In short: AS-11 UK DPP HD is the file specification for a finished HD programme delivered to UK DPP broadcasters. It is an MXF file with 10-bit AVC-Intra video and 24-bit PCM audio, one channel per sound track, plus metadata for titles, captions and contacts. Get the broadcaster's own requirements in writing before you export.
AS-11 is the packaging a broadcaster expects when a finished programme arrives as a file. It is strict about the container, the codec and the metadata, so each of those needs checking before the file leaves your hands. The specification is published by AMWA, while the DPP's own download is for members, so check with the broadcaster which version they want.
What AS-11 is
The specification defines a self-contained, play-out ready package for a finished HD programme. Broadcasters can take it at broadcast specification, or transcode it themselves. A package can contain pre-roll or post-roll that is not for transmission, and it can be segmented.
The settings in brief
| Item | What the spec asks for |
|---|---|
| Wrapper | MXF, operational pattern 1a |
| Video | AVC-Intra 100 (intra-frame), 10 bits per sample |
| Picture | 1080 lines, 50i in the published specification |
| Audio | Uncompressed 24-bit PCM at 48 kHz |
| Audio tracks | One channel per sound track, numbered from 1, with channels never split or combined between tracks |
| Loudness | The metadata records the loudness standard, EBU R 128, which sets a target of -23 LUFS for programme loudness. Take the true peak limit and tolerance from the broadcaster's requirements |
| Captions | Flags for open and closed captions, each with a type and an ISO 639-2 language code |
The metadata you will be asked for
Series, programme and episode titles, each with a length limit. A synopsis with a 250 character limit. The originator, the copyright year, the result of the photosensitive epilepsy test, a contact email and phone number, and the number of parts and the duration. Gather these at the edit stage, not on the day the file is due.
How to prepare a delivery
- Get the broadcaster's delivery requirements in writing, including the spec version, the loudness target, the audio layout and the caption files they want.
- Lock the picture and the mix before the export, not after.
- Export one master at the spec settings, with the audio laid out in the way the broadcaster asks.
- Fill in the metadata: titles, synopsis, contacts, duration and the photosensitive epilepsy test result.
- Check the file, then play the whole of it on a second system before you send it.
- Send it with a delivery note that lists the spec version, the audio layout and the caption files.
A worked example
A 30-minute programme has a stereo mix, English captions and a 90-second end card. The stereo mix is not one track. Each channel goes on its own sound track, numbered in the layout the broadcaster names. The captions are flagged and carry the English language code. The synopsis is written before the export, so it does not hold up the file.
Common mistakes
- Exporting from a rough cut, then changing the edit and exporting again without updating the metadata.
- Leaving the metadata to the end, when the synopsis and the contacts are needed for the file.
- Putting both channels of a stereo pair on one track. The spec does not allow channels to be split or combined between tracks.
- Assuming the spec is the whole requirement. Many broadcasters add their own rules on top.
- Sending the file without playing it through on another machine.
This page works from the published AMWA specification. Check the version the broadcaster names. If you are planning the shoot as well as the delivery, send the spec with the brief when you book, so the crew can plan the recording for it. For the other delivery formats, see the delivery specs cheat sheet and dialogue loudness and delivery specs. For the streaming side, read how the streamers write production guides.
Sources
- AMWA, AS-11 UK DPP HD specification, read 5 November 2026
- DPP, Air-ready master files (AS-11), read 5 November 2026
- EBU, R 128: Loudness normalisation and permitted maximum level of audio signals, read 5 November 2026
Related guides
Questions we get asked
What is DPP AS-11?
AS-11 UK DPP HD is the published file specification for delivering finished HD programmes to UK DPP broadcasters. It sets out the wrapper, video, audio, caption and metadata the file must carry.
Do I need AS-11 for YouTube or social media?
No. AS-11 is a broadcast delivery format. Platforms and social channels have their own requirements, which are covered in the delivery specs cheat sheet linked below.
Can I deliver a file that is not AS-11?
Only if the broadcaster says so. Ask for their delivery requirements in writing before you export, and check the spec version they name.
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