This disclosure includes techniques for signaling characteristics of a representation of multimedia content at a representation layer, such as frame packing arrangement information for the representation. In one example, an apparatus for receiving video data includes a processing unit configured to receive information indicative of whether a bitstream includes a packed frame of video data, wherein the packed frame comprises two frames corresponding to different views of a scene for three-dimensional playback, and wherein the information is present in a representation layer external to a codec layer of the bitstream, automatically determine whether the apparatus is capable of decoding and rendering the bitstream based on an analysis of the received information and decoding and rendering capabilities of the device, and retrieve the bitstream when the processing unit determines that the device is capable of decoding and rendering the bitstream.