Understanding streaming platform delivery specifications is now as important as the film itself.
Cinema DCP vs. streaming: different worlds
A cinema DCP is a self-contained package: JPEG2000 picture, uncompressed PCM audio, and an XML-based structure built for theatrical servers. Streaming platforms play by entirely different rules. VOD delivery requirements typically demand:
Apple ProRes 422 HQ or IMF packages (Netflix favours Interoperable Master Format IMF for finished masters)
Strict frame rates and resolutions, usually UHD 3840×2160 with HDR options such as Dolby Vision
Specific colour spaces, Rec. 709, Rec. 2020 or P3-D65, each with exact metadata
Textless elements and QC reports that prove technical compliance
Captions and Subtitles: Where Most Rejections Happen
Platforms don’t accept just any subtitle file. Netflix requires TTML/IMSC1 timed text with precise timing rules, character limits and reading-speed standards. Amazon accepts a wide range including SCC, SRT or DFXP formats. Apple+ accepts WebVTT (.vtt) subtitle format and IMSC1 (text profile) for captions. Forced narratives, SDH and multi-language tracks each carry their own conventions. One malformed file can stall your entire release.
Loudness: the silent deal-breaker
Cinema mixes can run loud and dynamic. Streaming demands measured loudness compliance, for example Netflix’s dialogue-gated target of -27 LKFS ±2, while other internet streamers use their own normalized targets ranging from -14 LUFS to -16 LUFS. Miss the target and your audio fails automated QC, even if it sounds perfect to your ears.
Why paying a mastering company is essential
Here’s the hard truth: platform specs change constantly, and each service has its own rulebook. Rejection means re-encoding, re-QC, lost weeks and missed release windows, often costing far more than doing it properly the first time.
This is where DCP-Solutions earns its fee. As a specialist mastering company we:
know the current specs for Netflix, Amazon, Apple+ etc.
run pre-delivery QC to catch issues before the platform does
build compliant captions, audio and metadata in the right formats
handle cinema and streaming masters together, so one project serves every channel
Think of it as insurance on your biggest investment. Your film took months or years to make. Don’t let a technical error be the reason it never goes live.
Ready to deliver with confidence?
Whether you’re heading to cinemas, streamers, or both, DCP-Solutions ensures your content is mastered right the first time. Get in touch today and we will help you turn your streaming deal into a successful release.