For television broadcasting, you need to deliver a PAD or Prêt À Diffuser, which is a master that has been checked and corrected to comply with the various standards of the broadcasters.
On tape or as a file, we will take all the care required to ensure that your programmes pass their tests with flying colours… Since 2014, our laboratory has been approved by CANAL+, in 2016 by TF1, then M6, France Télévision, Arte, Turner, etc.
We can send the PAD files directly to the broadcasters’ servers using our ASPERA and SMARTJOG connections. We have two fibre-optic cables (and many carrier pigeons) for fast and secure delivery.
+ 500 customers have already placed their trust in us from all over the world
Bringing your master files into line for delivery on HDCAM magnetic tape. This format is the most widespread among broadcasters who continue to broadcast on cassettes.
We process the video and audio signals and fully check the cassette before sending it to the channels.
We assist you in delivering your commercials to television channels.
We can help you deliver your clips to music television channels.
We can bring your files into compliance and deliver them via Fastrax.
We can help you deliver your radio adverts.
We can bring your files into line and deliver them via Copiestation.
Films produced
Motion design
Interviews
Countries covered
Prêt À Diffuser (PAD) is a technical term used in the audiovisual industry to refer to finalised content that complies with broadcasters’ requirements and is ready to be broadcast on television, streaming or cinema platforms. This video file must meet a set of technical and editorial criteria defined by the receiving television channel, digital platform or distributor. Once the post-production phase is complete, the content undergoes rigorous verification to ensure that it is optimised for broadcast without the need for further editing. Compliance with image quality, audio standards, subtitling and metadata is essential to ensure that the video can be broadcast without incident and in the highest possible quality.
The creation of a Prêt à Diffuser file follows a precise process that begins in the final editing phase and ends with validation by the broadcaster. The first step is to adjust all the visual and sound elements to achieve perfect consistency between shots, transitions and effects. Colour grading is a crucial phase that allows for the standardisation of colours and improvement of image rendering to guarantee optimal quality on all broadcasting media. Optimising the audio mix ensures a perfect balance between dialogue, sound effects and music, thus avoiding any sound saturation or imbalance. Once these adjustments have been made, the video is exported in a specific format defined by the broadcaster, generally in high resolution with encoding that complies with television or digital standards.
Ready-to-broadcast content must comply with precise specifications to ensure compatibility with broadcasting systems. Each television channel or platform has its own requirements in terms of resolution, frame rate, video and audio codecs, and file format. For example, a television channel may require an MXF OP1a format, while a streaming platform may prefer a ProRes or H.264 file. The specifications also include colour calibration, which must be adjusted to avoid visual discrepancies during broadcasting, as well as standardised sound levels to avoid any unpleasant variations between programmes. The integration of metadata, which provides information on the programme title, production date, broadcasting rights and subtitles, is a key element of the PAD to ensure optimal content management.
Before a programme is validated as Ready for Broadcast, it must pass a series of rigorous tests to verify its compliance with broadcast standards. A technical check is carried out to identify any anomalies, such as visual artefacts, audio synchronisation problems or compression errors. This process includes verification of the level of brightness and contrast, compliance with the image ratio and consistency of the background noise. A sound test is used to analyse the clarity of the dialogue and the distribution of sound frequencies to ensure a smooth and pleasant listening experience. At the same time, an editorial check is often carried out to ensure that the content complies with the broadcaster’s legal and ethical guidelines, particularly with regard to copyright, the possible presence of sensitive content and compliance with current regulations.
A Ready to Air file must be optimised right from the post-production phase in order to avoid any non-compliance that could result in refusals from broadcasters. The first step is to carry out a compliant export, scrupulously respecting the technical specifications requested. The encoding must be carried out with care to avoid compression artefacts, loss of detail or sound saturation. A meticulous check of the subtitles and multilingual versions is essential to ensure that they are perfectly synchronised with the image and to avoid any playback problems. The integration of alternative audio tracks, such as audio-description or subtitled original version, must be carried out in a coherent manner to ensure maximum accessibility of the content. Once all these steps have been validated, a final playback test is carried out on different broadcast media to ensure that the programme works perfectly in all conditions.
Prêt à Diffuser (Ready for Broadcast) is an essential standard in the audiovisual world, guaranteeing that each piece of content meets the technical and qualitative criteria required by broadcasters. By mastering the technical aspects of PAD, content creators and producers ensure that their works are optimised for smooth and seamless broadcasting, thus offering viewers an impeccable viewing experience on all broadcast media.
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