App Overview
The PulseTV Payout Calculator helps creators, producers, and distributors estimate their revenue on ad-supported streaming platforms. Designed for accuracy, flexibility, and clarity, the app uses real-world AVOD metrics to model financial performance.
Complete Feature List
- Home Dashboard: A central hub for selecting a platform, entering data, and running calculations.
- Platform Presets: Automatically fills in average values for Tubi, PlutoTV, YouTube, Roku Channel, and Peacock.
- Custom Mode: Manually enter ARC, TC, SPS, BRP, SPM, and Impressions to fit your unique scenario.
- Interactive Sliders: Adjust Show Popularity Score, Bounce Rate Penalty, and Star Power Multiplier using intuitive sliders.
- Value Ranges: Built-in min-max labels for input clarity (e.g., SPS: 1–10, BRP: 0–100%).
- Calculation Engine: Advanced logic that combines all variables into a payout projection based on platform-specific formulas.
- Breakdown View: Detailed breakdown of how each factor contributed to the final estimated payout.
- PDF/CSV Export (Coming Soon): Save or share reports for investor decks, budgeting, or team use.
- Campaign Saver (Coming Soon): Save and manage multiple film/show campaigns to track and compare forecasts.
- Responsive UI: Optimized for multiple screen sizes and resolutions on macOS.
- Dark Mode Support (Coming Soon): A visually optimized experience for late-night calculations.
- VAST Tag Generator: Create, edit, and validate IAB-compliant VAST tags (versions 2.0–4.1), including support for multiple creative types, wrappers, companion ads, and error/fallback URLs.
- VMAP Scheduler & Builder: Define ad break schedules across pre-roll, mid-roll, post-roll, and custom offsets; configure ad pods, repeat rules, and regional targeting; then generate a fully-compliant VMAP file.
- HLS Converter & Packager: Transcode and package video files into HLS format with adaptive bitrate, encryption, custom playlist generation, DRM key rotation, audio/subtitle renditions, segment and key management, and performance profiling.
VAST & VMAP Integration
VAST Tag Generator
The VAST Tag Generator module allows you to build fully-compliant ad tags according to IAB standards (VAST 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 4.1). Features include:
- Multi-creative support: Add linear, non-linear, and companion ads.
- Wrappers: Chain multiple ad servers with timeout and failover logic.
- Tracking events: Configure start, firstQuartile, midpoint, thirdQuartile, complete, and custom tracking URLs.
- Error handling: Specify error URLs and fallback ads for robust playback.
- Companion ads: Define companion banner creatives with click-through and tracking.
- Validation: Real-time syntax checking against VAST schemas.
VMAP Scheduler & Builder
The VMAP Scheduler & Builder lets you orchestrate ad breaks across your content timeline. Key capabilities:
- Ad break types: Pre-roll, mid-roll at time offsets (absolute or percentage), post-roll, and custom breaks.
- Ad pods: Group multiple VAST tags into pods with sequence and maximum duration rules.
- Repeat rules: Schedule recurring breaks at set intervals or specific content cues.
- Regional targeting: Insert different VAST tags based on geo or user segments.
- Export: Generate a standards-compliant VMAP XML file ready for ingestion by players and ad servers.
- Preview mode: Visual timeline view showing break points and pod structures.
HLS Converter & Packaging
HLS Converter & Packager Module
The HLS Converter & Packager provides a full pipeline to produce HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) content suitable for modern players:
- Adaptive Bitrate Encoding: Automatically transcode source videos into multiple renditions (e.g., 240p, 360p, 480p, 720p, 1080p) with customizable bitrate ladders.
- Segment Generation: Configure segment durations (e.g., 2s, 4s, 10s), align segment boundaries, and generate accurate media playlists (.m3u8).
- Encryption & DRM: Support AES-128 encryption, SAMPLE-AES, and integration with DRM providers for key rotation and secure delivery.
- Master Playlist Creation: Build a master `.m3u8` that references variant playlists, with support for bandwidth, resolution, codecs, and language groups.
- Audio & Subtitle Renditions: Package alternative audio tracks and subtitle/caption renditions in separate playlists, linked from the master manifest.
- Custom Tags: Inject EXT-X-DATERANGE, EXT-X-PROGRAM-DATE-TIME, and custom tags for metadata or ad markers.
- Low-Latency Support: Configure chunked transfer and partial segment delivery for LL-HLS compatibility.
- Performance Metrics: Display encoding time, segment generation time, and overall packaging throughput in real-time logs.
How to Use the App
- Launch the app from your macOS device.
- Select a platform from the preset list or choose "Custom".
- Enter or adjust the following values:
- ARC (Ad Revenue per 1,000 commercials)
- TC (Total commercials per session)
- SPS (Show Popularity Score)
- BRP (Bounce Rate Penalty)
- SPM (Star Power Multiplier)
- Impressions (Ad impressions)
- Click "Calculate" to see your payout estimate.
- Review the output and optionally export (in upcoming versions).
Detailed Definitions
| Term | Description |
|---|---|
| ARC | Ad Revenue per 1,000 commercials – e.g., $15.00 means you earn $15 for every 1,000 ad plays. |
| TC | Total Commercials – The average number of ads shown per viewer session (e.g., 4). |
| SPS | Show Popularity Score – Rate your title from 1 (niche) to 10 (viral). |
| BRP | Bounce Rate Penalty – A % deduction for viewers leaving before ad completion. |
| SPM | Star Power Multiplier – Boost your earnings estimate based on celebrity presence or brand appeal. |
| Impressions | Total monetized ad impressions. |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Is this an official tool from AVOD platforms?
A: No. This tool is independently
developed based on industry research and user input data.
Q: How accurate are the calculations?
A: Estimates are based on known averages and
customizable inputs. They are meant to guide, not guarantee.
Q: Can I use this for financial planning?
A: Absolutely. It’s designed to aid in
budgeting, investment presentations, and royalty projections.
Q: Can I track real-time earnings?
A: Future versions will include campaign tracking and
integration with real data sources.
Troubleshooting
- The app won’t open: Ensure you're using macOS 13.0 or later. Restart your system.
- Calculations seem wrong: Double-check your inputs or reset using a platform preset.
- Crashing or freezing: Report the issue to our team (see Contact section).
Privacy
PulseTV Payout Calculator does not collect or transmit your data. All calculations are done locally on your machine. For more information, see our Privacy Policy.
Contact Support
Email: support@pulsetv.net
Website: www.pulsetv.net
Twitter: @PulseTVNetwork
Roadmap
- Export to PDF and CSV
- Campaign saving and multi-project comparisons
- iOS and iPadOS versions
- Cloud sync and analytics integration
- Real-time revenue tracking tools
- Dark mode interface