SofaSpud Films

About MDDF

The plumbing behind digital movie and TV distribution.

The MovieLabs Digital Distribution Framework (MDDF) is a family of complementary, compatible specifications for getting movies and television from the people who make them to the services that sell and stream them. It covers identification, metadata, avails, asset delivery, digital extras and reporting, and is expanding from on-demand titles to linear channels and live events. The specifications are developed through industry collaboration and are open to everyone.

The Specifications

MDDF at a Glance

Common Metadata

Shared definitions for descriptive and technical metadata that the other specifications build on.

Media Entertainment Core (MEC)

The essential metadata for online retail, developed with the EMA (now OTT.X) and DEG.

Avails and Title Lists

A common way to say what may be sold, where, when and on what terms, in Excel and XML.

Media Manifest

Describes which video, audio, subtitles and artwork go together to make a product.

Identifiers (EIDR)

Unique IDs for every title and edit, so everyone in the chain means the same thing.

Delivery, Extras and Reporting

Asset ordering and delivery, cross-platform extras, and status reporting.

Coming Soon: Linear and Live

The next MDDF release brings the same approach to scheduled and live programming.

Linear Media Core (LMC)

Channels, the programs they carry, and the airings that put them on the schedule.

Media Entertainment Core – Live (MECL)

Extends Media Entertainment Core (MEC) to include live events such as sports and concerts.

Electronic Program Guide (EPG)

Schedules for guides and grids, including time zones, replacement programming and live events.

Origin Story

Every studio needs a founder.

SofaSpud Films is the creation of Craig Seidel, who created MDDF while at MovieLabs and built the industry consensus to adopt it, work recognized with an Engineering, Science and Technology Emmy.

Meet Craig at Seidel Media Technology →