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This FAQ is a little on the long side, so we’ve organized it into clear sections and jump links to help you quickly find exactly what you’re looking for.
Use the list below to jump to the topic that matters most to you, or scroll through the full article for a complete overview.
- Overview
- Eligibility and Best Practices
- Pricing and Monetization
- Uploading and Scheduling Episodes
- Subscriptions and Carriage
- Promos and Station Communications
- Audio and Technical Requirements
- Troubleshooting and Support
Overview
What is Automated Delivery?
Automated Delivery is a feature of the PRX Exchange that automatically delivers episodes of your series to subscribing stations. Once configured, episodes are delivered directly to stations- no individual licensing of pieces or manual downloading required!
Wait, wasn’t this called SubAuto a million years ago?
Yes. Automated Delivery was previously known as Subscription Automation (SubAuto). While the name has changed, you may still hear some folks use the old term. Every time someone calls it SubAuto, the distribution team gently weeps.
Eligibility and Best Practices
Is my show a good fit for automated delivery?
Automated Delivery works best for shows that are consistent. Your series should:
- Be hourly, daily, or weekly
- Follow a consistent program clock
- Use the same segment structure and segment lengths in each episode
If your format varies week to week or is a limited-run series, Automated Delivery may not be the best option.
Can I change my clock or subscription settings at any time?
Yes, but stations need time to adjust their automation systems.
Best practice:
- Notify stations several weeks in advance of any changes to release day, time, or clock
- Communicate clearly and early to avoid disruption
Pricing and Monetization
How much does it cost?
- Community Service Grant (CSG) stations can use Automated Delivery at no cost.
- Independent producers and stations without a CSG or NFCB affiliation are subject to Automated Delivery fees.
Please contact PRX Support at help@prx.org for current pricing details.
Can I charge points for my automated delivery show?
No. Series using Automated Delivery cannot use the PRX points system. Only carriage fees are allowed.
Can I charge a carriage fee?
Yes. However, PRX does not bill or collect carriage fees on your behalf. All fee arrangements are handled directly between you and the stations.
Uploading and Scheduling Episodes
Can I upload my episodes ahead of time using automated delivery?
Yes. You can upload episodes as far in advance as you’d like. Just be sure to set the correct publish date when uploading your audio. Check out our help site for instructions on how to publish an episode to your automated delivery series.
What happens if I upload episodes late?
If an episode isn’t published, stations won’t receive content, which can result in dead air.
We strongly recommend:
- Publishing episodes on time
- Keeping an evergreen episode available as a backup in case of missed uploads
Why am I receiving late notices?
Episodes must be uploaded and published at least 11 hours before your scheduled release time.
If you’re receiving multiple late notices, it means you’re missing that 11-hour deadline.
Can I turn off late notices?
Yes but we strongly recommend leaving them on so you can catch issues before stations do. You update your email notification settings by following the instructions listed here.
Subscriptions and Carriage
How do I know which stations are carrying my show?
- You’ll receive email notifications when a station subscribes
- You can also download subscription reports
Instructions here.
Can I approve or reject a subscription?
Yes. You can find instructions for approving or rejecting a subscription here.
How do I know what time people are airing my show?
PRX Exchange does not track airtimes. To find out when your program airs, please contact your subscribing stations directly.
How do I know if a station drops my show?
PRX is only notified if a station contacts us directly. If that happens, we’ll let you know.
We recommend conducting an annual carriage audit by emailing or calling stations to confirm they’re still carrying your program.
How do I cancel a station’s subscription?
Please email the PRX support team at help@prx.org with your cancellation request.
Promos and Station Communications
Do I need to publish promos for my episodes?
Promos are not required, but we recommend offering 15- or 30-second promos (or both) so stations can promote your show to their audiences.
Can I message my subscribers?
Yes, you can send messages to subscribing stations through PRX Exchange.
You can find instructions on how to message subscribers here.
Audio and Technical Requirements
How should I format my audio files?
Required audio specs:
- MP2 file
- Sample rate: 44.1 kHz
-
Bit rate: 128 kbps per channel.
- If you decide to create a mono MP2, it will be 128 kbps in total. But if you create a stereo (or joint stereo) MP2, the resulting file will be 256 kbps (128 kbps for each channel) in total.
- Stereo file (recommended)
- Loudness at -24 LUFS, ± 2 LU (recommended)
How do I create an episode for my series
Follow the instructions listed here.
How are episodes delivered?
Episodes are automatically delivered to each station’s designated FTP based on the delivery configuration set during onboarding. Stations then ingest and schedule content using automation software such as Enco, AVFTP, or similar systems.
Troubleshooting and Support
A station is having a subscription/delivery issue- what should I do?
Please direct stations to help@prx.org.
I’m running into issues with my series. Who do I contact?
Please direct stations to help@prx.org.