting the "Watch List" link in the left navigation under "Profile."
General Subscription Instructions
To subscribe to a program or episode, locate the program in which you are interested (refer to Step 4: Find Programs). On each program page, you will see a "Subscribe to this Program" button.
Fill in your station's scheduled air time for the program. This information populates a station operations management tool that allows your station to easily view each episode's delivery status, program rundowns, and updates from your home page. Your station must subscribe to every program it wishes to receive. In the case of multiple-hour live programs (see the section on "Multi-Hour Live Programs"), this may require you to subscribe to multiple instances of the same program that have been divided by hour and day.
Subscription Page
- Specify whether you are subscribing to audition or with intent to air. An audition subscription will only be valid for a limited number of episodes.
- Indicate the frequency with which you intend to air the program using the most appropriate available option (daily, weekly, or on a specific day). This information is used only for the creation of your station schedule on your home page.
- Specify an air date. For a one-time special, this should be the actual date you plan to air the program. For an ongoing series, this would be the start date for your subscription. Again, this is only used to display your program schedule on your home page.
- Input the air time for the program. Use military time format, and, for live programs, make sure the air time is not earlier than the actual time that the episodes transmit.
- If you repeat the airing of a specific program, you can fill in the subsequent air time if you wish to display the repeats on your station schedule.
- For live programs, you will be asked to specify the decoder and port to which you want the episodes sent.
Tip: If you do not have a "Subscribe to this Program" button on a program page, there could be two reasons. First, verify with your local ContentDepot Administrator that you are authorized to subscribe to programs on behalf of your station. If you have been granted these permissions by your administrator, then the likely reason is that your station is not on the distributor's authorized subscriber list for that program. Program distributors determine the stations eligible to subscribe to their programs. You must contact the program distributor directly to be added to the list; NPR Distribution staff are not permitted to add stations unless authorized by the program distributor. Applicable fees and subscription lists are managed by the producers. While many public radio programs are available to all stations at no charge, others are available only to member or affiliated stations that have purchased the program.
Tip: When you input your local station air time as part of the subscription, make sure the air time you input is not before the scheduled transmission time or the transmission will not display on your station home page. For example: NPR Newscasts scheduled at 06:01 am will not display on your station home page schedule if you input 06:00 am as your air time. We hope to fix this limitation in a future release.
Important: Transmission and air window times are displayed in the ContentDepot in eastern time.
Live Program Subscriptions
When you subscribe to live programs, you must assign a streaming decoder and port to which the live stream will be directed. A single program episode can be assigned to a maximum of two ports (each on different decoders) if you require a backup for a particular stream.
NPR Distribution recommends that you map out your live programming grid before you set up your subscriptions in the ContentDepot portal to make sure you can assign unique decoders and ports to all programs on your air schedule. If you inadvertently double-book a decoder port, you will only receive one of the transmissions and only for the duration of the originally scheduled stream. The ContentDepot will not notify you if a decoder port is booked to more than one program at the same time, but you can identify double bookings using the decoder usage report available via the portal.
Most live programs in the ContentDepot are existing programs that have been scheduled for a specific transmission time on the satellite (e.g. BBC World Service, Morning Edition, Weekend America). The transmission time is listed in the program description.We recommend that you do not subscribe to new programs until they are scheduled to avoid inadvertently double booking a decoder port.
Multi-Hour Live Programs
Several live programs distributed through the ContentDepot are 24-hour services (e.g., Classical 24, BBC World Service) or multiplehour programs (e.g., Morning Edition, All Things Considered). Since stations that only air selected hours of that programming throughout the day may not want to tie up their decoder ports 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. If your station schedule differs from the time blocks the distributor has designated, your station may need to subscribe to multiple programs by hour and, in some cases, by day of the week to compile the programming hours needed. Remember, this subscription set up only needs to be done once or until your station air schedule changes.
If your station determines that it does not have sufficient decoder ports to accommodate its programming needs, additional decoders (two stereo outputs per device) can be purchased from NPR Distribution. A tool to help determine your needs and the order form are available at http://www.prss.org/.
Special Events Coverage/Breaking News
Because you cannot tune to a live feed in progress, distributors of special live events coverage (currently NPR and PRI for the BBC) have created 24x7 special events coverage programs to which your station can subscribe. Since breaking news can occur at any time, a dedicated decoder port is required to receive breaking news.
When the event coverage begins, program audio will be routed by the PRSS Network Operations Center (NOC) to the breaking news stream. If it is part of an ongoing program, the existing program audio is duplicated on the live events program stream.
If the NPR special events program is activated, NPR News may choose to activate the squawk channel. Additionally, text messages via the ContentDepot messaging system will announce the breaking news event and contain operational information.
For the most current plans by NPR and PRI on special events/breaking news please refer to the respective distributors' web sites.
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 selected by a distributor, the ContentDepot automatically records the live program as it is transmitted as a stream then subsequently delivers the program as files following the conclusion of the transmitted segments. Files will be segmented (see "File-Based Subscriptions" below) based on the cues embedded in the program stream. When you subscribe to a live with subsequent file delivery program, you can elect to receive only the files by not assigning a decoder port for the live stream.
