ACM Preliminary Video File & Metadata Standards

ACM Preliminary Video File and Metadata Standards

Sharing Video Content Requires a Foundation

The Server Standards Work Group (SSWG) of the Alliance for Community Media (ACM) announced that they have reached agreement with five server equipment vendors on a set of video file and metadata standards. This sets the foundation for the Community Media Distribution Network (CMDN) that will insure quality video file sharing across multiple platforms with little impact on work flow.

The file standards as listed below shall be regarded as “Preliminary Only” until such time as the SSWG and the participating vendors are sufficiently satisfied to designate them final.

1.1.1 DVD Compliant MPEG-2 Program Stream
1.1.2 Main Profile, Main Level (MP@ML)
1.1.3 Video Codec: MPEG-2 Video
1.1.4 Audio Codec: MPEG-1 Layer II
1.1.5 NTSC Standard (720x480 Resolution at 29.97 fps with 4:2:0 sampling)
1.1.6 Multiplex Rate shall be no higher than 10.08 Mbps
1.1.7 5-10Mbps VBR and CBR
1.1.8 2 B-frames Every P-frame
1.1.9 Sequence Header required before each GOP
1.1.10 GOP Structure: IBBPBBPBBPBBPBB (15-frame)
1.1.11 2 Channel, Stereo Audio
1.1.12 Supported Audio Bit Rate of 192, 224, 256, and 384 Kbps
1.1.13 Audio Sampling Rate of 44.1 and 48 KHz
1.1.14 Aspect Ratio 4:3
1.1.15 Encode Progressive and Interlaced

The metadata standards as listed below shall be regarded as “Preliminary Only” until such time as the SSWG and the participating vendors are sufficiently satisfied to designate them final.

1.1.16 Title (individual program title)
1.1.17 Title Type (like a series identifier)
1.1.18 Description
1.1.19 Genre
1.1.20 Subject
1.1.21 Identifier (unique title number)
1.1.22 Identifier Source (or Presenting Access Organization/Site of Origin)
1.1.23 Creator (or Producer)
1.1.24 Format Time Start (in cue point for start)
1.1.25 Format Digital (particular version of program)
1.1.26 Format Duration (Length/Total Run Time/out cue point)
1.1.27 Format Generation (particular use-audio, image, backup master, etc)
1.1.28 Format Physical (non-digital version of program)
1.1.29 Audience Rating (or Content Labels – flags – for violence, language, etc.)
1.1.30 Rights Summary (Creative Commons Licensing)
1.1.31 Format Identifier (for file format, e.g. MP2, MP4, etc.)
1.1.32 Format Identifier  Source (for program contact name, presenter or uploader)
1.1.33 Format Bit Depth
1.1.34 Format Frame Rate
1.1.35 Date Created (distribution/production date or date made available)
1.1.36 Format Location (actual address for media item-building, shelf, virtual)

Additional non-PBCore metadata shall be included:

1.1.37 Thumbnail or Low-Quality Preview File
1.1.38 Indemnification
1.1.39 User Supplied Tags/Free Tags (for possible open input area)
1.1.40 Producers Name
1.1.41 Producers Address (address 1, address 2,, city, state, zip)
1.1.42 Producers Email