High Dynamic Range (HDR)

Release: v1.7 | October 23, 2025

Quality Requirements

It is Warner Bros. Discovery’s intent to acquire the highest quality masters that preserve the original artistic intent while providing a premium viewing experience to the consumer. To meet Warner Bros. Discovery's perceptual and measured quality standards content delivered must conform to the specifications outlined in this document. In preparing content for delivery and to preserve the highest quality it is strongly preferred that all unnecessary transformations or processing that results in the degradation to the master quality be avoided.

Please contact Warner Bros. Discovery Content Acquisitions if your highest quality digital master does not meet the quality standards defined in this specification.

Photosensitive Epilepsy Testing

Photosensitive Epilepsy (PSE) impacts a viewer population who may be prone to seizures caused by flashing images on a screen. Warner Bros. Discovery strongly recommends that providers use a “Harding Flash & Pattern Analyzer” on all content prior to delivery to ensure it meets these recommendations. Content found to be outside these test parameters will be rejected and will require redelivery.

As the toolset for testing photosensitive epilepsy within HDR content is not broadly implemented, Warner Bros. Discovery recommends that all content providers perform a tone mapped SDR export for testing HDR titles, following the guidance for the reduction of PSE as defined in ITU-R BT.1702-3.

Expected Deliverables

A complete and valid delivery must include:

1. UHD HDR Interoperable Master Format package (IMP) conforming to SMPTE ST 2067-21 App 2E,delivered in an enclosing directory:

• Image Track file with JPEG2000 essence with interleaved CM 2.9 or 4.0 Dolby Vision metadata of a seamless/continuous version.
  

2. Composition Playlist (CPL) XML file:

• One image virtual track
• Each virtual track shall contain a single resource.
• If Atmos is being delivered it must be part of the CPL.
• Only simple CPLs are accepted. No complex EDLs made up of more than 1 resource.
• Partial or edited CPLs are not supported.

3. OPL (Output Profile List)

• Volume Index and Output Profile List XML files may be present but are not required.

4. One Packing List XML file
5. One ASSETMAP XML file

Work with your Warner Bros. Discovery contact for more information on the original and additional audio languages expected for your region/content.

IMP Qualification

For any new provider, post-production house/vendor, an on-boarding IMP qualification process is required before any content can be delivered. Please contact Warner Bros. Discovery Content Acquisitions to initiate the qualification process.

Master Technical Specifications

1. The frame rate must be continuous, constant throughout the duration of the program, and consistent with the frame rate of the SDR deliverable.
2. HDR content must be frame and shot aligned with the SDR deliverable as audio and text tracks will be shared across both masters.
3. Active aspect ratio of the HDR deliverable must match the active aspect ratio of the SDR deliverable, the MMC metadata, and the Dolby Vision metadata.
4. Program must be delivered as a continuous, seamless program.
5. Dolby Vision metadata must be frame-wrapped into the video MXF file with no gaps from SOM to EOM including any individual textless segments.
6. Dolby Atmos titles must be delivered as an Immersive Audio Bitstream (IAB) Level 0 Plug-in.
7. Metadata in the file header must accurately indicate:

• Scan Type
• Scan Order
• Frame Aspect Ratio

Master File Format

Interoperable Master Format Package

The IMP and its components SHALL conform to SMPTE ST 2067 specifications, including but not limited to:

• ST 2067-2 Interoperable Master Format Core Constraints
• ST 2067-3 Interoperable Master Format Composition Playlist
• ST 2067-5 Interoperable Master Format Essence Component

The IMP MUST be delivered within an enclosing directory.

Static HDR Metadata

The package shall contain static HDR metadata required for HDR10 delivery. The ST-2086 metadata shall be included for luminance range of the Mastering Display, as well as the mastering color space of ITU-R BT.2020-2 and transfer function of PQ (ST-2084). The static metadata shall be present in CPL the and MMC. Static metadata may also be present in Dolby L6. All instances of static metadata must have matching values.

Dolby Vision Metadata

The Dolby Vision metadata MUST be created as either a CM 2.9 project or a CM 4.0 project (following the Dolby Vision Color Grading Best Practices Guide). If created as a CM 4.0 project, XML must be exported such that it has been updated with the latest backward compatible algorithm using the latest version of metafier. All Dolby Vision metadata must then be interleaved (frame wrapped) in video MXF file. This ensures sync between the picture and the metadata.

