Video Ads and Commercial Quality Control & Assurance 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which audio specification is most commonly required for broadcast video ads in the US?
- LUFS -23 (EBU R128)
- LUFS -24 (ATSC A/85) (Correct answer)
- LUFS -16 (streaming standard)
- LUFS -14 (YouTube standard)
Correct answer: LUFS -24 (ATSC A/85)
US broadcast ads follow ATSC A/85, which targets -24 LUFS for loudness normalization.
Question 2: What does 'legal black' mean in video QC for broadcast commercials?
- A fade-to-black transition effect
- Video levels below 7.5 IRE on analog broadcast (Correct answer)
- Black letterbox bars added to widescreen content
- A color grade applied to dark scenes
Correct answer: Video levels below 7.5 IRE on analog broadcast
Legal black refers to video luminance values at or above 7.5 IRE (setup), the minimum allowed for analog broadcast to avoid sync interference.
Question 3: A QC report flags 'chroma clipping' in a video ad. What does this indicate?
- Audio and video are out of sync
- Color saturation has exceeded broadcast-legal limits (Correct answer)
- The video file is missing color metadata
- Frame rate inconsistency in the color grading
Correct answer: Color saturation has exceeded broadcast-legal limits
Chroma clipping means color saturation values exceed the allowable range for broadcast, risking signal distortion on air.
Question 4: What is the purpose of a 'slates' requirement in a broadcast commercial deliverable?
- To add branding watermarks throughout the video
- To provide identifying information before and after the program content (Correct answer)
- To insert countdown leaders for live broadcast cues
- To mark chapter points within long-form content
Correct answer: To provide identifying information before and after the program content
Slates provide identifying metadata (advertiser, title, version, duration) before the spot content, helping broadcasters log and air the correct version.
Question 5: Which QC check detects unintended static frames embedded within a video ad?
- Loudness analysis
- Freeze frame detection (Correct answer)
- GOP structure validation
- Timecode continuity check
Correct answer: Freeze frame detection
Freeze frame detection identifies frames that are identical or nearly identical to adjacent frames, indicating a stalled or duplicated frame error.
Question 6: A 30-second TV commercial is rejected because of 'luminance excursions above 100 IRE.' What should the post team do?
- Re-export with a different codec
- Apply a broadcast-safe limiter to bring peak luminance into spec (Correct answer)
- Reduce the overall bitrate of the file
- Change the color space from Rec. 709 to sRGB
Correct answer: Apply a broadcast-safe limiter to bring peak luminance into spec
A broadcast-safe filter or limiter clips any luminance values above 100 IRE (or the equivalent legal limit) to bring the signal within acceptable range.
Question 7: What is 'closed captioning compliance' specifically required for in US video ads?
- All online video ads over 30 seconds
- TV commercials aired on stations that carry programming with captions, under FCC rules (Correct answer)
- Any ad featuring a voiceover or dialogue
- Social media video ads above 60 seconds
Correct answer: TV commercials aired on stations that carry programming with captions, under FCC rules
FCC rules require captions on TV commercials if they air on channels that broadcast captioned programming, to ensure accessibility for deaf and hard-of-hearing viewers.
Video Ads and Commercial Quality Control & Assurance 2
Which audio specification is most commonly required for broadcast video ads in the US?