As consumer expectations continue to rise and competition intensifies, the challenge of attracting new audiences, retaining existing ones, and generating profit from subscription revenues is becoming increasingly complex. To navigate this landscape successfully, it’s essential to explore new avenues for monetization without compromising the quality of the viewing experience.
One promising solution in this regard is Dynamic Ad Insertion (DAI), with a particular focus on Server-Side Ad Insertion (SSAI). SSAI technology empowers you to seamlessly introduce addressable ads before, during, and after content in all viewing modes: live broadcasts, catch-up content, and video-on-demand (VOD). It also offers the flexibility to insert ads on any device that complies with HLS or DASH standards.
What sets SSAI apart from Client-Side Ad Insertion is its ability to replace ad breaks in live streams with personalized ads, ensuring precise and uninterrupted ad placements. Moreover, SSAI circumvents ad blockers, guaranteeing that ads are displayed even on devices equipped with ad-blocking software.
In straightforward terms, SSAI is the ideal technology to monetize your complete video inventory and maximize revenue across all screens.
To estimate how much revenue can be generated from SSAI:
The average consumer dedicates approximately four hours each day to watching video content*. In our industry, it is customary to maintain an advertising duration of eight minutes per hour, equating to 480 advertising seconds for every hour. Furthermore, a 30-second ad is gradually becoming the standard ad duration in numerous countries.
For service providers, the following calculations can help determine the size of their advertising inventory:
Total yearly watch hours per viewer = 4 hours per day X 365 days per year = 1,460 hours/year
Ads viewed per hour per viewer = 480 seconds per hour / 30-second slots = 16 ads per hour
Total ads viewed per year per viewer = 1,460 X 16 = 23,360 ads per viewer per year”
*Note: The provided information is based on the assumption that the average consumer watches approximately four hours of video content per day.
North America
“In the USA and Canada, advertisers typically pay an average of $25 for every thousand ad views on studio-grade content, a metric commonly known as the Cost Per Mille (CPM) price. While this price can rise to as much as $50 for premium sports content*, for the sake of a conservative calculation, we will stick with the $25 price point.
The annual revenue from advertising per viewer in North America can be calculated as follows: Revenue from advertising per viewer per year in North America = 23,360 ads per year X ($25 / 1000 ad views) = $584 per year”
**Note: The provided information is based on the assumption of CPM rates for studio-grade content in the USA and Canada. ***Note: Premium sports content may command higher CPM rates.
In North America, SSAI can generate $584 per subscriber per year
In other words, with SSAI, each North American subscriber has the potential to generate approximately $1.60 in daily revenue.
To provide a clearer understanding of the potential revenue loss for all your subscribers annually when not utilizing SSAI, please refer to the following table:
Number of Subscribers
Daily Revenue Loss (per subscriber)
Annual Revenue Loss (for all subscribers)
1,000
$1.60
$584,000
5,000
$1.60
$2,920,000
10,000
$1.60
$5,840,000
50,000
$1.60
$29,200,000
100,000
$1.60
$58,400,000
This table illustrates the potential annual revenue loss for different subscriber counts if SSAI is not implemented, based on the daily revenue per subscriber of $1.60.
Europe
Indeed, with an average CPM of $15 for every thousand ad views in Europe, the calculation for annual revenue from advertising per viewer in Europe using SSAI is as follows:
Revenue from advertising per viewer per year in Europe = 23,360 ads per year X ($15 / 1000 ad views) = $350.4 per year
This means that in Europe, SSAI has the potential to generate approximately $350 per subscriber per year. To break it down further, each European subscriber can contribute approximately $0.95 in daily revenue with SSAI.
European SSAI Revenue Estimations
Number of Subscribers
50,000
100,000
200,000
300,000
500,000
1 Million
2 Million
5 Million
Advertising Revenue Per Subscriber Per Year
$350
$350
$350
$350
$350
$350
$350
$350
Total Advertising Revenue Per Year
$17,5 Million
$35 Million
$70 Million
$105 Million
$175 Million
$350 Million
$700 Million
$1.75 Billion
Latin America
With an average CPM of $5 for every thousand ad views in Latin America, the calculation for annual revenue from advertising per viewer in this region can be determined as follows:
Revenue from advertising per viewer per year in Latin America = 23,360 ads per year X ($5 / 1000 ad views) = $116.8 per year
In Latin America, SSAI can generate $116 per subscriber per year
That is to say that each Latin American subscriber can generate $0.32 daily revenue with SSAI.
