Skycastle Custom Creative Guidelines

This page provides Skycastle custom creative guidelines for custom rich media ad products, including masthead, backstage, flex, and IBV. Please refer to the Ad Innovation product kits for creative guidelines for pause, engagement, and binge ads.

Questions?

Contact your Account Management team or email localspecs@nbcuni.com

Expand the table to view all columns.

Masthead type	Desktop expanded	Desktop collapsed	Mobile expanded	Mobile collapsed
Dimensions	1800×360 (5:1) 1280×320 (4:1)	1800×180 (10:1)	600×338 (16:9)	600×100 (6:1)
Initial file load size	200KB	200KB	200KB	50KB
Max CPU	30%	30%	30%	30%
Animation	Allowed 15 second max length	Allowed 15 second max length	Allowed 15 second max length	Allowed 15 second max length
Video	Optional Preferred: 15 second max length 30 second max length accepted Force click-to-play for any video over 1.1MB or over 15 seconds Must have volume, mute, play, and pause control Audio must be user-initiated; default state is muted 24 FPS	Optional Preferred: 15 second max length 30 second max length accepted Force click-to-play for any video over 1.1MB or over 15 seconds Must have volume, mute, play, and pause control Audio must be user-initiated; default state is muted 24 FPS	Optional Preferred: 15 second max length 30 second max length accepted Preferred: Full bleed video Force click-to-play for any video over 1.1MB or over 15 seconds Must have volume, mute, play, and pause control Audio must be user-initiated; default state is muted 24 FPS	Not allowed
Notes	Loads expanded 1x/user/24 hours Scroll to collapse ad Accepts 3rd-party trackers Assets due 10 business days prior to launch	Loads expanded 1x/user/24 hours Scroll to expand ad Accepts 3rd-party trackers Assets due 10 business days prior to launch	Loads expanded 1x/user/24 hours Scroll to collapse ad Accepts 3rd-party trackers Assets due 10 business days prior to launch	Loads expanded 1x/user/24 hours Scroll to expand ad Accepts 3rd-party trackers Assets 10 business days prior to launch
Additional notes	Must be finalized internally by the Skycastle creative team, but editable design files are accepted	Must be finalized internally by the Skycastle creative team, but editable design files are accepted	Must be finalized internally by the Skycastle creative team, but editable design files are accepted Mobile web only	Must be finalized internally by the Skycastle creative team, but editable design files are accepted Mobile web only

Masthead assets needed

Dimensions with video	1800×360 layered PSD with placeholder for 16:9 video 1280×320 layered PSD with placeholder for 16:9 video 1800×180 layered PSD with placeholder for 16:9 video 600×100 layered PSD
Dimensions without video	1800×360 layered PSD 1280×320 layered PSD 1800×180 layered PSD 600×338 layered PSD 600×100 layered PSD
File types/formats	PSD, other layered formats accepted, please reach out with questions MP4 or MOV video
Notes	Layered Photoshop files (.psd); use Smart Objects when possible If layered files are unavailable, please provide logos, high-res imagery, specific copy points, CTA, brand/style guides, etc. Accepts 3rd-party trackers Click-through URL Due 10 business days prior to launch

Backstage (mobile scrolling unit)

Dimensions	Background: Full screen (2:1) Foreground: Transparent rollover window (16:9)
Initial file load size	200KB
Max CPU	30%
Video/animation	Allowed Parallax effect scrolling triggers animation
Video	Optional 15 second max length Force click-to-play Must have volume, mute, play, and pause control Audio must be user initiated; default state is muted Does not open to full screen
Frame rate	24FPS
Notes	Accepts 3rd-party trackers Assets due 10 business days prior to launch Mobile web only
Additional notes	Must be finalized internally by the Skycastle creative team, but editable design files are accepted

Backstage assets needed

Dimensions

Background: 800x1422px MIN (2:1 aspect ratio) Layered PSD
Foreground: 800x450px MIN (16:9 aspect ratio) Layered PSD

File types/formats

PSD, other layered formats accepted, please reach out with questions
MP4 or MOV video (optional)

Notes

How it works: Foreground images/video rollover the background image when user scrolls

Layered Photoshop files (.psd); use Smart Objects when possible
If layered files are unavailable, please provide logos, high-res imagery, specific copy points, CTA, brand/style guides, etc.
Click-through URL
Due 10 business days prior to launch

Custom IAB

Banner type	Flexible mobile banner 6:1 responsive size	Flexible square banner 1:1 rectangle responsive size	In banner video Standard size
Dimensions	600×100 (6:1)	450×450 (1:1)	300×250 We can include video in all sizes except 320x50, 6:1, and 120x60 sponsor logo
Initial file load size	200KB	200KB	200KB
Max CPU	30%	20%	20%
Animation	Allowed 15 seconds max length	Allowed 15 seconds max length	Allowed 15 seconds max length
Video	Not allowed	Optional No video on App Custom Weather Unit Preferred: 15 second max length 30 second max length accepted Force click-to-play for any video over 1.1MB or over 15 seconds Must have volume, mute, play, and pause control Audio must be user initiated; default state is muted 24 FPS	Preferred: 15 second max length 30 second max length accepted Force click-to-play for any video over 1.1MB or over 15 seconds Must have volume, mute, play, and pause control Audio must be user initiated; default state is muted Video is contained within 300×250 24 FPS
Notes	Assets due 10 business days prior to launch Accepts 3rd-party trackers Click-through URL Mobile only Must be finalized internally by the Skycastle creative team, but editable design files are accepted	Assets due 10 business days prior to launch Accepts 3rd-party trackers Click-through URL Must be finalized internally by the Skycastle creative team, but editable design files are accepted	Assets due 10 business days prior to launch Accepts 3rd-party trackers Click-through URL Must be finalized internally by the Skycastle creative team, but editable design files are accepted
Deliverables	Layered Photoshop files (.psd); use Smart Objects when possible If layered files are unavailable, please provide logos, high-res imagery, specific copy points, CTA, brand/style guides, etc. Accepts 3rd-party trackers	Layered Photoshop files (.psd); use Smart Objects when possible If layered files are unavailable, please provide logos, high-res imagery, specific copy points, CTA, brand/style guides, etc Video – MP4 or MOV (see above specs) Accepts 3rd-party trackers	Layered Photoshop files (.psd); use Smart Objects when possible If layered files are unavailable, please provide logos, high-res imagery, specific copy points, CTA, brand/style guides, etc Video – MP4 or MOV (see above specs) Accepts 3rd-party trackers

Skycastle creative considerations

Who is the target audience?
What is the overall goal of the campaign (e.g., click-throughs, branding, registration, KPIs)?
What do we need to communicate?
Compile any URLs, splash pages, brand/style guides, colors, logos, and pre-existing work.
Custom ad units will render on all modern browsers excluding Internet Explorer. Modern browsers include Chrome, Edge, FireFox, and Safari.