Video

Language & Version Policy

Roku supports one video file per title. Additional languages must be delivered through one or both of the following, associated with that video file:

• Sidecar subtitle files
• Additional audio tracks

Do not deliver a separate video file for each language.

Alternate-language video versions, such as dubbed or regionally re-edited files, are not supported as separate deliverables for the same title. Roku ingests one video per title across all territories. Additional languages must use sidecar audio or subtitle files mapped to that video.

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Program Content & Editorial

All video delivered to Roku must contain the full program only:

• No bars/tone or slates at program start
• No textless video after program end
• No more than 2 seconds of black at program start (head black)
• No more than 2 seconds of black after program end (tail black)
• No FBI warnings or MPAA cards
• No promotional material referencing theatrical, home video, or streaming release dates

Video files should be semi-textless: opening and end credit text may remain, but all subtitles for foreign dialogue must be removed. This is also called "texted with no subtitles" or "textless with main, ends, and graphic text."

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Advertising & Commercial Blacks

• Do not include advertisements within the video. All ad insertion points for ad-supported content are provided separately in the metadata file, following the Roku Ad Policy guidelines.
• Commercial blacks (black frames at internal ad-break points, distinct from head/tail black above) may be included, provided each is no longer than 2 seconds.
• Commercial blacks are acceptable for episodic TV content but not expected for movie content.

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File Delivery Format

• Video must be delivered as a single, seamless file.
• Do not deliver hard-parted files (i.e., broken into segments at ad-break points).
• Calls to action (CTAs) or links to external platforms or sites, including QR codes, are not permitted and must be removed before delivery. See External branding and calls to action.
• High-quality mezzanine files are preferred. Roku strongly recommends using the highest bitrate and resolution available.

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Timecode

Roku ignores the timecode track and any timecode embedded in the video file. All video is treated as beginning at timecode hour 00:00:00:00, regardless of the start timecode in the file (for example, a program that starts at 01:00:00:00).

For this reason, sidecar closed captions/SDH, full subtitles, and forced narrative subtitles must also be timed to hour 00:00:00:00 so they stay in sync with the video.

Ad-break and cue-point times in the metadata are also measured from hour 00:00:00:00.

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Aspect Ratio & Frame

• Full-frame presentation (1.78 aspect ratio) is preferred whenever available.
• Letterboxed 16:9 is allowed. Roku strongly recommends keeping letterboxing to a minimum.
• HD video content must be delivered in a 16:9 container.
• SD 16:9 content must not be delivered letterboxed within a 4:3 frame.

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Video Frame Rate

Roku supports a variety of frame rates and scan types. All video files must be delivered in their original native frame rate and scan type. Do not convert the frame rate.

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Video Resolution

* UHD is supported as an input resolution only. Roku does not currently encode to or display 4K UHD video on Roku Channel.

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Video Formats

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Glossary