---
title: "Pods"
canonical: "https://docs.pbs.org/space/AVAIL/5637193/Pods"
format: markdown
---
> Macro (toc)
## Overview
A pod is a 65-second promotional video, and all associated metadata, that is assigned to a time slot in the PBS KIDS 24/7 livestream. Examples of pod content include sponsorship messages, station branding messages, show previews, or any messaging that your station wants to highlight.
Each pod can be scheduled to appear in your linear stream using **[rules](https://pbs-docs.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/AVAIL/pages/5636827)**. If multiple pods are scheduled for the same time on the same day, you will encounter a **[conflict](https://pbs-docs.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/AVAIL/pages/5636605)**.
Before going live in production with your pods,** ****[test them](https://docs.pbs.org/space/AVAIL/5637225/Livestream)**!
## Specifications
To ensure optimal performance, your video and audio files must adhere to the following specifications:
> ❌ **Please pay careful attention to what is listed here. If you deviate from the following specs your file may not successfully ingest.**
### Video
| **Element** | **Specification** |
| --- | --- |
| File formats | MPEG-4 (.mp4), QuickTime/MOV (.mov) |
| File size | Minimum: 1MB / Maximum: 2048MB
Larger files need to be uploaded through Dropbox or a URL hosted on station's local server |
| File length | Minimum: 64.1 seconds / Maximum: 65.5 seconds |
| Video Stream Bitrate | Minimum: 10 Mbps |
| Codec | AVC (H.264), MPEG-4 Visual, ProRes, MPEG Video |
| Frame Size 16:9 | 1280x720, 1920x1080 |
| Frame rate | 29.97 fps, 59.94 fps |
| Pixel Aspect Ratio | 1:1 (square pixels) |
| Scan Type | Progressive |
| Video Stream Bitrate Mode | VBR |
### Audio
| **Element** | **Specification** |
| --- | --- |
| Codec | AAC, PCM |
| Audio Stream Bitrate | 192 Kbps |
| Audio Stream Bitrate Mode | CBR |
| Number of Audio Channels | 2 (Stereo) |
| Audio Channel's Positions | L, R |
| Sampling Rate | 48 KHz |
| Bit Depth | 16 bits |
## Adding content
There are three ways in which you can add content to your pod:
1. [FTP](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File_Transfer_Protocol) a publicly available asset file then insert the URL into URL field in the Source section of the pod console
2. Upload a file
3. Drag-and-drop the file from your desktop
[Use Dropbox to upload large files](https://pbs-docs.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/AVAIL/pages/5636969)
[Create a spot in the AIM console](https://docs.pbs.org/space/AVAIL/5637219/Spots#How-to-create-a-spot)
Video files are stored and identified by the file name. Each file name is editable.
## Errors
Each upload option could result in an error if any of the following occurs:
- Video file is too short (does not reach 65 seconds)
- Video file is too long (exceeds 65 seconds)
- Video file is corrupted
- Video file is in unsupported format
## Metadata
The following metadata is associated with each pod:
| **Field** | **Definition** | **Required** |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pod Name | The title of your pod. Each pod must have a unique name. Duplicate names will result in an error. | :check_mark: |
| Source | The URL or file that contains your interstitial content. Files must be in .mp4 or .mov format and fewer than 250MB. [Learn how to add larger files](https://docs.pbs.org/space/AVAIL/5636969/Dropbox+Integration) | :check_mark: |
| 40-character Content ID# | A string of 12 alpha-numeric characters; some stations use older or unique IDs that have fewer characters. Single video files can have extra content IDs and be concatenated. Can be [ISCI Code](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Industry_Standard_Coding_Identification)/[Ad ID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ad-ID) :: [http://ad-id.org/](http://ad-id.org/) | :cross_mark: |
| Client Name(s) | Used for reporting. Typically the name of the organization the spot represents. Example: Northwestern Energy | :cross_mark: |
| Element ID Number | A unique ID that keeps track of underwriters and funders. Example: UI2684753-U. If no Element ID is added, one is automatically added when processing is complete. | :cross_mark: |
| Expiration Date | A field used exclusively for metadata. This field does not determine when a pod will expire. [Learn how to delete a pod](https://docs.pbs.org/space/AVAIL/5637193/Pods#How-to-delete-a-pod) | :cross_mark: |
| Protrack ID(s) | ProTrack is software that helps independent multimedia facilities acquire, schedule, monetize and distribute content. [Learn more](http://myersinfosys.com/protrack-tv/) | :cross_mark: |
| Spot Name | The name of the spot that was created in the AIM console. Each spot must have a unique name. Duplicate names will result in an error. [Learn more about spots](https://docs.pbs.org/space/AVAIL/5637219/Spots) | :cross_mark: |
| Tape | | :cross_mark: |
| Order | | :cross_mark: |
| Duration | The duration of the pod (should be 65 seconds). | :cross_mark: |
| Description | A brief description of the pod content. | :cross_mark: |
## How to create a pod
Create a pod in one of the following ways:
- From any screen, click the **Create New dropdown menu** and click **Pod** (Figure 1.1).
