Avails and CTL field reference
EMA field guidance and Roku workbook requirements, formats, and examples.
How to use this reference
For MovieLabs EMA, use the EMA Avails field definitions. The reference below provides exact column names, requirements, formats, and examples for the Roku Avails and CTL workbook.
The tables follow the Roku workbook from column A through AR. Keep the headers exactly as shown, including capitalization and spacing.
- Required: populate the field on every data row.
- Conditional: populate the field when the stated condition applies.
- Optional: leave the field blank if it does not apply. Do not use
N/Aorn/a.
Examples illustrate syntax and do not grant rights. Use the values in your agreement with Roku. A comma-separated list contains multiple values in one cell where the field permits a list. Use one Territory value per row. Only combine rights or language values when the other availability attributes are identical. See availability windows and language rights.
Submission identity and dates
| Column | Exact header | Requirement | Meaning and format | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Instructions | Retain the column and hint row. | The template's completion instructions and the samples' scenario descriptions. Enter actual title and rights data in the named fields below. | Sample files describe the scenario in this column. |
| B | Content Partner | Required | Text. Name of the content owner, studio, or network offering the content to Roku. | Example Studio |
| C | Content Type | Required | One allowed value: movie, episode, or shortForm. These map to ingest film, tv, and clip, respectively. | episode |
| D | License Type | Required | Allowed rights: AVOD, SVOD, FVOD, Linear OTT. Values must match the distribution rights agreed with Roku. Multiple rights may share a row when all other attributes match. | AVOD, Linear OTT |
| E | Excluded Rights | Optional | Distribution rights excluded from the offering. Uses the same allowed values as License Type. | Linear OTT |
| F | Start Date | Required | Date/time text: YYYY-MM-DD, YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS, or UTC YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SSZ. Use open when no start date is specified. A date without a time starts at local midnight. | 2027-01-01 |
| G | End Date | Required | The same date/time forms as Start Date. open means no end date is specified. end of term permits availability until the end of the deal terms with Roku. A date without a time ends at local 23:59:59. | 2027-12-31 or end of term |
See content-type definitions and ID matching, license types, and date behavior before preparing a row with multiple rights or a timed window.
Origin languages and territories
| Column | Exact header | Requirement | Meaning and format | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| H | Country of Origin | Required | One ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 country code. The primary country where the title was produced and its main creators, crew, and producers are established. This is different from the distribution territory. | US |
| I | Original Spoken Language | Required | The language in which the content was originally produced, using supported language codes. Multiple original languages may be comma-separated. | en-us, fr-ca |
| J | Language | Required | Language rights offered to Roku. Use a supported language code with the separate LocalizationType field for a single language, or inline language:localizationType pairs. For multiple languages, include localization on every pair. | en-us:dub, es-mx:sub |
| K | LocalizationType | Conditional: required for a single language when its localization type is not included in Language. | One of sub, dub, subdub, any. dub includes original-language audio. When localization is supplied inline in Language, the separate field may be left blank. | dub |
| L | Excluded Languages | Optional | Supported language codes for languages that must not be made available. Separate multiple languages with commas. | de, fr |
| M | Territory | Required | One value per row: a distribution country or territory code, normally ISO 3166-1 alpha-2, or a supported group value. Supported group values include LATAM and WW; confirm their country coverage with Content Operations before relying on a group. | US |
| N | ExcludedTerritories | Optional | ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 codes for countries or territories excluded from availability. Separate multiple values with commas. | DE, FR |
Use the supported language codes and localization explanations. Language rights do not supply missing audio or subtitle files. If your included and excluded values have overlapping scope, confirm the intended combination with Content Operations instead of assuming how conflicts will be resolved.
Title and episode identity
| Column | Exact header | Requirement | Meaning and format | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| O | Series Title | Conditional: required for episode. | The series name as it should appear on the platform. Exclude non-title parentheticals such as (Classic), a release year, a season marker, or a video format. | Die Hart |
| P | Series ID | Conditional: required for episode. | Immutable, unique partner-supplied identifier for the series. Must match ingest series_id, be consistent across all episodes, and differ from the episode Title ID. Maximum 50 characters; alphanumeric characters, hyphens, and underscores only. | roseriesid_123 |
| Q | Title | Required | Name of the movie, episode, or clip. Exclude non-title parentheticals such as (Classic), a release year, (Season 1), or (HD). | The Recruit |
| R | Title ID | Required | Immutable, unique partner-supplied identifier for the movie, episode, or clip. Must match ingest asset_id. Maximum 50 characters; alphanumeric characters, hyphens, and underscores only. Reuse the same ID for the same title across its availability rows and updates. | roepisodeid_123 |
| S | Season Number | Conditional: required for episode. | Integer following the original broadcast or distribution sequence. Letters are not allowed. | 1 |
| T | Episode Number | Conditional: required for episode. | Integer following the episode's original broadcast or distribution sequence within its season. Do not use production numbers, such as 201 to mean season 2 episode 1. | 1 |
Ingest requires a separate Season ID for episodic titles. Provide it in the ingest metadata; do not add a column to this workbook.