File-Based Subscriptions
In the ContentDepot, pre-recorded programs will be distributed to stations as files. When you subscribe to a file-based program, you do not need to specify a storage receiver. All files will be sent to all active receivers for your station. You should expect to have files on your receiver at least two hours before the beginning of the distributor's stated air window. Files sent to satellite storage receivers will be sent multiple times to ensure that the files are received intact. If any error occurs during transmission, only the intact deliveries will be saved on your receiver.
After the end of an episode's air window, broadcast files, promos, and rundowns delivered as part of your subscription will be automatically deleted from your storage receiver. Typically, this kill date is based on 24 hours after the end of the air window, but it can vary slightly depending on the delivery time. This deletion is to manage space on your storage receiver only. This kill date will not affect the file if you have stored it elsewhere.
Tip: If you subscribe to a file-based episode within 14 hours of the start of an episode's air window, you should download the first episode from the ContentDepot portal to make sure you receive it. Regular, "push" deliveries over the satellite will begin with the subsequent episode delivery. Please note that files that you manually download via satellite to your storage receiver may not be subject to the receiver kill date and must be manually removed when you are done with them.
Program distributors have been encouraged to submit file-based programs in segments—multiple files built around the breaks. This will allow your automation system to automatically assemble the episodes and insert local content.
If a program distributor updates an individual segment of an episode, only the updated segment will be delivered to stations-even if the air window has already begun.
You can download on request any file-based content to which you are subscribed from the ContentDepot. On-demand deliveries can be requested via
- HTTP
- FTP (if your station has configured an FTP server), or
- Satellite to your storage receiver
To download a file from the ContentDepot, left mouse click on the file name and then follow the instructions to select your delivery method and download the file.
Tip: Episode files will only be available for download during the designated air window. Distributors of one-time specials that are available for an extended duration may make those segments available as evergreens for download from the main program page.
"Internet-Only" Stations
If your station does not have a satellite downlink and is only receiving selected file-based programs (or the files associated with "live with subsequent file" programs) via the ContentDepot, you must enter your station's FTP server information in your station's delivery profile.
To access the delivery profile, you must have administrative permissions to edit your station's "customer" information. Go to the "Customer Information" link under "Profile" in the left navigation, and select the "Delivery" tab. Modify the FTP Server location information with your FTP server IP address, username, and password.
For proper delivery, the directory on your FTP server to which files will be pushed from the ContentDepot must be configured with open permissions (to add, update, and delete files). Files will be delivered to FTP sites only once, and you must manually maintain the storage space on your FTP server by deleting files once you are done with them.
Changes in Program Format
Program distributors will create new programs when a special change in delivery format (e.g., a live special of a pre-recorded program) or transmission time occurs. ContentDepot messages will advise you when such changes occur.When a new program is created to accommodate a schedule or format change, you must subscribe to the new program in order to receive it.
Modifying Your Subscriptions
To modify an existing subscription or unsubscribe from a program or episode, select the "Subscription" tab on the program page. You can then edit your selections or select the button to unsubscribe at the bottom of the subscription page.
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File-based broadcast episodes and promos are delivered by the ContentDepot in broadcast wave (wav) format. A broadcast wave file includes the producer's original mp2 audio and metadata wrapped together into a single file that can be read by your automation system (following the "CartChunk" or AES-46 standard). For more information about file metadata and AES-46/ CartChunk, please refer to the automation specifications available via http://www.prss.org/.
When a file-based episode is created in the ContentDepot portal, an automation cut identification number (Cut ID) is automatically assigned to each segment. These numbers display next to the file information on each episode page. To locate a Cut ID number, navigate to a program to which you have subscribed by clicking the program link on your home page or via the "My Programs" link in your left navigation. Use the "Episodes" tab on the top of the program information page to locate specific episodes. The Cut ID number displays next to the episode segment information.
Most stations use weekly templated playlists in their automation system requiring standardized Cut IDs. Cut IDs get repeated every week regardless of the frequency (e.g., daily, weekly) of the program.
For example, a daily program such as Echoes will have a different series of Cut IDs for each day of the week that then repeats from week to week. A weekly program such as Hearts of Space will use the same Cut ID from week to week. Your station will need to set up its playlists only once for file-based episodes- unless a program distributor changes the format or number of segments. Such occurrences should be rare, and NPR Distribution has advised program distributors that the number of segments must be consistent from week to week.
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), program distributors have been advised to designate the maximum number of possible segments for the program. When fewer segments are required, the producer will insert a "zero-length segment" (an audio file with no 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.
When a file is delivered to the ContentDepot storage receiver, a symbolic link is made to a file folder recognizable by your station's automation system. The station automation system will use the Cut ID or other metadata in the audio file to automatically import the file into your automation library as long as the begin air date of the episode on the receiver is later (more recent) than the begin air date of the episode on the automation system. Your automation vendor has received specifications for ContentDepot files and will be able to advise you on the best way to set up your automation system to ingest files. Files are deleted from the storage receiver approximately 24 hours after the end air date designated by the program distributor.
