Video advertising

In-stream video advertising

Understand pre-roll, mid-roll and post-roll video ads, VAST responses, player events, creative compatibility and completion-based measurement.

Explore Nexus VAST Video ↗Discuss this format
DEPLOYMENT FITCore Nexus VAST workflow

Exact format support, enforcement and reporting depend on the connected revenue engine and agreed deployment configuration.

VASTdelivery contract
Pre · Mid · Postpositions
Web · App · CTVenvironments

Plain-language definition

What is in-stream video advertising?

In-stream video advertising plays inside a video player before, during or after the requested content. The viewer experience depends on more than the media file: VAST metadata, wrapper depth, player capability, duration and tracking must work as one delivery chain.

WHERE IT APPEARS

Placements

  • Pre-roll before content
  • Mid-roll break
  • Post-roll after content
  • Live-stream ad break
HOW IT IS BOUGHT

Buying models

  • CPM
  • vCPM or viewable delivery
  • CPV or completed-view model
HOW ELIGIBILITY CHANGES

Targeting signals

  • Content and channel
  • Device and player environment
  • Geography and language
  • Duration and creative compatibility
  • Ad-break position and frequency

Delivery path

From opportunity to measurable outcome.

The exact services differ by format, but every useful implementation keeps eligibility, delivery and evidence connected.

01Player ad break
02VAST request
03Demand and wrapper chain
04Compatible media selection
05Playback and tracking events

Measurement

Metrics that explain more than volume.

Start rate

Playback starts ÷ valid responses

Completion rate

Completed views ÷ starts

Quartiles

25%, 50%, 75% and complete events

Error rate

VAST or player failures ÷ attempts

Operator guide

What clients should understand before launch.

01

What the user sees

A video creative plays inside the same player used for content. It may be skippable or non-skippable depending on the placement, creative and publisher policy.

02

How VAST fits

VAST describes media assets, impression tracking, click destinations, errors and playback events. A wrapper may point to another VAST response, creating additional demand hops and latency.

03

Why compatibility matters

Container, codec, bitrate, aspect ratio, duration and secure media delivery must be compatible with the player and environment. A valid XML response can still fail at playback.

04

Operator watchouts

Wrapper loops, excessive depth, slow media, unsupported codecs, duplicate tracking and unrealistic timeout budgets are common sources of lost video opportunities.

Frequently asked

Questions about in-stream video.

Pre-roll plays before requested content. Mid-roll appears during content at a defined break and therefore needs especially careful frequency and viewer-experience policy.

No. It provides a delivery contract, but the player must still resolve wrappers, select compatible media, load the asset and emit valid playback events.

Starts, quartile progress, completion, error rate and playback latency explain whether delivered responses became real viewing opportunities.

Build the right delivery path

Connect format, targeting, traffic policy and commercial evidence.

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