Runtime format and accessibility
| Column | Exact header | Requirement | Meaning and format | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U | Run Time | Required | Runtime in whole minutes. Minimum value is 1. | 22 |
| V | Format | Required | Highest available video resolution: SD, HD, or UHD. Lower resolutions are assumed to be available under this declaration. | HD |
| W | DBO | Optional | Domestic box office gross as text. | $2,000,000 |
| X | Closed Captioning | Required | Boolean: true if captions are included with the content, otherwise false. | true |
| Y | Caption Exemption | Conditional: required for US availability when Closed Captioning is false. | Applicable caption exemption code, 1 through 6. See caption exemption codes. | 1 |
| Z | Audio Description | Optional | Boolean indicating whether an audio description track is included. Audio description narrates relevant visual information for people who are blind or have low vision. | true |
| AA | Audio Description Exemption | Conditional: required when audio description is required for the content but is not supplied. | Text describing the applicable exemption reason. | Provide the reason applicable to the title. |
For UHD source delivery and playback limitations, see the maintained video requirements. Declaring a resolution in a CTL does not change those requirements. For captions and audio description, follow the applicable accessibility delivery guidance.
Descriptive metadata ratings and audience
| Column | Exact header | Requirement | Meaning and format | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AB | Original Release Date | Required | First release date in any presentation, formatted YYYY-MM-DD. A year alone, YYYY, is also accepted. | 2026-03-12 or 2026 |
| AC | Genre | Required | One or more supported genre values, separated by commas. | drama |
| AD | Tags | Optional | Keywords or categories describing the title for selection. Provide publication-facing tags separately in ingest metadata. See metadata best practices. | friendship, coastal town |
| AE | Rating Source | Required | Supported rating system applicable to the title and distribution territory. Must be paired with a value from that system. See ratings. | USA_PR |
| AF | Rating Value | Required | A supported value belonging to the specified Rating Source. See the Kids Directed Content Policy for kids-directed content requirements. | TV-PG |
| AG | Kids-Directed | Conditional: set to true for kids-directed content; otherwise optional. | Boolean. See the Kids Directed Content Policy for the definition, approval requirement, and submission instructions. | false |
| AH | Recommended Age Group | Optional, when Kids-Directed is true. | One of ages_1-3, ages_4-6, ages_7-9, ages_10plus. | ages_7-9 |
| AI | Main Cast | Required | Top-billed cast, separated by commas, with names in Firstname Lastname form. | Kevin Hart, John Travolta |
| AJ | Synopsis | Required | A short description used for content selection. Maximum 250 characters. This is separate from the synopsis fields delivered with ingest metadata. | Illustrative synopsis for this sample episode. Replace with an accurate synopsis before submission. |
The examples in this reference are illustrative. Use the actual cast, ratings, and other metadata for your title. See genres and ratings for allowed values.
External identifiers and additional information
| Column | Exact header | Requirement | Meaning and format | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AK | External ID Source | Optional | External identifier source: TMS (Gracenote), IMDb, or Wiki (Wikipedia). For multiple sources, use comma-separated source:ID pairs as described below. | TMS:E12345678, IMDb:tt12345678 |
| AL | Series External ID | Optional | Third-party identifier for the series. | The series identifier from the named source. |
| AM | External ID | Optional | Third-party identifier for the individual movie, episode, or clip. | The title identifier from the named source. |
| AN | Screener Link | Optional | URL for streaming or downloading a screener. Include any access password needed to view it. A screener supports content selection. | https://example.com/screener |
| AO | Exclusive | Optional | Boolean indicating whether the title is available exclusively on The Roku Channel. | false |
| AP | Notes | Optional | Additional availability information not captured in the other fields. For linear content, include runs, telecast restrictions, and other relevant limits. | Maximum two telecasts per day. |
| AQ | Merchant of Record | Optional | Entity to which financial transactions should be attributed, if different from Content Partner. | Example Distribution |
| AR | Day Parting | Optional, linear content only. | Text describing any time-of-day restrictions on the content. | Describe the agreed dayparting rule. |
For a single external source, name the source and provide the associated title or series identifier in the appropriate external-ID field. For multiple sources, use source-prefixed IDs such as TMS:E12345678, IMDb:tt12345678, Wiki:example_title. External identifiers do not replace the required Roku-facing Title ID or Series ID.
Return to workbook preparation or the overview.
Updated about 5 hours ago
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