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Pre-roll Skippable

Delivers a unique and well-balanced value exchange for both Consumers and Advertisers. Consumers are presented with the option to continue watching or skipping the advertiser's video, while advertisers can brand the skip to effectively deliver their message, or optionally soliciting feedback from consumers in exchange for skipping the video.

Deliverables

Ad componentsFile typeDimensionsMax file size
Initial File Load MP4 and WebM, HLS or VPAID960 x 540300 MB
Host-Initiated SubloadMP4 and WebM, HLS or VPAID960 x 540600 KB
Host-Initiated Video, 1st party served (to be transcoded by us) MP4 and WebM, HLS or VPAID 960 x 540300 MB
Host-Initiated Video, 3rd party served MP4 and WebM, HLS or VPAID 960 x 5402.5 MB
User-Initiated File Load MP4 and WebM, HLS or VPAID 960 x 5402.5 MB
Expandable File Load MP4 and WebM, HLS or VPAID960 x 5402.5 MB

Available Features

Ad componentsFile typeDimensionsMax file size
Ad Bar Overlay HTML, CSS, JS, JPG, PNG, SVGUp to 1920px wide x 1080px tall300 KB

Ad Bar size is customizable

Best Practices
  • Ad Bar Overlay displays over video asset
  • Not recommended for mobile due to the size of the screen
  • Keep the crucial elements of the ad bar to only 1/4 of the 16:9 video real estate
  • Creative should support the video content and not interfere with crucial elements like messaging or logo in the video space
  • Relevant messaging/CTA should not interfere with video player controls
  • Should include a clear CTA
  • Get creative with the space and break out of the typical rectangular shape
  • Use animation time-mapping to support the video content

See demos

Data points

  • Hour
  • Minute
  • Second
  • AM/PM
  • Day of Week

Layout

  • Countdown placement & formatting are customizable

Copy Options

  • Customizable

Countdown Required Deliverables

  • Start and end dates of countdown
  • Start and end time of countdown (including timezone)

Time of Day Required Deliverables

  • List of times or days-of-week and corresponding messaging/creative.

Notes

  • Supported across all time zones
  • Leverages the user's clock (with IP-lookup as backup) to determine time
  • Countdown clocks should only auto-animate the “seconds” for up to :15, per standard ad spec guideline. Can request an ad policy exception to have countdown animate indefinitely, as long as it is not too flashy or distracting
Required Elements

Image

  • File Types: JPG, GIF, PNG (Equirectangular)
  • 2:1 aspect ratio (2048x1024 minimum)
  • Up to 2MB
  • Up to 2-6 touchpoints
  • Include CTA
  • Avoid putting price or inventory that could change

See Demos

Amplify your message with direct social sharing functionality across Twitter.

Ad componentsFile typeDimensionsMax file size
Canvas OverlayHTML, CSS, JS, JPG, PNG, SVG or MP4Equivalent to pre-roll video dimensions (1920 x 1080 or 960 x 540) 300 KB
  • Not recommended for mobile due to the size of the screen
  • The video frame will reduce in size to allow for the canvas to display at a larger, more prominent size.
  • The Canvas Overlay asset will display at full dimensions of the video ad space (1920x1080 or 960x540) while the video asset will resize within the video player.
Secondary Features
  • Carousel
  • Dynamic
  • Social Share
  • Touchpoints
Screen Support
  • Desktop
  • Mobile
  • Tablet
Skip Button
  • Skip Button must appear at 5 seconds
  • Skip Button: Non-VPAID Skip Button functionality is handled by the video player / VPAID Skip Button functionality is handled by the creative
  • Skip Button will display over the advertiser’s pre-roll video and responsively scale up/down based on the player size
  • Advertisers have the option to brand the Skip Call-to-Action and either have it skip the advertiser’s pre-roll video immediately, or optionally triggering an Expansion containing an interactive incentive in exchange for skipping the advertiser’s pre-roll video
1st Party Served Video Guidelines
  • Resolution: 1080p - 1920x1080 (recommended), or 720p - 1280x720 (minimum)
  • Codec: H.264 MP4 (recommended), MOV, or raw AVI accepted
  • Bitrate: 1500 kbps
  • Frame Rate: 30 fps or 29.97 fps
  • Do not include slates, leaders or countdowns
  • Field Order: None, progressive scan only
  • Audio Bitrate: 128 kbps minimum
  • Audio Codec: AAC / MP3 / MP4
3rd Party Served Video Guidelines

VAST

  • VAST tag must not have browser, geo or any other targeting on the 3rd Party side
  • IAB VAST 2.0 and 3.0 supported (wrappers: Up to 5)
  • Codec: H.264 MP4
  • Resolution: 1280x720 or 640x360
  • Bitrate: Minimums - 1500 kbps (1280x720) or 600 kbps (640x360)
  • Field Order: None, progressive scan only
  • Frame Rate: 30 fps or 29.97 fps
  • Do not include slates, leaders or countdowns
  • Audio Bitrate: 128 kbps minimum
  • Audio Codec: AAC / MP3 / MP4

VPAID

  • IAB VPAID 2.0 (JS, HTML) supported
  • Interactive Pre-roll (IPR) is only supported with VPAID tags
Audio
  • Audio should be synced with the video player’s audio state
  • Audio is permitted upon user interaction with the ad
  • If a (click or tap) interaction triggers audio, the ad must contain a clearly defined Call-To-Action informing the user that audio will be initiated
Animation

Recommended: 30 seconds

Ad Vendor

Ads must be site served or served by an approved vendor.

3rd Party Ad Tags & Trackers

Approved 3rd party vendors are allowed to serve select ads. To find out which ad formats are approved to serve via 3rd party, reach out to your Sales POC.

Approved 3rd party vendor trackers (e.g. click, impression, etc.) are allowed across ad formats.

For a list of approved 3rd party vendors, please visit the 3rd Party Vendor List.

Ad Policies & Guidelines

Ads must comply with Global Yahoo Advertising Policies.

HTML5 Guidelines

HTML5 ad specifications must follow HTML5 Guidelines.

SSL Compliance

Ads & 3rd party vendors must be secure and SSL compliant.

Creative Submission Timelines

Refer to Creative Submission Guidelines for ad design & build SLAs.

AOL Homepage - U.S.
AOL Entertainment - U.S.
AOL Lifestyle - U.S.
Engadget - U.S.
MSN Entertainment - U.S.
MSN Lifestyle - U.S.
MSN Money U.S.
MSN News - U.S.
MSN Sports - U.S.
TechCrunch - U.S.
Yahoo Entertainment - U.S.
Yahoo Finance - U.S.
Yahoo Life - U.S.
Yahoo News - U.S.
Yahoo Sports - U.S.
AOL Homepage - CA
MSN News - U.S. Hispanic
MSN Sports - U.S. Hispanic
Yahoo Finance - U.S. Hispanic
Yahoo Style - U.S. Hispanic
DSP