Apple TV+ Delivery Guide
StreamingMost demanding SVODDV + Atmos mandatoryApple TV+ has the highest technical bar of any streaming platform. The combination of ProRes 4444 XQ 12-bit + Dolby Vision + Dolby Atmos (authentic, not upmixed) + iTT captions means no single aspect can be skipped or substituted.
Critical: Apple TV+ is the only platform where Dolby Atmos AND Dolby Vision are both mandatory (not just preferred). There's no fallback path. If your post house can't deliver both, you cannot deliver to Apple TV+ Originals.
ProRes 4444 XQ 12-bit — not 422 HQ
✓ PipewrightApple TV+ Originals require ProRes 4444 XQ at 12-bit depth. Most post houses default to ProRes 422 HQ for all SVOD delivery. ProRes 422 HQ will fail Apple TV+ Originals. The file size difference is significant: 4444 XQ at 4K is ~500–800 GB/hour.
Dolby Atmos MANDATORY (authentic, not upmixed)
✓ PipewrightAtmos is required for all Apple TV+ Originals — not preferred, mandatory. And Apple now checks authenticity: Atmos derived from multi-tracks/stems is accepted; upmixed from stereo is rejected. Apple's QC looks for binaural_render_mode and channel metadata consistency.
Dolby Vision mandatory (Profile 8 + DV CM v2.9+)
✓ PipewrightDolby Vision is required for all Apple TV+ Originals. The delivery is ProRes 4444 XQ + a Dolby Vision CM (Content Mapping) metadata file, CM version 2.9 or higher. Files produced with pre-2023 Dolby Vision mastering tools may fail the CM version check.
True peak is -1 dBTP (not -2 like everyone else)
✓ PipewrightApple TV+ has a stricter true peak ceiling: -1 dBTP vs the -2 dBTP standard on Netflix, Disney+, Amazon, and Max. A mix that passes all other platforms on true peak may fail Apple TV+. Must use a true-peak meter, not RMS or sample-peak.
iTT captions (iTunes Timed Text) — not TTML, not SRT
✓ PipewrightApple TV+ requires iTT (iTunes Timed Text) — Apple's proprietary caption format. Very few NLEs can export iTT natively. Most use TTML converters. Apple also makes Compressor available as a conversion tool. SRT = immediate rejection.
Stereo 2.0 reference track required alongside Atmos
✓ PipewrightWhen delivering Dolby Atmos (BWF ADM), Apple also requires a separate 2.0 stereo reference track. Delivering Atmos only, without the stereo reference, triggers a 'missing asset' rejection.