Because the master composition includes content outside of the program SOM-EOM range (e.g. black and textless), the Dolby Vision metadata MUST also be present for these portions of the deliverable. There SHALL BE no gaps in the interleaved Dolby Vision metadata.

If delivering a variable aspect ratio that Dolby Vision metadata must include both top-level image aspect ratio and shot-level aspect ratio.

Master Composition

All content must deliver free of any on-screen identifiers (such as overlay branding, burn-ins, crawls) and/or any advertising/promotional messaging (such as bumpers, links, end cards). In addition, Warner Bros. Discovery will not accept episodic content that includes any logos, bugs, bumpers or stings before or after the program.

Season and/or episode recaps should not be stitched to the beginning of content and must be provided as separate video deliverables to the marketing team as laid out in the Marketing Deliverables Specification.

Feature Content

All feature content must conform to the following composition:

Episodic Content

All Episodic content must conform to the following composition:

• The program must start at 01:00:00:00 and must match the SDR deliverable.
• If there are multiple textless segments, insert 5 seconds of black/silence in between each segment. If the content requires no textless segments, then the composition shall end after the Program. No additional black should be appended.
• The composition of HDR content must not be segmented.
• The CPL must include Composition Timecode as specified in Section 8 of SMPTE ST 2067-3.

Slate

First frame of video MUST begin with a visual slate. Slate SHALL contain:

Audio Technical Specifications

1. Each Soundfield group must be arranged into a single track.
2. All Audio channels MUST be labeled in the file metadata using Multichannel Audio Labeling as specified in SMPTE ST 377-4:2012. Specifically, Spoken Language, MCA Audio Content Kind, MCA Tag Name, MCA Tag Symbol (see below table for values). To be IMF compliant a value MUST be entered for MCA Audio Element Kind, MCA Title, and MCA Title Version. WBD does not require specific values for these fields, “n/a” is suggested/acceptable.
3. All audio tracks MUST conform (be synchronous) with video and have the same duration.
4. Where both exist, a near field mix is preferred over a Theatrical mix.

Dolby Atmos

All content deliveries to Warner Bros. Discovery MUST be compliant with SMPTE ST 2067-201:2019 Immersive Audio Bitstream (IAB) Level 0 Plug-in. The Dolby Atmos Home mix MUST meet the following requirements:

1. At minimum, Atmos MUST be mixed in a 7.1.4 room.
2. For near field mixes, the most common monitoring levels are 79dB or 82dB SPL.
3. Target audio loudness must conform to the Warner Bros. Discovery loudness specification, otherwise Warner Bros. Discovery reserves the right to reject the content.

• US Deliveries - Audio loudness must conform to the following using the ITU-R BS.1770-4- Target loudness SHALL be ∑ -24.0 LKFS +/-2.0 LU. - True Peak (dBTP) target levels for the Atmos mix should, generally, not exceed -0.1dBTP. Loudness and True Peak should be measured using the loudness analysis in the Dolby Atmos Renderer software or via a third-party tool. Beds and objects must, at the minimum, be separated by Dialog, Narration (if present), Music, and Effects.
• Non-US Deliveries - Audio loudness must conform to the following per EBU R 128-2023: - Target loudness SHALL be ∑ -23.0 LKFS +/-1.0 LU. - True Peak (dBTP) target levels for the Atmos mix should, generally, not exceed -0.1dBTP. Loudness and True Peak should be measured using the loudness analysis in the Dolby Atmos Renderer software or via a third-party tool. Beds and objects must, at the minimum, be separated by Dialog, Narration (if present), Music, and Effects.

4. All beds and objects are encoded and will always be audible.
5. IAB MUST contain multiple beds maintaining DME separation to the extent possible. Beds and Objects for Dialog, Music, and Effects (DME) MUST be created.
6. Atmos files MUST be synchronous to and match final IMF picture length exactly as long-play and not separate reels. Leader and sync pop SHALL be removed.
7. Adding First Frame of Action (FFOA) in the Dolby Renderer is optional but is not required.
8. IAB Atmos is not supported for 29.97 delivery.

Audio Loudness

Content must conform to either ITU-1770-4 (for US content deliveries) or EBU R 128-2023 (for content deliveries outside of the US).

For ITU-1770-4, target audio loudness must conform with:

• Program Loudness Level must be normalized to a Target Level of −24.0 LUFS ±2db.
• True Peak does not exceed -2 dBTP (dynamics processing should be applied as needed)

For EBU R 128-2023, target audio loudness must conform with:

• Program Loudness Level must be normalized to a Target Level of −23.0 LUFS ±1db.
• True Peak Level of a program must not exceed −1 dBTP.

