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Live Events on Linear (LEL) requirements

The following terms are used with Live Events on Linear (LEL):

  • DAI    Dynamic Ad Insertion.
  • JAB    Just After Broadcast.
  • Language localization    Metadata language localization as per partner requirements.
  • Timeshifting    Customer feature that allows pause, rewind, fast-forward, and start from beginning.

Overview

The Prime Video LEL feature leverages an existing 24/7 live linear feed and creates a landing page specific to the event for live sports. Creating this unique detail page per event makes it easier for customers to discover and watch sports on Prime Video and develops a stronger editorial experience to drive customer engagement with sport-related content.

Prime Video ensures that content partners have the most up-to-date information about capabilities as we continue to innovate. See the glossary of key terms in the introduction of this article. During the scoping process, Prime Video evaluates the specific requirements and works with content partners to confirm the existing product capabilities based on launch details. We have outlined some of the upfront information we require to start the onboarding process.

To launch a live event, content providers must have completed the Prime Video linear onboarding process for 24/7 linear feeds. Prime Video has a standard process for integrating new content partners delivering live video feeds to our service. For more information, see the Linear Channel Ingest Guide. The linear onboarding process takes approximately 14 weeks followed by a 6-8 weeks timeline to begin creating detail pages for sporting events, as outlined below:

  • Linear Onboarding (about 14 weeks)

    This is a pre-requisite to onboard live events to the Prime Video platform. During this time, we work with content providers to onboard 24/7 linear feeds. The process begins with Prime Video providing content partners with the linear ingest form to complete, followed by coordinating technical integration details, work-back plans, and communicating key milestones. When testing is complete and connectivity is established with the source feeds, linear onboarding is complete.

  • Live Event Onboarding (six weeks to the first event)

    When onboarded to linear, Prime Video works directly with the broadcast provider and metadata delivery partner to deliver specific live event landing pages with event details. It’s critical that tech and event specifications (i.e. calendar of events) are confirmed prior to onboarding the for the first sporting event to ensure there aren’t delays for launch. For the first four weeks after scoping is complete, the team tests the live feeds and mitigates errors by confirming the technical specifications and event information. Following the feed testing, Prime Video conducts event testing for two to three weeks by leveraging test events from the content provider to ensure that there is a seamless customer experience when the live events launch. Please find additional details around test event schedules below.

  • Launch (one week to the event)

    About one week prior to launch, Prime Video conducts a Go/No-Go meeting with all cross-functional teams to identify any blockers and confirm readiness for launch. When launched, Prime Video monitors the feed and enters a steady state with upcoming live event launches. If a new station is launched, Prime Video communicates the pre-launch steps.

To avoid launch delays, it’s critical that key integration requirements are received in a timely manner. Below is an outline of what to expect for live event scoping and starting the onboarding process.

Integration initial requirements

Kick-off form

To better understand the specifications of the launch, we ask for high-level information related to the channel and associated technical requirements required to start the launch process. The fields in this form are critical to commit to the launch work back plan and identify the level of effort required from internal Prime Video teams.

  • General content partner requirements, including partner information, station name, territories, whether linear onboarding has been completed, dates of events, and event summary.
  • Rights and event details to understand exclusivity terms, timing, and priority events.
  • Technical and operational details, including number of feeds required; “Just After Broadcast” (JAB) replay rights; time-shifting during live playback; Dynamic Ad Insertion (DAI) capability; number of live events; geo-restrictions; audio, video, subtitle requirements and specifications; frame rate; resolution; and how often the events occur, and whether it’s tournament style versus a standalone event. In the US, all broadcast events are required to have closed captioning before air (exclusively streaming/OTT content doesn’t require closed captioning in the U.S.).
Test event schedule

To start the event testing process for LEL leading up to launch, Prime Video requires a list of test events to conduct QA. Please provide two to three unique events per station that match genre and station configurations to be delivered daily over a two-to-three-week period for event testing. Currently, test events must be submitted to delivery partner during the testing period 72+ hours prior to the test event. This step is crucial to an on-time launch and having a list of test events is required before the onboarding phase can begin. The event schedule should be mapped to each event that will be aired on the LEL station. As updates to event schedules are critical, we work with content partners to confirm the process of communication if the event schedule changes.

Events calendar

Prime Video requires an events calendar prior to deal signing to ensure internal teams can plan for capacity to support a launch. This is separate from a programming schedule and looks to outline events forecast through launch. Knowing that rights can change, Prime Video works with content partners to update and refine events and schedules to confirm there is no risk to the launch date.

Event programming guide

Depending on who the metadata provider is, it can take up to 15 minutes to-24 hours from when a content partner provides data to when it becomes visible in the Prime Video catalog (depending on metadata delivery partner). When day of changes are made to event schedules, our pipeline may not allow for these changes to flow through in time for broadcast. Prime Video relies on content partners providing up-to-date information promptly to by-pass the latencies in the data pipeline. To support this, we require an Electronic Programming Guide (EPG) that serves as a Source of Truth to our operations team.

