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Outbound Media Specifications

Release: 1.0 | October 20, 2025

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This webpage defines Warner Bros. Discovery's high-level technical requirements for delivering its content catalog to affilates.

Technical Specifications

WBD delivers fully componentized media packages.

  1. All audio and timed-text tracks will be delivered as discrete/sidecar files. No Audio or timed-text tracks will be embedded within the video deliverable.*
  2. Video tracks will retain native framerate, matching that of the source media.
  3. Video tracks will be delivered at the highest resolution available, with any transformation necessary performed by the partner. The highest resolution the partner will use is based on avails.
  4. Each audio file will be limited to a single soundfield.
  5. Stereo or Dual Mono Audio is provided for all programs. 5.1 and Atmos Audio will be sent only when available.
As an alternative, WBD can include the primary stereo and surround (if available) audio in the original production language embedded in the video. Additional audio tracks will be delivered as discrete components.

Composition Details:

  • There will be a maximum of 1.5 seconds of black canvas at segment breaks.  
  • All Programs start at 0-Hr timecode. 

Video Components

All videos will be described in the Media Manifest Core (MMC). See the MMC section for more details.

HD SDR Video
ContainerQuickTime MOVMPEG 4
Frame RatesNative (23.976, 25, 29.97)
Pixel Aspect Ratio1:1 (Square)
Video Resolution1920 x 1080 (16:9)
Scan TypeProgressive
CodecProRes 422AVC (H.264)
Profile/LevelProRes 422 HQHigh 4:2:2 / 4.1 and 4.2
Bit RateVBR encode (~176-220 Mbps)30 Mbps
Chroma Bit Depth10-bit8-bit or 10-bit
Color Coding/SpaceY'CbCr 4:2:2/Legal Range
Color Primaries*ITU-R BT.709
Transfer Characteristics*ITU-R BT.709
Matrix Coefficients*ITU-R BT.709
Timecode TrackDrop Frame – 00:00:00;00 - 29.97
Non-Drop Frame – 00:00:00:00 - 23.976, 25
N/A
UHD SDR Video
ContainerQuickTime MOVMPEG 4
Frame RatesNative (23.976, 25, 29.97)
Pixel Aspect Ratio1:1 (Square)
Video Resolution3840x2160 (16:9)
Scan TypeProgressive
CodecProRes 422HEVC (H.265)
Profile/LevelProRes 422 HQMain / 5.1
Bit RateVBR encode (~737-1768 Mbps)35 Mbps
Chroma Bit Depth10-bit8-bit or 10-bit
Color Coding/SpaceY'CbCr 4:2:2/Legal Range
Color Primaries*ITU-R BT.709
Transfer Characteristics*ITU-R BT.709
Matrix Coefficients*ITU-R BT.709
Timecode TrackDrop Frame – 00:00:00;00 - 29.97
Non-Drop Frame – 00:00:00:00 - 23.976, 25
N/A
UHD HDR Video
ContainerMXF
Frame RatesNative (23.976, 25, 29.97)
Pixel Aspect Ratio1:1 (Square)
Video Resolution3840x2160 (16:9)
Scan TypeProgressive
CodecJPEG 2000
Profile/LevelN/A
Bit RateVBR encode (~737-1768 Mbps)
Chroma Bit Depth12-bit
Color Coding/SpaceFull Range RBG BT.2020
Color Matrix/PrimariesRGB Color @ 4:4:4(no chroma sub-sampling)
Timecode TrackDrop Frame – 00:00:00;00 - 29.97
Non-Drop Frame – 00:00:00:00 - 23.976, 25

Audio Components

All audio will be described in the Media Manifest Core (MMC). See the MMC section for more details.

Audio Components
FormatStereo / Dual Mono*Surround
ContainerWAV - Files over 4GBs will be RF64 per EBU 3306
CodecPCM
EndiannessLittle Endian
Bit Depth24 bit
Sample Rate48khz
Channel LayoutChannel 1: Left (L)
Channel 2: Right (R)
Channel 1: Mono 1 (M1)
Channel 2: Mono 2 (M2)
Channel 1: Left (L)
Channel 2: Right (R)
Channel 3: Center (C)
Channel 4: LFE
Channel 5: Left Surround (LS)
Channel 6: Right Surround (RS)
Dual Mono Audio tracks are delivered gain-compensated.

Dolby Atmos

Atmos Audio Components
FormatDolby Atmos
ContainerMXF (IAB)
CodecPCM
EndiannessLittle Endian
Bit Depth24-bit
Sample Rate48khz
Channel Layout7.1.2
Channel 1: Left (L)
Channel 2: Right (R)
Channel 3: Center (C)
Channel 4: LFE
Channel 5: Left Surround (LS)
Channel 6: Right Surround (RS)
Channel 7: Left Rear Surround (LRS)
Channel 8: Right Rear Surround (RRS)
Channel 9: Left Top Front (LTF)
Channel 10: Right Top Front (RTF)
7.1.4
Channel 1: Left (L)
Channel 2: Right (R)
Channel 3: Center (C)
Channel 4: LFE
Channel 5: Left Surround (LS)
Channel 6: Right Surround (RS)
Channel 7: Left Rear Surround (LRS)
Channel 8: Right Rear Surround (RRS)
Channel 9: Left Top Front (LTF)
Channel 10: Right Top Front (RTF)
Channel 11: LTR (Left Top Rear)
Channel 12: RTR (Right Top Rear)

Timed Text

  1. The language, text usage, and frame rate for all timed text will be described in the Media Manifest Core (MMC). See the MMC section for more details.
  2. The start time of timed text will be the same as the SOM of Video.

Timed-Text Supported Formats

WBD can provide timed-text tracks in any of the following formats:

Timed-Text Supported Formats
FormatFile ExtensionMedia Time Value Format
IMSC Rosetta (recommended).imscrHH:MM:SS.sss (3 places milliseconds)
SMPTE-TT.xmlHH:MM:SS.sss (3 places milliseconds)
STL (Only supplied for 25 fps content).stlHH:MM:SS:FF

Images

All images delivered will align with the WBD Image Specs. All images will be delivered as JPG files. PSD and other native formats are not offered.

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