Latin America SSAI Revenue Estimations
Number of Subscribers
50,000
100,000
200,000
300,000
500,000
1 Million
2 Million
5 Million
Advertising Revenue Per Subscriber Per Year
$116
$116
$116
$116
$116
$116
$116
$116
Total Advertising Revenue Per Year
$5,8 Million
$11,6 Million
$23,2 Million
$34,8 Million
$58 Million
$116 Million
$232 Million
$580 Million
Asia
If Asian advertisers also pay around $5 for every thousand ad views, the calculation for annual revenue from advertising per viewer in Asia would be the same as in Latin America:
Revenue from advertising per viewer per year in Asia = 23,360 ads per year X ($5 / 1000 ad views) = $116.8 per year
In Asia, SSAI can generate $116 per subscriber per year
That is to say that each Asian subscriber can generate $0.32 daily revenue with SSAI.
Asia SSAI Revenue Estimations
Number of Subscribers
50,000
100,000
200,000
300,000
500,000
1 Million
2 Million
5 Million
Advertising Revenue Per Subscriber Per Year
$116
$116
$116
$116
$116
$116
$116
$116
Total Advertising Revenue Per Year
$5,8 Million
$11,6 Million
$23,2 Million
$34,8 Million
$58 Million
$116 Million
$232 Million
$580 Million
Not Yet Using SSAI? Here is How Much Revenue You Are Losing
In summary, the potential revenue generated through SSAI can be significant, but the actual revenue distribution will depend on the specific agreements and negotiations between service providers and content owners. Typically, content owners request a share of the revenue since it’s their content being monetized. The specific revenue split percentages can vary based on factors such as the type of content and the bargaining power of the service provider in negotiations with rights owners.
To determine how much revenue you could potentially make with SSAI, it’s essential to plug in the expected revenue split percentage based on your agreements with content owners. SSAI is indeed a monetization strategy that should be taken seriously, as it has the potential to enhance revenue streams for both service and content providers.
Are you looking for a way to monetize your video platforms? If so, you may want to consider server-side ad insertion (SSAI). SSAI is a process of inserting ads into videos on the server-side before the content is delivered to the user. This can be done either dynamically, in real-time, or through pre-loading ads into the video content. Here’s everything you need to know about SSAI and how it can help you monetize your video platforms.
If you run a video platform or service, you know that ad revenue is essential to keeping your business afloat. Enter server-side ad insertion (SSAI). SSAI allows you to insert ads into your video streams on the server-side before they’re delivered to the viewer. This means more control over the ad experience for your viewers and more revenue for you. So how do you get started with SSAI?
What is Server-Side Ad Insertion?
Server-Side Ad Insertion is a server-side method for ad insertion that allows the publisher to dynamically insert an advertisement into the web page without requiring any action by the user.
Server-Side Ad Insertion is an advertising technique in which ads are inserted into a web page from the server before it’s sent to the client.
Server-side ad insertion (SSAI) is a method of inserting ads into online advertising that relies on the provider’s server to insert them into an existing website rather than having the code for the site do it.
Server-Side Ad Insertion, or SSI for short, is a method that allows you to deliver ads on your website without having to change the HTML code.
Server-Side Ad Insertion (or SSAI) is a method of displaying your ads on other sites so that they seem like regular content.
How do Server-Side Ad Insertion platforms work?
Server-Side Ad Insertion platforms allow users to connect multiple ad sources and insert them into the video as it’s being streamed. This is usually done through an RTMP server, which can also send content from different servers.
Server-Side Ad Insertion (SSAI) is a new way to deliver online ads. Rather than providing ads on the client-side, SSAI delivers them by using the same network infrastructure that serves web pages and streaming media.
Server-side ad insertion platforms are an excellent choice for advertisers because they integrate their client’s ads into various media.
SSAI platforms enable advertisers to insert ads into existing content. It’s an excellent solution for sites that already have an audience and want to monetize their traffic with relevant advertising.