On a daily basis, Prime Video inspects live programs against the EPG to ensure that the most up-to-date information is applied to the program before it airs. EPGs could be provided via Spreadsheet (.csv or .xml) delivered via email or online, or access to an FTP server. The cadence for providing this can be daily or weekly. When changes are made to a schedule, it should be reflected on the latest version of the EPG so that operators may apply these changes before broadcast.

Requirements for the EPG with example formats
  • Channel Name (i.e. FOD1)
  • Station (i.e. 1, 2, 3, etc.)
  • Series Name (i.e. FOD 2022/2023)
  • Title of Event (i.e. Real Oviedo - SD Eibar)
  • Synopsis/Description (i.e. World Figure Skating Championship. FOD 2022/23)
  • Air date (i.e. 01/04/2023)
  • Event Start Time (i.e. 16:15)
  • Event End Time (i.e. 18:10)
  • Genre/Sub Genre (i.e. Sport, Awards Show, Music)
  • Live Tag (i.e. Live, Replay, Recorded, etc.)
Metadata for pipeline testing

Prime Video has different options for metadata delivery. Depending on which partner is being leveraged the latency between the content partner, Metadata Provider, and Prime Video could be up to 12-24 hours. While Prime Video works to reduce that latency, we ask content partners to be diligent in content delivery to ensure content testing can happen on time and accurate metadata is being tested for launch. When our team tests the metadata pipeline, we’re testing for event title, event date, start and end time per feed, 16x9 image (minimum), synopsis and “Live” tag designation. Details on metadata requirements can be found in Live event data quality stanardards.

Search terms

Prime Video has a collection of standard search terms that apply to all stations. However, there is opportunity to add up to 4,000 characters of custom English search terms (other languages vary in character length) that content partners can designate. Prime Video requires custom search terms to be finalized approximately six weeks prior to launch to ensure they are appropriately tested. Note: Total character count includes the Prime Video standard prefix which includes {vendorSportGenres}, {stationName}, {channelName}, and {classifications}.

Feed normalization

To normalize a stream, we request transcoding all events to the agreed upon frame rates and aspect ratio types during the scoping process. The benefit of normalizing feeds prior to launch is that we can transition the feeds to more efficient workflows without reconfiguring the feed. For more information about feed normalization and metadata integration, please refer to Linear feed requirements.

Display name and station ID preferences

We align on how content partners want to see the station name in Prime Video (e.g., how the title is overlaid on top of each live event tile in the relevant carousel) and confirm the station IDs. Confirming this early in the process helps to ensure there is no risk to the QA procedure downstream and ensures a seamless experience for customers. It’s important to note that a display name can’t exceed specific character counts due to system restraints. Prime Video will share details during the onboarding process.

Example screenshot showing hot title is overlaid

Pre- and post-event slate

Prime Video requires a pre-event and post-event slate length for each event to ensure a seamless CX for the customer. Prime Video uses generic slates on our video feeds to inform customers that a live event is unavailable to view at certain points and asks content partners to provide partner-branded slates for the various scenarios when video isn’t streaming.

There are six use cases that require slating during a live broadcast. Prime Video requires content partners to use at least three slate types (Type 1: Stay tuned, Type 2: Commercial break, and Type 4: Generic) to address these six use cases. Using more slate types delivers a better experience to customers. For the most optimal customer experience, we recommend using a unique slate type for each use case (six slate types in total). Slates must have audio tracks and motion (not a static image).

Use cases

#

Use case

Preferred slate type

Acceptable slate type

Duration

1

Event is going to start soon

Stay tuned

Stay tuned

45 minutes

2

Commercial break is in progress

Commercial break

Commercial break

Ad-break duration

3

Event has ended

Event ended

Generic

45 minutes

4

Event unexpectedly rescheduled after stream has started

Postponed

Generic

Delay duration

5

Content is impacted due to technical issues

Technical difficulties

Generic

Outage duration

6

An outdoor event is impacted by inclement weather

Weather delay

Stay tuned

Delay duration

Slate types

#

Slate type

Slate text

Visuals

Audio

1

Stay tuned

Stay tuned. Live programming begins soon.

Content partner logo

Required

2

Commercial break

Commercial break in progress

Content partner logo

Required

3

Event ended

Live programming has ended. Thank you for tuning in.

Content partner logo

Required

4

Generic

[No text, just the visual]

Content partner logo

Required

5

Postponed

Please stay tuned. Live programming is postponed.

Content partner logo

Required

6

Technical difficulties

Please stay tuned. We're working to resolve a technical issue.

Content partner logo

Required

7

Weather delay

Please stay tuned. There's a weather-related delay.

Content partner logo

Required

Slate QA Process

Slate goes through two weeks of QA process (included in the regular soak test).


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