Introduction
NBCUniversal CTV specifications define delivery requirements for video ad creatives across NBCU inventory. The spec enforces strict VAST compliance. VPAID responses will be flagged and fail quality control. Each tag must contain a single creative duration. Creatives must meet mezzanine and high-tier bitrate standards and follow CALM compliance loudness requirements. Two-channel stereo audio is required to ensure even audio distribution aligned with video content.
Publisher
- • VAST version: 2.0 only
- • Resolution: 1920×1080 · Aspect ratio: 16:9
- • Bitrate: Mezzanine 10 - 30 Mbps | High 3.25 - 5 Mbps
- • Codec: H.264 only · File format: .mp4 · Max size: 10 GB
- • Frame rate: 23.98, 24, 25, 29.97, or 30 fps · constant only
- • VPAID: not supported. Flagged and fails QC
- • Wrapped tags: Not supported. Monitoring pixels only.
Specifications
VAST and tag requirements
| Spec | Details |
|---|---|
| VAST Supported | Yes |
| VAST Version | 2.0 ONLY |
| VPAID Supported | No, VAST responses containing VPAID will be flagged and quality control will fail |
| 3rd Party Tags | Yes |
| Preferred Vendors | Innovid, Flashtalking, DCM, Sizmek, Extreme Reach |
| Wrapped Tags | Not supported, monitoring pixels only |
| Trackers | Must be validated against publisher-approved vendors |
| Multiple Durations Per Tag | Not allowed; each tag must contain a single creative duration |
Video specifications
| Spec | Details |
|---|---|
| Resolution | 1920×1080 |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:9 |
| Bitrate — Mezzanine | 10 - 30 Mbps |
| Bitrate — High | 3.25 - 5 Mbps |
| File Format | .mp4 |
| Codec | H.264 only |
| Max File Size | 10 GB |
| Frame Rate | 23.98, 24, 25, 29.97, or 30 fps |
| Frame Rate Type | Constant frame rate only |
Audio specifications
| Spec | Details |
|---|---|
| Audio Required | Yes |
| Channels | 2-channel stereo. Without two tracks, audio playback could sound unevenly distributed, making ads very loud or too quiet and not aligned with video content. |
| Bitrate | 192 kbps minimum |
| Sample Rate | 48 kHz |
| Loudness Standard | -24 LKFS +/- 2 per CALM compliance |
- VAST responses containing VPAID will be flagged and quality control will fail.
- Wrapped tags are not supported; only monitoring pixels are allowed.
- Trackers must be validated against publisher-approved vendors: Innovid, Flashtalking, DCM, Sizmek, and Extreme Reach are preferred.
- Multiple durations are not allowed within the same tag. Each tag must contain a single creative duration.
- Two-channel stereo audio is required. Without two tracks, audio playback may sound unevenly distributed, causing ads to be too loud or too quiet and out of alignment with video content.
- Audio must follow CALM compliance at -24 LKFS +/- 2.
Spec guide
FAQs
Can wrapped tags be used in NBCUniversal CTV campaigns?
Wrapped tags are not supported in NBCUniversal CTV campaigns and only monitoring pixels are allowed. Any use of wrapped tags can cause validation failure because delivery requires direct VAST execution without wrapper logic.
What happens if a tag contains multiple creative durations in NBCUniversal CTV?
Tags containing multiple creative durations are not allowed in NBCUniversal CTV. Each tag must contain a single creative duration to ensure accurate delivery, correct measurement, and proper quality control validation.
Why is VPAID rejected in NBCUniversal CTV ad delivery?
VPAID is rejected in NBCUniversal CTV ad delivery because it fails strict VAST compliance requirements. Any response containing VPAID is flagged during quality control and cannot be served across NBCUniversal inventory.