The Advantage of Server-Side Ad Insertion and DAI
The advantages of the server-side Ad Insertion and DAI technology and the Data Acquisition Interface (DAI) are that advertisers can use it to quickly choose where their ads will appear, with a minimum of effort.
The advantage of server-side ad insertion is that it allows you to use your existing infrastructure for many things. It also enables the ability to control inventory, targeting, and third-party management in one place.
Users can use the server for ad insertion to maximize the number of spaces available. A combination of DSP and SSAI is a good option if you want multiple ads on your site.
Server-side ad insertion is better than the client-side because it ensures that the given ad will be inserted into the appropriate place in a video. Server-side insertion also helps avoid glitches and skips in videos, reducing viewers’ load time.
Ad insertion is a method of serving advertisements onto a page. It allows for the ad to be displayed in the right place at the right time, leading to an increase in revenue.
The concept of client-side ad insertion (DAI) is that advertisers can deliver ads independently from a publisher’s site.
Everything needs to know about Server-Side Ad Insertion
Server-Side Ad Insertion is a standard that allows you to put ads on any online page. It’s straightforward to implement, and it works with most ad networks in the industry.
Server-Side Ad Insertion is a ground-breaking technology that allows you to show ads on the server-side. Specially designed and used for many purposes, including traffic tracking, ad previews, and more.
Server-Side Ad insertion is a Game Changer in Streaming
Server-Side Ad Insertion is the future of live streaming. Not only does it allow for more revenue, but it also creates a much better experience for viewers by creating an ad that fits seamlessly into the broadcast.
SSAI is the future of live streaming. It’s a revolutionary technology that allows you to insert ads in your videos automatically, and this means significant revenue for streamers who use it.
Server-Side Ad insertion is a Game Changer in Streaming. You can control the ads displayed on your stream and get paid for them with it.
Server-side ad insertion is a game-changer in video advertising. It allows publishers and advertisers to create cost-effective, dynamic ads that target the served audience.
Server-Side Ad Server Insertion (SSAI) has been around for a while. However, only recently did I see the full potential of this technology in my own streaming business.
Best Practices for Server-Side Ad insertion (SSAI)
Follow the guidelines set by IAB
Identify the ad’s target audience and what they are interested in
Determine the type of ads to include- video, display, or text
Understand how ads will be served on your site- either through an SSAI platform or via a third-party service provider
Be aware of any legal obligations related to advertising
Ad insertion is a powerful way to increase revenue in your video streaming service
SSAI should be implemented at the server level, not client-side
Define the goals of your SSAI campaign
Determine the best platforms for your ad delivery
Create a plan to measure and optimize the performance of your ads
Be mindful of the technical requirements needed to execute an SSAI campaign
SSAI is a technology that inserts ads into video content on the fly
First, you need to choose an ad network and create an account with them
Next, you will need to embed their JavaScript code in your website’s HTML pages or upload it as a separate file if using PHP or ASP scripts
If using WordPress, there are plugins available for inserting advertisements and tracking impressions
Decide on the type of ad you want to insert- pre-roll, post-roll, or pop up
Determine which key points in your video are appropriate for ads
Create a script that includes these key points and add the desired ad types at each one
Run this script through an SSAI software program like AdapTV to produce the final product
SSAI is a way to insert ads into video content
The process of SSAI includes encoding the ad, adding it to the video, and then distributing it in real-time
Pre-rolls are placed before the video starts playing and can be skipped after 5 seconds or watched for 30 seconds
Post-rolls are placed at the end of videos and cannot be skipped
Determine the number of ads you want to serve per hour and how many times each ad should be shown
Create a playlist that includes your ads in sequential order
Upload the playlist to your server and set it up, so it plays on loop
Configure your player to include an SSAI plugin for whichever platform you are using (e.g., VAST, VPAID)
A key difference between SSAI and client-side ad insertion is that all ads are preloaded before the webpage loads for users, so there’s no risk of slowing down the loading time
Advertisers should have a clear and concise message
SSAI ads are best served at natural breaks in content, such as before or after a segment of video programming
Ads must complement the viewing experience rather than disrupt it.
OTT Guidance for Server-Side Ad Insertion
In OTT Guidance for Server-Side Ad Insertion, learn the importance of server-side ad insertion and make it work.
