Advertising Technical Specs & Deadlines

All the technical information, booking deadlines and delivery deadlines that you need to know if you're creating or sending any advertising copy to us.

Our channels

Channel 4 Traffic are responsible for commercial airtime on the following channels and platforms:

Channel 4

Channel 4, 4Seven, E4, E4 Extra, More 4, Film 4, Channel 4 Streaming 

UKTV

W, Dave, Alibi, Gold, Eden, Drama, Yesterday, UKTV Play

The Box Plus Network

4Music, Heat, Kiss, Kerrang!, Magic

Discovery

HGTV, Really

 

Tech Specs

For tech spec queries, please contact your advert and sponsorship delivery provider (Adstream/Peach/Clearcast).

 

Approved Third Party Tracking

For VOD campaigns, Channel 4 has a list of approved vendors for third party impression tracking. These are:

  • Flashtalking
  • Google DoubleClick
  • Innovid
  • Sizmek

If you require tracking from a vendor outside of this please contact your account manager.

Ad Specs

  • Clearcast's advice for new superimposed text rules

    Download (PDF, 663.5KB)

    Do's and don'ts concerning the new superimposed text guidelines which come into effect on March 1st 2019

Ad Clearing

Commercials for linear and VoD (All 4) must conform to the current BCAP Television Advertising Standards Code. (Broadcast Committee of Advertising Practice). All commercials intended for transmission on any of the services listed above must be approved by Clearcast prior to broadcast.

Clearcast: +44 (0)20 7339 4700

Delivery

We accept clock delivery through Adstream/Peach/Clearcast to transmission sites.

From 1st October 2021, we will require all advertisers to use CARIA to send copy instructions for all campaigns, excluding those that include specific spot requests and PVX. For more information, click here.

UKTV are in the process of moving broadcast playout providers from Redbee to SES, which will allow them to broadcast in HD. Therefore, any commercials previously supplied before the 1st June 2020 and going forward, will need to be resupplied through Adstream/Peach/Clearcast. SES will still be able to ingest SD commercials, although HD should be your preference.

 

Adstream: +44 (0)20 7539 8400

Peach +44 (0)20 8145 4902

Clearcast: +44 (0)20 7339 4700

 

Contact

For any queries or further clarification relating to the specification and delivery of copy, please contact:

 

2022 Advanced Booking Deadlines 

Month

 

AB Deadline

Jan-23

 

Tuesday November 29th

Feb-23

 

Wednesday January 4th

Mar-23

 

Tuesday January 31st

Apr-23

 

Tuesday February 28th

May-23

 

Tuesday March 28th

Jun-23

 

Wednesday May 3rd

 

Jul-23

 

Wednesday May 31st

Aug-23

 

Tuesday July 4th 

Sep-23

 

Tuesday August 1st

Oct-23

 

Wednesday August 30th

Nov-23

 

Tuesday October 3rd

Dec-23

 

Tuesday October 31st

 

Easter 2023 - Copy Instructions, Approval & Delivery Timetable

Linear Airdate  Instructions, Copy Approval and Delivery by EOP
Monday 3rd April  Wednesday 29th March
Tuesday 4th April  Thursday 30th March
Wednesday 5th April  Friday 31st March
Thursday 6th April  Friday 31st March
**Friday 7th April** Monday 3rd April
Saturday 8th April  Tuesday 4th April
Sunday 9th April  Tuesday 4th April
**Monday 10th April** Tuesday 4th April
Tuesday 11th April  Tuesday 4th April

** Bank Holiday

VOD deadline: Copy, rotations, tracking tags and copy changes

between 7th - 11th April need to be received by EOP 29th March. 

 

Normal Delivery

Linear copy Instructions should be supplied at least 2 clear working days before transmission. Linear copy should be delivered at least 2 clear working day before transmission to avoid a late delivery surcharge.

1. Copy Received Dates are to avoid late copy surcharges being applied by some Broadcasters.

2. UK Broadcasters are those represented by: ITV, Sky Media, Channel 4, WarnerMedia

3. Agencies with clients for whom the indicated deadlines are impractical should contact individual broadcaster sales representatives directly to agree their requirements.

May Bank Holiday 2023

 

May Bank Holidays 2023 - Join UK Broadcasters - Copy Instructions, Approval & Delivery Timetable

Linear Airdate                    Instructions, Copy Approval and Delivery by EOP                                   

Wednesday 26th April                    Friday 21st April               

Thursday 27th April                         Friday 21st April               

Friday 28th April                               Monday 24th April          

Saturday 29th April                          Monday 24th April          

Sunday 30th April                             Tuesday 25th April          

                          

**Monday 1st May**                    Tuesday 25th April          

Tuesday 2nd May                             Wednesday 26th April   

VOD deadline: Copy, rotations, tracking tags and copy changes between 28th April - 2nd May need to be received by EOP 19th April                                  

                                                                              

Wednesday 3rd May                       Thursday 27th April        

Thursday 4th May                            Friday 28th April              

Friday 5th May                  Friday 28th April              

Saturday 6th May                            Tuesday 2nd May            

Sunday 7th May                                Tuesday 2nd May            

                                               

**Monday 8th May**                   Wednesday 3rd May      

Tuesday 9th May                              Wednesday 3rd May      

VOD deadline: Copy, rotations, tracking tags and copy changes between 5th - 9th May need to be received by EOP 25th April                                           

                                             

Wednesday 24th May                    Friday 19th May              

Thursday 25th May                         Monday 22nd May         

Friday 26th May                               Monday 22nd May         

Saturday 27th May                          Tuesday 23rd May          

Sunday 28th May                             Tuesday 23rd May          

                                               

**Monday 29th May**                 Wednesday 24th May   

Tuesday 30th May                           Wednesday 24th May   

VOD deadline: Copy, rotations, tracking tags and copy changes between 26th - 30th May  need to be received by EOP 17th May                                            

                                                             

1st June Campaigns                                        

VOD deadline: Copy, rotations, tracking tags and copy changes for the 1st June need to be received by EOP 22nd May                                                                                       

**   Bank Holiday                                             

                                               

Normal Delivery                                              

Linear copy Instructions should be supplied at least 2 clear working days before transmission.                                     

Linear copy should be delivered at least 2 clear working day before transmission to avoid a late delivery surcharge.                                               

                                               

Notes:                                 

Copy Received Dates are to avoid late copy surcharges being applied by some Broadcasters.                                        

                                               

UK Broadcasters are those represented by: ITV, Sky Media, Channel 4, WarnerMedia                                       

Agencies with clients for whom the indicated deadlines are impractical should contact individual broadcaster sales representatives directly to agree their requirements.