HD Safe Title for Broadcast Television

HD Safe Title for Broadcast Television

If you are a Pond5 Contributor and you desire to have your content purchased by current broadcast television producers, please be aware of Safe-Title for HDTV broadcast over the FCC controlled spectrum.

Even though the NTSC broadcasters may be broadcasting an HD signal over the spectrum, 60% to 70% of the television viewing population still receives their television viewing over the air on Standard Definition tvs.

I work as Creative Services Director for KRNV News4, the first station in Northern Nevada to start broadcasting in High Definition. It's great to be creating content in HD. It's more cinematic than SD television. Regretfully though, when KRNV broadcasts over the air waves and you don't have an HD receiving television, what you see at home is the 4 x 3 SD center-cut of the HD signal.

Here's where the problem lies.

There are many Independent "HD Television Producers" out there that are not aware of center-cut 4 x 3 safe title. Those are the producers that create commercials for retail clients that put graphics on the screen like phone numbers, web sites and logos and locators, but fail to realize that the home screen is receiving the 4 x 3 center-cut of the HD broadcasted signal. That mean's the last 2 or 3 digits of the advertiser's phone number reads off the screen on the right.

The reason I bring all this this up is this...

The free clip for this week is cool. It's the hand written words, "BACK TO SCHOOL." Then a cartoon face draws on next to it. A great seasonal element, but, the words read too far off to the left for it to be used effectively for content to be "broadcast" in HD at my tv station. The letter "B' and half the letter "A" would be cut off and un-readable on screen as well as half the cartoon head would be cut off on the right.

There are still production houses in Northern Nevada that are sending HD tv commercials to our station that are "produced" in HD but do not adhere to HD Safe Title, and the all important client has paid a sizeable amount of money to see the last half of their phone number unseen on the screen because of the graphics running out of SD broadcast safe title.

I hesitated on downloading the free "BACK TO SCHOOL" with the cartoon head video clip. It is cool, but again the lettering will read off the screen on the left and the cartoon drawing will be clipped on the right.

So, all you great Pond5 contributors, if you do shoot and create, please make sure the main action or graphical content will end up visible in the SD 4 x 3 center-cut middle of the entire 16 x 9 frame. Today's HD broadcast television producers that actively visit Pond5 and other web sites will appreciate the content providers who understand the use of Safe Title and can frame content so the composition of the shot has important action always framed in the 4 x 3 center-cut, and the not so important action or imagery is framed to the edges of the 16 x 9 screen. Especially graphic information that is written on screen.

Sorry for the rant. I just know that more tv producers would purchase more content if they see content framed for ease of use when they know it will be center-cut for up to 70% of the viewing population.

Just thought you Pond5 contributors would like to know how your content is being used in the "HD" broadcast world.


Happy shooting and producing!



Mark Easter
easterfilms

That we were instructed to shoot video for tv in the military also. Always try to keep your content within 4/3. Hawaii news channels are also still broadcasting mostly in 4/3.

Geez Mark, no need to apologize for such a "rant"! This is good stuff. I wish more knowledgeable folk on both sides would do so. I've often wondered about this very topic, and really appreciate such a comprehensive reminder.

Thanks!

Mark, I'd like to echo Mizamook's reply. Thanks for the safe-title reminder.
I notice that Premiere Pro has a 10% and 20% safe area overlay which is customizable.

If there are any other issues or advice - we are all ears, particularly as we don't get many "buyers" coming on here.

Great information, we all need to hear more like it, thanks

Yes, I edit TV spots for a living and I MUST KEEP ALL MY GRAPHICS 4x3 SAFE! If I even stray by a pixel for some clients, they will reject it. Most aren't that strict, but it does happen.

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/280996/4x3safe.JPG.

I used to hate being forced to leave the "wings" empty, but I've gotten used to it. All disclaimers, phone numbers, or other important graphics must adhere to the 4x3 safe margins. Other supporting graphics can linger into the forbidden zone, but only if they aren't important to the visuals.

Being a buyer AND a contributor, I adhere to 4x3 margins in my own stock work.

Thanks for the great info! So rare we see buyers in forum.

Good point!!

Thanks for the info Mark. I'm going to keep that in mind in the future, maybe start taking two shots of each subject just to make it more versatile. I tend to compose many of my shots using the old rule of thirds, which would not be suitable if converted to 4x3.

Thanks for the kind words and understanding.

Yes I am a buyer and a producer/shooter. I love what I do and enjoy seeing great contributions here at pond5.

Thanks also to pond5 for you advertising and promotions for your brand.

My content has been featured on SyFy, History Channel, Travel Channel, NatGeo and more. I'm happy that pond5 keeps in front of these network producers so my content can be seen!

Thanks pond5.


M