The fact that OTT content is mostly consumed on mobile devices makes it vulnerable to the challenges presented by ad-blocking.
You must have a solid OTT product strategy when using server-side ad insertion. So let me tell you about the basics of what it is and how to use it effectively.
OTT Guidance for Server-Side Ad Insertion is intended to help the OTT industry develop standards and best practices around ad delivery, reduce latency and improve overall user experience.
Conclusion:
SSAI is a great way to monetize your video platforms.
By working with an experienced provider, you can ensure that your viewers have a seamless experience and that you can make the most of your advertising opportunities.
Contact us today if you’re interested in learning more about server-side ad insertion or need help implementing it on your site.
We offer expert marketing consulting for businesses just like yours who want to make the most out of their online video presence.
Automatically adding advertisements to a live stream usually involves using special software or platforms meant for live streaming and ad placement. Here’s a straightforward breakdown of the steps to automatically insert ads into a live stream:
Select a Live Streaming Platform: Choose a platform for live streaming that supports ad insertion. Platforms like YouTube Live, Facebook Live, Twitch, and others allow you to make money through ads.
Prepare Your Ads: Create or get the ads you want to insert into your live stream. These ads can be videos or banner ads. Make sure they meet the platform’s requirements, like the right video format, size, and length.
Use Ad Insertion Tools: Many live streaming platforms have built-in tools for ad placement. Explore these features on your chosen platform. Alternatively, you can use third-party ad insertion software or services that work with your live stream. Some popular options include Google Ad Manager, AdRoll, and JW Player.
Insert Ads Into Live Stream
Configure Ad Placement: Decide when and where you want to put ads in your live stream. You can choose to have ads before the stream starts (pre-roll), during the stream (mid-roll), or after it ends (post-roll). Set how often ads appear and how long they last based on what you and your viewers prefer.
Use Ad Triggers: Activate ad placement at the planned points in your live stream using triggers. These triggers can be manual (you start them) or automatic (based on time or the number of viewers). Make sure the software or platform you’re using supports these triggers.
Monitor Ad Performance: Keep an eye on how your ads are doing. Track metrics such as how many people view the ads, click-through rates, and the money you make from ads. Adjust your ad strategy and placement based on this data to earn more.
Follow Platform Policies: Get familiar with the advertising rules and guidelines of your chosen live streaming platform. Make sure your ads meet their requirements to avoid problems with ad placement.
Test and Ensure Quality: Try out the ad placement process in a test environment before going live to make sure it works as expected. Run live tests with a small audience to be sure ads are added smoothly and don’t disrupt the viewing experience.
Engage with Viewers: Talk to your audience about the ad placement process and why it’s happening. Being open and transparent can help keep viewers happy.
Keep Improving: Continuously check how your ads are doing and listen to what viewers say. Use this information to fine-tune your ad placement strategy and make more money over time.
Remember that the exact steps and tools needed might differ based on your live streaming platform and ad placement software. Stay updated with the latest platform features and rules to make sure your ad placement in live streams goes smoothly.
Adding pre-roll video advertisements to your livestream events can be an effective way to monetize your content. To incorporate pre-roll video ads into your livestreams, you’ll typically need to work with an advertising network or platform that provides ad inventory for your content. Here are the general steps to add pre-roll video advertisements to your livestream events:
Choose an Advertising Platform:
Start by selecting an advertising platform or network that supports pre-roll video ads for livestreams. Some popular options include Google AdSense, Ad Manager, or third-party ad networks like AdRoll, SpotX, or JW Player.
Sign Up and Set Up an Account:
Create an account with your chosen advertising platform and follow their instructions to set up your publisher or content creator account.
Create or Upload Advertisements:
Pre-Roll Video Advertisements
Create or upload the video advertisements that you want to display as pre-rolls. Advertisers may provide ad creatives, or you can create your own ads, depending on your agreement with the advertising platform
Configure your monetization preferences within the advertising platform. This includes specifying the types of ads you want to display (e.g., pre-roll video ads) and defining criteria such as ad duration and content categories.
