The device is configured to encode the nested SEI message encapsulated by the scalable nested SEI message based at least in part on the syntax element in the scalable nested SEI message encapsulated by the Supplemental Enhancement Information (SEI) Network Abstraction Layer (NAL) Is applicable to the default sub-bitstream of the encoded video bitstream. The default sub-bit stream is the operating point representation of the operating point defined by the time identifier specified in the NAL unit header and the layer identifier specified in the NAL unit header of the SEI NAL unit. If the nested SEI message is applicable to the default sub-bitstream, the device uses the nested SEI message in operation on the default sub-bitstream.