Producers and content suppliers entering into distribution agreement with Janson Media must deliver the following videotape masters to us at the commencement of the term of the agreement. Along with the other deliverables, this is an investment that professional producers will make in their content if they expect to maximize their royalties, just as we will invest in the promotion and marketing of their content under the terms of a distribution agreement.
- Apple Pro Res files (HD: 1980 x 1080 and downconverted SD anamorphic) of the program (all available episodes, if a series) on firewire hard drives. or
- First-generation protection videotape masters of the program (or of every episode of the series) recorded on new HDCAM and Digibetacam videotape stock, properly labeled, and meeting the following specifications:
- The master must be seamless (no commercials or commercial blacks).
- The master should be texted (including any “lower-third” text/graphics) and should include, at the end of the tape after ten seconds of black, textless cover shots of any texted material.
- [Factual programs and documentaries] If the program has a scripted, off-camera narration that was recorded in a studio, the masters should have international audio tracks with audio track assignments as follows:
- Channel 1: Full audio mix (full mix stereo left)
- Channel 2: Full audio mix (full mix stereo right)
- Channel 3: Full Mix Minus Narration (all music, natural sound and sound effects including synch-sound on-camera dialogue/interviews. This track lacks only the off-camera scripted, studio-recorded narration).
- Channel 4: Music & Effects Only (Clean M&E or True M&E). This track includes only music, natural sound, and sound effects. (synchronous natural sound; nonsynchronous ambient audio recorded separately from video; and any other nonsynchronous contrived audio, either prerecorded, studio, or post sound effects, that is incorporated within the final full-mix track. M&E should be at Full Mix Levels (not Dip Mix Levels).
- [Feature films and dramas]: masters should have international audio tracks with audio track assignments as follows:
- Channel 1: Full audio mix (full mix stereo left)
- Channel 2: Full audio mix (full mix stereo right)
- Channel 3: M&E Track (stereo left)
- Channel 4: M&E Track (stereo right)
Many factual and documentary programs today lack scripted narrations entirely, and English-language programming often airs as is — subtitled or voice-overed in the language of the territory — so although they are preferred, we don’t always need M&E tracks. And, there are many variations of audio track assignments, especially on documentaries, so we always review the audio track availabilities with the producer/supplier prior to offering a distribution agreement.
Masters and hard drives remain in our facility during the term of the distribution agreement, and will be used for duplication and conversion. They remain the property of the producer/supplier, and are returned at the termination of the agreement.
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