Integrate the Advertising SDK or Tag:
To serve ads within your livestream, you’ll typically need to integrate the advertising platform’s SDK (Software Development Kit) or ad tag into your streaming setup. This involves adding a code snippet provided by the platform to your livestreaming software or platform.
Schedule Ads:
Use the advertising platform’s interface to schedule when pre-roll video ads should be displayed before your livestream starts. This may involve specifying the timing, frequency, and order of ads.
Test the Setup:
Before your livestream event, test the ad integration to ensure that pre-roll ads are displayed correctly and that they don’t disrupt the user experience.
Promote Your Livestream Event:
Promote your livestream event to attract viewers. The more viewers you have, the more valuable your ad inventory becomes to advertisers.
Go Live:
Start your livestream event at the scheduled time. Pre-roll video ads should automatically play before your livestream begins.
Monitor Performance:
Keep an eye on the performance of your pre-roll ads, including metrics like ad impressions, click-through rates, and revenue generated. Use this data to optimize your ad strategy over time.
Comply with Advertising Policies:
Adhere to the advertising policies and guidelines of the advertising platform you’re working with. Non-compliance can result in ad revenue loss or account suspension.
Remember that the specific steps and requirements may vary depending on the advertising platform you choose and the streaming software or platform you use for your livestreams. It’s essential to carefully review the documentation and guidelines provided by your chosen advertising platform to ensure a smooth integration of pre-roll video advertisements into your livestream events.
Client-side ad insertion (CSAI) stands as one of the most widely employed methods for monetizing video content. CSAI involves preloading ads within the video player, ensuring they are ready for display to the viewer. Nonetheless, more than 26% of present-day viewers employ ad blockers, which prevent these ads from loading and consequently result in revenue loss.
Telecommunication companies, broadcasters, and publishers are swiftly transitioning from client-side ad insertion to server-side ad insertion (SSAI). With SSAI, ads are loaded on the server side and seamlessly integrated into the content stream. This article explores the challenges associated with client-side ad insertion and delves into the reasons behind the widespread adoption of server-side ad insertion as a solution.
Client-Side Ad Insertion (CSAI).
Ad Blockers: A Revenue Roadblock
One of the significant challenges with CSAI is its vulnerability to ad blockers. These browser plugins are on the rise, with approximately 26% of desktop users and 15% of mobile consumers employing them to escape ads. Ad blockers disrupt the revenue streams of content publishers by preventing ads from playing.
In the CSAI process, ad blockers identify requests to ad servers (often blacklisted by ad blockers) and thwart these requests. Consequently, ads fail to play, and content videos continue without interruption. While it’s possible to detect ad blockers and restrict content access, this approach often leads to a subpar viewing experience, resulting in decreased viewer retention and, ultimately, a negative impact on earnings.
Diminished Quality of Service
CSAI involves frequent switches between the main content and advertisements. These transitions are often accompanied by loading indicators, which are particularly conspicuous on mobile devices with stringent video playback requirements. The complexity of managing CSAI steps within video players can sometimes lead to playback stalls, ad playback failures, stream restarts, or even video player crashes.
Viewers tend to engage more with content when immersed, watching longer and more content. Quality of service issues disrupt this immersion, potentially causing viewers to exit prematurely. This negatively affects ad completion rates and overall CPM (cost per mille).
Client-side ad insertion is well-suited for video-on-demand (VOD) content with pre- or mid-roll ads. However, the same doesn’t hold true for live streamed content, where ad breaks need precise scheduling to ensure viewers don’t miss important content.
To address this issue, publishers have introduced secondary communication channels between the video player and ad server to trigger CSAI workflows when ad breaks occur in live content. However, this approach has downsides: it’s often custom-built, susceptible to ad blockers, and can introduce additional overhead that affects overall scalability.
Server-Side Ad Insertion to the Rescue
Server-Side Ad Insertion (SSAI)
Thankfully, there is a solution in the form of server-side ad insertion (SSAI). With SSAI, most of the ad handling logic is managed by server-side components, mitigating the drawbacks associated with CSAI and offering new avenues for efficiency and revenue generation.
1. A Shield Against Ad Blockers Unlike CSAI, where ads are loaded or blocked at the viewer’s browser, SSAI makes ad requests server-side before delivering integrated content to viewers. This integration makes ads an intrinsic part of the content stream, rendering ad blockers powerless to block ad requests or distinguish between content and ads. This results in a boost in played ad inventory and an increase in CPM.
