Preparing Avails and CTL workbooks

Find the instructions for your agreed workbook format and check the file before submission.

Only Excel (.xlsx) files are supported for MovieLabs EMA and Roku Avails/CTL submissions.

Use the MovieLabs EMA workbook

For MovieLabs EMA, use the approved EMA workbook and the MovieLabs EMA Avails instructions. Roku supports EMA spreadsheet versions up to 1.9 and prefers 1.9. Follow that format's own headers, worksheet structure, and field definitions.

Include Linear OTT as a license type when offering content for distribution on linear OTT channels built by Roku. This is a Roku-specific value, not an officially supported EMA license type. See Linear OTT in EMA submissions.

Use the Roku template

Start with the v1.4 template. For completed examples, use the Examples.

The remaining instructions on this page apply to the Roku workbook.

The template contains 44 columns, A through AR. Row 1 holds the column headers, row 2 holds completion hints, and data begins on row 3. Use the field reference, which follows the same column order.

Keep the workbook structure

Keep the existing worksheet, columns, column order, and header names. Do not add sheets or columns.
Keep row 2 and the Instructions column. The samples use column A to describe their scenarios; record actual rights in the named rights fields.
Do not leave blank rows between entries. Processing stops at the first empty row, so later entries will not be processed.
Save the file with the .xlsx extension.

Use the literal headers, including LocalizationType and ExcludedTerritories. Adding spaces to those names changes the headers.

Enter values consistently

Complete required fields on every data row. A repeated title still needs its required information on each availability row. Conditionally required fields must be populated when their stated condition applies. Leave optional fields blank when they do not apply; do not enter N/A or n/a.

Preserve identifiers and dates as text. Set the relevant cells to Text before entering or pasting values. Check that Excel has retained the complete ID and any time or UTC Z suffix. A display format alone does not establish that the intended value was preserved. See date formats and examples.

Use literal true and false values in Boolean fields. Use the allowed value lists for fields such as Content Type, License Type, Genre, and Rating Source. Descriptive text such as a title or synopsis can be written normally.

Remove formulas before submission. Replace formulas with their final values, retaining text where required for identifiers and dates. Live formulas cause rejection. Do not link to external data or another workbook; all submitted data must be contained in this file.

Decide when to use another row

Each row represents a title's availability under the specified rights, dates, territory, and language conditions. Use one Territory value per row. Use another row when the dates or other conditions differ. You may combine rights or language/localization pairs only when the other availability attributes are identical for all listed values.

For example, a title with English rights for January through June and Spanish rights for April through June needs separate rows.

Use the same Title ID for the same title across its windows. See window and language rules and the Examples.

Before you submit

Confirm the correct format and delivery route for your workflow.
Check all required fields, including Rating Source, Rating Value, Main Cast, and Synopsis. The selection Synopsis must not exceed 250 characters.
Check that Title ID and Series ID match the ingest identifiers and comply with the 50-character limit.
For episode rows, include Series Title, Series ID, Season Number, and Episode Number.
Check dates, times, territories, languages, and localization types against the agreed rights. Confirm that any FVOD window is fully contained in an SVOD window for the title.
For an SVOD update, retain every window that should remain within each combination replaced by the submission. See full extract behavior.
Check that the worksheet structure and hint row are intact, no formulas or external links remain, and no blank row interrupts the data.
Save, close, and reopen the .xlsx file. Inspect representative IDs, dates, and the final row before submitting.

If required information is unavailable, contact Content Operations for guidance before submitting an incomplete workbook.

Common problems

Problem	What to check	What to do
Rows after a certain point were not processed	A blank row may interrupt the data.	Remove the gap, check the complete file, and use the appropriate correction route.
Title does not match the expected delivered asset	CTL Title ID and ingest `asset_id`; Series ID for episodes.	Confirm the intended identifiers with Content Operations before changing an established ID.
Date or time changed after editing in Excel	Stored value, cell type, time component, and UTC suffix.	Enter the full supported value as text and inspect it after saving.
Required information is missing	Row 2 hints and the field's condition in the reference.	Complete the information; do not substitute `N/A`.
A rating is invalid	The rating belongs to the named rating system and applicable territory.	Use a permitted system/value pair. Follow the Kids Directed Content Policy where applicable.
An SVOD update removed a window you intended to keep	The full set of windows included for the affected title, partner, territory, and language.	Review the full-extract instructions and contact Content Operations if you need help preparing the correction.
The file arrived but you need processing status	The feedback route for that service.	Use the Zendesk ticket for AVOD, Linear OTT, or Howdy rights updates. Ask the Roku business team about an initial CTL. SVOD self-service does not provide proactive feedback; contact Content Operations for assistance.

Continue to submitting and updating Avails.

Updated about 5 hours ago

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