Or
- Click **Pods **in the top navigation menu (Figure 1.2).
- From the main Pods screen, click** Create New Pod** (Figure 1.3).
Figure 1
- In the Pod Name textbox, type a** unique name for your pod** (Figure 1.1). Be sure to name it something that indicates the purpose of the pod (e.g.: Promotion clip). Each pod must have a unique name; duplicate names will result in an error.
- In the Source section, add your file in one of the following ways (Figure 2.2):
- **For files hosted on a server:** Click the **URL radio button** and type the **full URL **of your file in the URL textbox provided (e.g.: https://www.pbsdownload.org/download/aim.mp4)
- **For files on your computer: **Click the **radio button next to File** to browse your computer for the file or drag and drop the pod file from a location on your computer. With this option, you can** drag and drop the file** into the dotted File textbox or click **browse** to search your computer for the file and add it. In this example, we are clicking **browse **to search our computer for a file.
> ❌ **If your video file exceeds 250MB, use Dropbox to add your video file to AIM. ****[Learn how](https://docs.pbs.org/space/AVAIL/5636969/Dropbox+Integration)**
Figure 2
- Once the file has loaded, you can replace it with another, if necessary, by clicking **Replace file** (Figure 3.1).
- In the** Description** textbox, type a **short description** of your pod content (Figure 3.2). *This is optional but can be used as an organizational tool.*
- When finished, click **Save Pod** (Figure 3.3).
Figure 3
- After uploading your file, the Status section displays ***Processing**** *(Figure 4.1). This means that the file is being ingested. This process could take up to 15 minutes to complete.
- A preview of the file displays on the right side (Figure 4.2). *You can play the video while the file is processing.*
> ❌ **Pods do not display in the schedule until processing is complete. This is a safety feature to ensure that no blank airtime appears in your livestream.**
Figure 4
- After about a minute, **refresh the page** to update the status (Figure 5).
- You can do this by using the browser's refresh button (Figure 5.1) or by accessing the refresh feature with a right mouse click (Figure 5.2). These options vary by your operating system and browser.
Figure 5
- When the file has fully ingested, the Status section displays *Ready *(Figure 6.1). This indicates that your file has completely processed.*** ****Hover over the question mark icon to see additional details about the status of your ingest.*
- An *Element ID* is added automatically (Figure 6.2).
- Apply a new rule to the pod or add the pod to a new campaign from this screen (Figure 6.3). [Learn about rules](https://pbs-docs.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/AVAIL/pages/5636827)
- Edit or delete the pod at any time using the buttons in the top right corner of the page (Figure 6.4).
Figure 6
## How to edit a pod
> ❌ **Pods cannot be edited until processing is complete.**
- Click the **blue Edit Pod button** located in the top right corner of the pod (Figure 1).
Figure 1
- Type **edits **in the textboxes provided. If you have added a file as the source instead of a URL (Figure 2.1), click **Replace file **in the File section (Figure 2.2).
Figure 2
- To add a new file, in the File section, **drag a new file **to the textbox or click browse to **browse **your computer for the new file (Figure 3).
Figure 3
- When finished, click one of the** Save Pod** buttons located in the right side of the page at the top or bottom (Figure 4).
Figure 4
## How to delete a pod
> ❌ **Pods cannot be deleted until processing is complete.**
- Open the pod you want to delete. In the upper right corner, click the **red Delete Pod button** (Figure 1).
Figure 1
- Check that you are deleting the correct pod. If sure, click **Delete Pod** (Figure 2).
Figure 2
## How to assign a pod to a campaign
Campaigns are bundles of pods that can be scheduled just like pods. The same pod can be assigned to different campaigns and can be assigned when creating a new campaign or editing an existing campaign.
- After you've created your pods, [create a new campaign](https://docs.pbs.org/space/AVAIL/5637269/Campaigns#How-to-create-a-campaign) or edit an existing campaign.
- In the* Add Pod* section, begin typing the** name of the first pod** in the textbox provided. When the name of the pod displays, click to add it.
- Click** Add Another Pod** to add all additional pods.
- When finished, click** Save Campaign**.
## How to remove a pod from a campaign
When removing pods from a campaign, they are simply being removed from the campaign, they are not being deleted from the system.
- To delete a pod from a campaign, click** Campaigns** in the top navigation menu.
- Click **Edit Campaign**.
- In the Add Pod(s) section, click the** X** to the right of the pod you want to remove.
- Click outside of the Add Pod(s) box to commit the deletion.
## How to use Dropbox to upload a video file
If your video file exceeds the 250MB size limit, you must add it to AIM either by adding the full URL of the file that is hosted on a server or by using Dropbox to upload your file to AIM. [Learn how to use Dropbox](https://pbs-docs.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/AVAIL/pages/5636969)
## How to test your pods
Use the** Livestream button **located in the AIM console to test your pods before going live. [Learn more](https://docs.pbs.org/space/AVAIL/5637225/Livestream)