2. An Uninterrupted Viewer Experience In SSAI, much of the ad logic is handled by the server, simplifying the workflow and reducing the occurrence of edge cases or video player issues that disrupt viewer immersion. Furthermore, because ads are stitched seamlessly into the content stream, viewers no longer encounter loading spinners during ad breaks. This leads to an enhanced quality of service and higher viewer retention rates.
3. Simplified Monetization of Live Streams Server-side ad insertion facilitates precise ad scheduling in live streams. Publishers can annotate their live content with ad markers, specifying when ad breaks should start and end. On the server side, these markers trigger the replacement of content within the stream with relevant ads, streamlining the process of inserting ad breaks in both live and VOD content.
A Brighter Future Ahead
In this article, we’ve explored the limitations of client-side ad insertion and how server-side ad insertion addresses these challenges. With ad blockers unable to thwart server-side ads, a smoother viewer experience, and simplified ad scheduling, server-side ad insertion offers a promising future for content publishers and advertisers alike.
Great content is crucial, but it won’t make you stand out in the competitive broadcast world. Almost everyone else has fantastic content too. To succeed, focus on making money from ads. That’s the solution: aim for the highest ad revenue you can get.
At its core, the fundamental distinction between CSAI and SSAI lies in the way ads are integrated into the video content.
In CSAI, the video player, or client, initiates the process by requesting an ad from the ad server when it encounters specific ad-markers within the video stream. Essentially, the client takes charge of fetching and displaying ads.
SSAI, on the other hand, takes a different approach. Ads are seamlessly stitched into the video stream on the server side, reducing the involvement of the client. This means that the client has less responsibility in the ad-serving process.
While CSAI has its merits, it comes with significant drawbacks. The most notable among them is its vulnerability to ad blockers and various technical issues. Here’s why:
Ad Blockers: CSAI often falls victim to ad blockers, which prevent ads from loading and disrupt the viewer’s experience. This can be frustrating for both content creators and their audiences.
Technical Hiccups: CSAI can suffer from time-outs and other technical glitches, causing ads to fail to play. These interruptions can result in a suboptimal viewing experience and reduced ad revenue.
When seeking to boost ad revenues, content creators and publishers are increasingly turning to SSAI as a more effective solution. While it may be somewhat more expensive than CSAI, SSAI offers substantial benefits that make it a worthwhile investment:
A Broadcast-Like Viewing Experience: SSAI seamlessly integrates ads into the video stream, providing viewers with a broadcast-like experience. The high-quality video and graphics ensure that ads blend seamlessly with the content, enhancing the overall viewing experience.
Effective Protection Against Ad Blocking: Ad blockers pose a significant challenge to content monetization. SSAI, however, significantly mitigates this issue, as ads are incorporated directly into the video stream on the server side. This reduces the effectiveness of ad blockers, ensuring that your ads reach your target audience.
An Overall Great Experience for Your Viewers: Viewer satisfaction is paramount for content creators. SSAI’s ability to deliver a smoother and less disruptive ad experience translates into happier viewers, increased viewer retention, and ultimately, higher ad revenues.
To begin increasing your advertising revenue, which SSAI service provider should you opt for?
To answer this question, we have listed the best SSAI service providers here.
In this article, we will spotlight Thudo Multimedia, recognized as one of the premier SSAI service providers in 2023.
Sigma DAI- a brief overview
Thudo Multimedia is a prominent enterprise in Vietnam and holds a prominent position as one of the largest Over-The-Top (OTT) technical solution providers in the country. As the top-rated SSAI service provider, they have earned the trust of prominent businesses, including Vietnam National Television (VTV), due to their competitive pricing, exceptional technical services, and exemplary customer care.
Sigma DAI takes advertising to the next level by delivering personalized ads to users on every screen they view through precise targeting. Additionally, it supports innovative and unintrusive ad formats like Dynamic Brand Insertion (DBI), contextual video ads, and graphics overlays ads. These advanced advertising options empower content owners to provide viewers with a seamless and enjoyable viewing experience while enhancing brand affinity.
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