File failed QC: Format

If your QC report shows Format in red, your file isn't in the file format your ad needs.

Format – reading the QC report

• The value next to Format is the format of the file you uploaded, for example AVC.
• The report doesn't show which format is needed. To check, see Which technical specification should I use for my ad?
• When the format is wrong, other checks such as Bit rate often fail too. Fixing the format usually fixes these as well.

Format – what it means

The file format your ad needs depends on three things:

• Destination country or region: each has its own TV specification.
• Ad type: TV, Digital and other ad types each have their own specification. There's one global Digital specification, which uses MP4.
• Your account: XDCAM is the default file format for Cape Advanced TV accounts. A small number of accounts are set up for ProRes or AVC-Intra instead.

Files made to a TV specification can also be sent to digital destinations.

Format – likely cause

This is almost always a wrong spec: the file was made in a different format from the one your ad needs. Common causes:

• The file was made to another country's or ad type's specification, for example a Digital (MP4) file uploaded for a TV ad.
• The file was made in ProRes or AVC-Intra, but your account uses the default, XDCAM.

Format – fix

1. Click View Specs on your ad to see the exact specification your file must match.
2. Re-export the file using the matching Export Guide.
3. Upload the file again.

Format – when to contact Customer Success

• You’ve exported the file using the specification shown by the View Specs link for the ad in your campaign, but it still fails this check.