Payload refers to the bytes which follow the header byte in a packet. For example, the payload of a transport stream packet includes the PES_packet_header and its PES_packet_data_bytes or pointer_field and PSI sections, or private data. A PES_packet_payload, however, consists only of PES_packet_data_bytes. The transport stream packet header and adaptation fields are not payload.
Source: 53, 54
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