Constructing Your Underwriting Credits

Two underwriting credits sequences are required, one at the open and one at the close of your program. The Closing Underwriter Credits are simply a repeat of the opening. The following are PTV requirements on appearance, audio and length:

• The two sequences must be exactly the same in order of appearance and in length. (Please read the PTV Underwriter Standards carefully before you proceed in this work.)
• Underwriters must appear in descending order according to the amount of funds provided.
• If two or more underwriters have given identical amounts, you may decide the order in which they are placed.
• Include a CPB logo. The CPB logo will be provided to you on a Packaging Reel or you may download it on our FTP site, ask your Production Liaison for the instructions on downloading.

**In the sample credits the CPB logo is displayed first. This would only apply to the order of your underwriters only if CPB gave the most amount of money. The underwriters following the CPB logo would have given lesser funds.

Funding situation that applies to the sample credits:

CPB – $200,000
National Endowment for the Arts - $50,000
The Sundance Institute - $25,000
Wallace Alexander Gerbode Foundation - $20,000
The XYZ Foundation - $18,000

Maximum Length: Each underwriter pod can be a maximum of 60 seconds in length. Although the maximum length of each underwriter credit sequence is 60 seconds, an individual underwriter cannot be on screen for more than 15 seconds.

Minimum Length: The entire list of underwriters must be identified at a reasonable pace. The audience must be able to read the text on screen.

• If you decide to display one underwriter on a card at a time, a good way to judge how long each card should be displayed is by the length of the voice over or how long it takes to read the text on screen.  For example: The CPB credit must have the standard voice over, and it takes between 5-10 seconds to coherently say “(Major) funding was provided for this program (or use the program title) by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.”
• In cases where more than one subsequent underwriter is shown at a time and a general voice over is used (ex. “Additional funding was provided by…”), the duration should be long enough for the audience to hear the voice over and read all the text on screen.

Video: Underwriter pods over a static and/or black background are NOT acceptable. The underwriter credits must mirror the production values of the program and flow smoothly with program content and other packaging elements. Many producers have opted to use program content as background. You should consult your production liaison if you think the background you plan to use may not be acceptable or construed as promotional in nature.

Audio: Silent underwriter credit sequences are NOT acceptable. Underlying music and a voice over should accompany your underwriter credits.

• For the CPB credit you are required to use a voice over: “(Major) funding was provided for this program (or use the program title) by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.”
• For any subsequent underwriter credits you should use the following voice over: “Additional funding was provided by . . .”
• It is your decision whether to continue using a voice over to read out the remaining underwriters or not. If you find that you have too many underwriters to display during the allotted 60 seconds, use the following text in conjunction with your underwriter credits to note that there is a complete list available. Consult your Production Liaison if this is the case. “. . . and additional funders.”