Availability windows and language rights
How to describe when, where, and in which languages Roku may make a title available.
What an availability window represents
An availability window describes the rights for a title over a period of time. It combines a License Type, Territory, and Language with a Start Date and End Date.
Each row describes one window with one Territory value. You may combine rights or languages on the same row when all other availability attributes are identical. Use separate rows when the dates or other attributes differ.
For example, the following sample availability for Weird: The Al Yankovic Story uses the same AVOD rights and dates in the United States and Canada, with a separate row for each country.
| Title ID | License Type | Territory | Language | LocalizationType | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
romovieid_12345 | AVOD | US | en | dub | 2026-11-01 | 2027-10-31 |
romovieid_12345 | AVOD | CA | en | dub | 2026-11-01 | 2027-10-31 |
These rows illustrate availability fields only. A submitted workbook must also contain the other required fields in the field reference.
License types
The License Type must reflect the rights in your agreement with Roku. Use the literal values below in the Roku workbook.
| License Type | Meaning |
|---|---|
AVOD | Ad-supported video on demand. Viewers watch for free with advertisements. |
SVOD | Subscription video on demand. Viewers need an active subscription. |
FVOD | Free video on demand. Roku Subscriptions content is made available for free without monetization during a window contained within an active SVOD window. |
Linear OTT | Linear streaming rights for distribution on linear OTT channels built by Roku. Include this license type when offering content for that distribution. |
Multiple license types may share a row when their other availability attributes match. Use Excluded Rights to identify distribution rights that are excluded.
Linear OTT in EMA submissions
Linear OTT is not an officially supported EMA license type. Roku accepts this Roku-specific value in EMA submissions so partners can identify content offered for distribution on linear OTT channels built by Roku. Include Linear OTT as a license type when offering those rights, whether you use the EMA or Roku workbook.
The rights, territories, languages, and availability dates supplied must describe the offering. The finalized CTL must reflect the rights agreed with Roku.
FVOD windows
An FVOD window must be fully contained within an active SVOD window for the title. It may have the same start and end dates as the SVOD window. FVOD-only availability is not supported.
| SVOD window | FVOD window | Valid? | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
2026-11-01 to 2027-10-31 | 2026-12-01 to 2026-12-31 | Yes | The FVOD window falls entirely within the SVOD window. |
2026-11-01 to 2027-10-31 | 2026-11-01 to 2027-10-31 | Yes | Both windows have the same boundaries. |
2026-11-01 to 2027-10-31 | 2026-10-15 to 2026-11-30 | No | FVOD starts before SVOD. |
2026-11-01 to 2027-10-31 | 2027-10-01 to 2027-11-30 | No | FVOD ends after SVOD. |
| No SVOD window | 2026-12-01 to 2026-12-31 | No | The title has no supporting SVOD window. |
When adding FVOD through a self-service SVOD submission, include the SVOD windows that must remain in the same covered combination. See full-extract submission behavior.
Territories and exclusions
Territory identifies where the rights apply. Enter one Territory value per row. Individual countries use two-character country codes, such as US, CA, GB, and MX. Use a separate row for each country.
The Roku workbook also accepts the group values LATAM and WW as a single Territory value. Confirm their country coverage with Content Operations before relying on a group value for your agreement.
ExcludedTerritories identifies territories that must not receive the availability described by the row. Review included and excluded territories together before submission. If the values conflict, contact Content Operations for guidance.
Language rights and delivered assets
Three different pieces of information describe a title's languages:
| Information | What it tells Roku |
|---|---|
Language and LocalizationType | Which language and audio or subtitle combinations may be made available under the rights in this row. |
Original Spoken Language | The language or languages in which the content was originally produced. |
| Ingest metadata and delivered media | Which audio, caption, and subtitle assets are actually being delivered for the title. |
Language rights do not supply an audio or subtitle file. Deliver the corresponding media and ingest metadata using the audio requirements and caption and subtitle requirements.
Localization types
| Value | Meaning |
|---|---|
dub | The language refers to audio. This includes original voice audio as well as dubbed audio. |
sub | The language refers to subtitles. |
subdub | The language includes both subtitles and audio. |
any | Any available combination of subtitles or audio in the stated language. |
Use a supported language code from the resources. Keep language rights separate from the original production language.
Entering languages in the Roku workbook
For one language, either enter the language code and its localization type in separate columns or include the localization type after a colon in Language. When the type is already included in Language, you may leave LocalizationType blank.
For multiple languages on one row, include the localization type with each language code and separate the entries with commas. The other availability attributes must be identical for all listed languages.
| Language | LocalizationType | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
en-us | dub | English (United States) audio, using separate columns. |
en-us:dub | Leave blank | The same language right, using one inline value. |
en-us:dub, es-mx:sub | Leave blank | English (United States) audio and Spanish (Mexico) subtitles with the same other availability attributes. |
Use one consistent notation for each row. Contact Content Operations if inline values and the separate LocalizationType value conflict.
Excluded Languages identifies languages that must not be made available under the row's rights. Use supported language codes, separated by commas when listing more than one. Review them together with the included languages.
Dates and times
Enter the intended window in the CTL's Start Date and End Date fields. Use the formats below consistently and keep the values as text when preparing the workbook.
| Form | Format or literal value | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Date only | YYYY-MM-DD | Starts at 00:00:00 or ends at 23:59:59 on that date in each viewer's local time zone. |
| Relative date and time | YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS | The stated time in each viewer's local time zone. |
| Absolute date and time | YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SSZ | One fixed moment, expressed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). |
| Unspecified date | open | No specific start or end date is set. Allowed in either date field. |
| End of the agreement | end of term | Availability ends when the Roku deal ends. Allowed in End Date only. |
The date fields are required. Use the applicable literal value when the date is unspecified rather than leaving the field blank.
Relative time
2026-11-15T21:00:00 means 9:00 PM on November 15 in each viewer's local time zone. A viewer in Eastern time receives availability at 9:00 PM Eastern; a viewer in Pacific time receives it at 9:00 PM Pacific.
Absolute time
2026-11-15T02:00:00Z means one fixed instant, 02:00 UTC on November 15. The local clock time depends on the viewer's time zone. The final Z identifies the value as UTC.
Use an explicit date and time when a title must start or expire at a specific time. A date-only end value continues through 23:59:59 in each viewer's local time zone on that date.
Related guidance
Updated about 5 hours ago