Traffic Instructions Guidelines

This page provides traffic instructions and guidelines.

All commercial instructions must include agency, agency contact, advertiser, network, flight, brand, AD-ID and length.
Revisions must be clearly marked with the word “revision” and the revision number. All revisions should indicate what was changed from the prior instructions and the effective date. All other information will be ignored and is not binding.
The HD version of an SD commercial must have the same AD-ID with a “H” appended to the end of the AD-ID code. No other designation for an HD spot is accepted.
The AD-ID for SD commercials can’t end with an “H”, because “H” at the end of the AD-ID indicates an HD commercial.
Send all commercial instructions in document form (PDF or Excel) via email to the specific network traffic instruction email address. Generic templates are available.
Body of email, zip file, and/or link traffic instructions aren’t accepted.
NBCUniversal doesn’t confirm the receipt and or implementation of commercial instructions. Don’t send confirmation requests to the commercial instruction distribution lists.

Don’t send a cover page with traffic instructions.
Don’t send traffic instructions for networks that are not in flight.
Copy won’t air without proper traffic instructions.
Send traffic instructions to each network individually, if the traffic is different per network.
All times are entered using Eastern Time zone regardless of time zones listed on the traffic instructions.

Traffic instruction type

Requirements

Revisions

Cable and Telemundo

Blanket traffic instructions (ROS)

Must be received no later than 3 pm EST, three working days prior to air
Must be clearly marked as “Revision” and include a revision number
Won’t be processed unless commercial tapes are in the Englewood Cliffs facility
NBCU doesn’t confirm the receipt and or implementation of revised traffic instructions; please don’t send confirmation requests

Syndication

Blanket traffic instructions (ROS)

N/A

NBC TV Broadcast

Spot traffic instructions with a valid program/show name accepted

⚠ Blanket traffic instructions (ROS) not accepted

Must be received Monday through Friday, no later than 3 pm EDT day-of-air for programming airing that evening through 3pm the following afternoon
Must be clearly marked as “Revision” and include a revision number
Revisions must be called in as well as emailed