Audio Track Layout

1. Exclude track(s) if not available, do not fill with silent or duplicate tracks.
2. The MCA Tag Symbol must correspond with the MCA Tag Name. The Immersive Audio track must follow the Immersive Audio Labeling section (§5.10) of SMPTE ST 2067-201:2019.
3. The following are required fields for IMF files:
   • Spoken Language (RFC 5646)
   • MCA Audio Content Kind
   • MCA Tag Name
   • MCA Tag Symbol

The MCA Tag Symbol MUST correspond with the MCA Tag Name. The Immersive Audio track MUST follow SMPTE ST 2067-201:2019 §5.10.

File Naming Conventions

Guidelines

1. Filenames must only include letters [A-Z], [a-z], numbers [0-9], and characters -(dash) and_(underscore). Files with any other characters in the name may be rejected.
2. Underscores should be used to separate categories within file name.
3. Directory name should use CamelCase: multiple words joined together with the first letter of each word capitalized, e.g. Search Party -> SearchParty.
4. If a revised file is being delivered, the filename must be different from the previous file. A rev number should be added to the filename. The filename must also be updated in the MMC.

Syntax

ProgramTitle_EpNo_EditType_Language_DynamicRange_RevNo

Example

GoodBehavior_201_Eng_HDR.mov

TellMeYourSecrets_Censored_Eng_HDR_Rev2.mov

Content Delivery Method

The only supported method for HDR content delivery is Automated Content Delivery (ACD). All providers must be on-boarded to Automated Content Delivery (ACD) prior to delivering HDR content to Warner Bros. Discovery.

Supplemental Assets

Asset Imagery

Content artwork and imagery must be delivered for all content. For more information on the images required, see Image Specifications.

Title Metadata

Descriptive metadata must be provided prior to delivery of any content to Warner Bros. Discovery. For more information on the metadata required, see Descriptive Metadata Template.

Other References

• Audio Definition Model(ADM), specifies how XML metadata can be generated to provide the definitions of tracks in an audio file.
  
• Advanced sound system for programme production
  
• Interoperable Master Format — Common Audio Labels

Release History

v1.4 October 4 2025

1. Audio Track Layout - Updated all Soundfield Group MCA Tag Name and MCA Tag Symbol values to IAB and removed Audio Channel columns of table.
2. Added a note that MCA Audio Content Kind, MCA Tag Name, and MCA Tag Symbol are required fields.
3. Removed requirements for 2.0 and 5.1 audio.
4. Master Technical Specifications
   • Added that frame rate must match SDR frame rate.
   • Add note "Active aspect ratio of the HDR deliverable must match the active aspect ratio of the SDR deliverable."
5. Updated audio specs from ITU-1770-3 to ITU-1770-4.
6. Master Composition - Added note that composition must not be segmented.
7. Dolby Atmos
   • Added note "IAB Atmos is not supported for 29.97 delivery."
   • Added support for US and non-US deliveries.
8. Audio Track Layout - Removed Music & Effects, Dialogue, Sound Effects, and Music.
9. Dolby Vision Metadata - Added note: "If delivering a variable aspect ratio that Dolby Vision metadata must include both aspect ratio and shot level aspect ratio."

v1.6 June 18, 2025

1. Updated ITU-R BT.1702-2 to ITU-R BT.1702-3.
2. Updated reference of EBU R 128-2020 to EBU R 128-2023.
3. Removed reference link to internal documents.

v1.5 February 25, 2025

1. Updated Filename Convention section to call out the specific characters that are accepted: "Filenames must only include alphanumeric characters, dashes (-), and underscores (_). Files with any other characters in the name may be rejected."

v1.4 November 27, 2024

1. Added to Filename Convention section: "If a revised file is being delivered, the filename must be different from the previous file. A rev number should be added to the filename. The filename must also be updated in the MMC."
2. Several of the previously existing file name convention requirements have been changed from "must" to "should."

v1.3 March 28, 2024

1. Added link to marketing deliverables
2. Added note about theatrical content delivering audio stems to the audio layout table

v1.2 July 31, 2023

1. Moved OPL note from item 4 for item 3 in the list of expected deliverables
2. Changed audio loudness example of "LtRt" to "L,R"
3. Added (RFC 5646) to the Spoken Language header of the Audio Track Layout table

v1.1 May 6, 2022

1. Updated WMContentAcquistions email address