Tip: If episodes of the same program have overlapping air windows, there may be multiple episodes of the program available to the station for broadcast at any given time. Because the Cut IDs 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.
If you require assistance automating your ContentDepot files, please contact your automation system vendor for support.
Cues and Floating Cutaways
Each live program in the ContentDepot will have a number of defined cues that correspond to relays (contact closures) on the stream decoders. These contact closures can be used to signal automation systems, consoles, or other station equipment to take action based on that program's format.
Each live program will have a contact closure at the start and at the end (closures #1 and #4, respectively) of a program. Depending on its format, a program may also have internal breaks signaled by cues (#2 and #3). The closures for internal breaks are especially useful to support floating cutaways in a program, which by definition are not specified to take place at specific times.
The internal cues (#2 and #3) do not have a systemwide 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 nonprogram material is staged and played at public radio stations. Refer to your program distributors' format materials to see where the breaks are and how they are signaled in specific programs.
In most cases, this function will replace a tone decoder or other cueing device that you already have at your station. For more information about setting up your stream decoder for cues, refer to the user guide that came with the unit.
File-based programs do not have cues as such; program breaks are defined by the segment files themselves as noted earlier.
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If your subscription information is up-to-date with your station's air schedule, your station's home page will provide valuable information to help you manage daily program deliveries. Your station home page lists:
- both live and file-based deliveries scheduled for any given day
- the status of the delivery
- the transmission time for live streams
- the decoder and port assignment for live streams
Links for each episode will quickly take you to the episode page, rundowns, and messaging sections of the ContentDepot for further information.
The home page will give you data on a weekly basis for up to twelve weeks beginning with the current week. Information for past deliveries can be retrieved by running a station usage report (refer to Step 8: Run Reports).
Check your home page frequently for the status of episodes. When any information about the episode or an episode segment has been updated, an "update" icon will appear next to the program title on your home page. If a file has not been uploaded by the program distributor by the ContentDepot deadline, an "alert" icon will appear next to the episode. The status of each episode's daily deliveries (whether live or file) will appear on your home page organized by program.
Files must be uploaded by program distributors on the following schedule to make sure they are delivered to station receivers at least two hours before the air window:
| Program Frequency |
Producer Upload Deadline |
| One time special/Daily |
Daily 4 hours before begin air date |
| Weekly |
11 hours before begin air date |
| Monthly |
14 hours before begin air date |
Tip: If a live or file-based delivery does not occur as you expected, you can download the episode if it exists on the ContentDepot. If the appropriate episode files are not available, you can download an evergreen from the ContentDepot-if one has been provided by the program distributor. Evergreens are available on the main program information page for the series and are segmented in the same format as the episodes. When you download an episode or evergreen, you can specify how you want it to be delivered (e.g., HTTP, FTP, or satellite).
Promos, rundowns, and web modules (if available) will be delivered automatically to your storage receiver (or FTP server) as part of your subscription package. Promos will be delivered to a directory designed for promos. Rundowns will also be delivered to your inbox in the ContentDepot provided you have elected to receive them as messages (refer to Step 2: Create Your Profile).
Tip: Other promotional materials such as graphics, logos, bios, etc., that the program distributor has provided can be downloaded from the ContentDepot portal. Select the "Promotional Materials" tab on the program page for general promotional items for the series. Program distributors may also provide episode-specific promotional items on each episode page. Please note that files that you manually download via satellite to your storage receiver may not be subject to the receiver kill date and must be manually removed from your storage receiver when you are done with them.
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A variety of reports are available via the ContentDepot to help you manage content deliveries to your station. 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.
Station Usage Report
Provides you with listings of programs (streams and files) that your station has been sent (intent to air or audition).
Station Subscription Report
A list of programs to which your station has subscribed.
Station Authorized Subscription Report
Provides a list of all available programs in the ContentDepot to which your station can subscribe.
Station Schedule Report
Information about live and file-based program subscriptions at your station. This report mirrors the information displayed on your station home page.
Tip: The information displayed on the Station Schedule Report (as well as on your station home page) is only as accurate as the station intended air schedule you input when you subscribed to programs. To make this report as useful as possible, make sure the air times and dates you input are as accurate as possible.
Station Decoder Usage Report
List of scheduled transmission times of programs and associated decoder port assignments.
Congratulations! If you have completed these eight easy steps, your station should be up and running with the PRSS ContentDepot. Please verify that your station is receiving subscribed content via your streaming decoders and storage receivers, and check for proper loading of files into your station automation system.
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/
Email: prsshelp@npr.org
Telephone: 800.971.7677
For technical support, please contact
the PRSS Help Desk at 800.971.7677
or prsshelp@npr.org.
NPR®
Distribution Division
635 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20001-3753
800.971.7677
http://www.prss.org/
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