Server-side ad insertion (SSAI) allows you to monetize live streams with your own ad server by dynamically inserting targeted ads within the live stream.
While client-side ad insertion (CSAI) separates the live stream and ad stream, SSAI integrates ads directly into the live stream, ensuring a smooth viewing experience for your audience, preventing buffering between live and ad breaks.
In this article, you'll learn how to configure server-side ad insertion (SSAI) for live streams from your Dailymotion Studio.
SSAI beta is open for testing!
If you're interested, please reach out to your Dailymotion Account Manager so we can grant you access to the feature.
Live streams only
SSAI can only be configured for live streams. For VOD, please check our Advertising documentation.
Why should you consider server-side ad insertion for your live streams?
- Improved viewer experience - SSAI integrates ads directly into the video stream for a TV-like experience without black screen or buffering
- Optimize monetization - SSAI increases ad inventory volume and overcomes technical delivery issues commonly encountered by CSAI
- Bypass ad blockers - Ads and content are delivered in a single stream, preventing ads from being detected by ad blockers
- Easy implementation - Dailymotion's SSAI feature doesn't require any code, it can be easily implemented from the Studio
Requirements
Before implementing SSAI on your live streams, make sure to comply with the following requirements:
- Get access to SSAI beta testing: Reach out to your Dailymotion Account Manager if needed
- Live stream specifications:
- Stream must be sent in SRT input format
- SCTE-35 Ad Markers in MPEG-TS must already be included in the SRT stream
- Supported ad servers: Ensure you are using Google Ad Manager, SpringServer, FreeWheel or Publica. Other ad servers are currently not supported.
Specifications
The SSAI configuration includes the following elements:
| Configuration elements | Description | Required |
|---|---|---|
| Ad tag URL | The ad tag URL is provided by your ad server. It includes static ad parameters and variables for dynamic ad parameters that are replaced at runtime by actual values about the content, the user or even the device. Max: 25 000 characters | ✔ |
| Slate URL | A slate can be a still image or a short looped video used to fill in gaps when no ads is shown during an ad break (e.g. ad is longer than the ad break time, ad is not available or ad server responds with an error or timeout). Users will see the slate instead of a blank Player. Format: .mp4 | ✘ |
| Bumper URL | Bumpers are short, non-skippable videos that play at the start or before the end of an ad break. You can choose to setup start bumper, end bumper, both or none. Format: .mp4 or .mp3 | ✘ |
Manage your SSAI configurations
SSAI can be configured at 2 different levels:
- You can create a default SSAI configuration at channel level
- You can define specific SSAI configurations for individual live streams
Let's see how to define your SSAI configurations at channel and live stream levels from your Dailymotion Studio.
Configure SSAI at channel level
When configuring SSAI at the channel level, all SRT live streams within that channel will by default inherit these SSAI settings. This is particularly useful if you want a consistent ad experience across all your SRT live streams.
- From your Dailymotion Studio, navigate to Channel > Ad settings
This page is currently only accessible if you're part of the SSAI beta - Toggle on the SSAI option
- Create your default SSAI configuration: add your ad tag (required), slate and bumpers URLs (optional). Learn more about each element.
- Click Save
Configure SSAI at live stream level
While SSAI at channel level provides a default configuration, your needs from one live stream to the other might be different. Dailymotion enables you to define different SSAI configurations for specific live streams.
- From your Dailymotion Studio, navigate to Live streams and select the one you want to edit, or create a new one
- Navigate to the Ad settings section
This section is currently only accessible if you're part of the SSAI beta - Define the SSAI rules to apply on this live stream:
- Use channel rules: The SSAI configuration defined at channel level will apply on this live stream
- Add custom rules: With this option, you will be able to define a specific SSAI configuration that will only apply to this live stream. Toggle on the SSAI option and create the configuration: add your ad tag (required), slate and bumpers URLs (optional). Learn more about each element in the above section "Specifications".
- Click Save
Make sure your SSAI configuration is saved, you can then start streaming!
Performance monitoring
An overview of your SSAI performance is accessible in the Dailymotion Studio:
- From your Dailymotion Studio, navigate to Analytics > Ads
- Your SSAI performance data are available for Sellable inventory, Impressions and Fill rate. Click on these 3 cards to access data related to these metrics.
- Scroll down to Top buyer types: the SSAI performance data is included in the P1 result
Note
Please note that it is currently not possible to get a more detailed view of your SSAI performance. We are actively working on developing dedicated analytics and offer you deeper insights in the near future.
FAQ
Limitations
Current limitations to Dailymotion's SSAI feature:
- Can only be configured for live streams
- Midrolls only - Prerolls and postrolls not supported
- VPAID and SIMID not supported
- Ad calls can only be performed to publishers' own ad stack - Dailymotion's ad stack is not yet supported by SSAI
- Not compatible with DVR (Digital Video Recorder) (DVR allows users to rewind the live stream)
Can I configure prerolls and postrolls?
Can I configure SSAI at live stream level but not at channel level?
Can SSAI be enabled/disabled/updated on a live stream while on air?
What happens if I enabled SSAI on a live without ad markers?
What happens if I enabled SSAI on my live but didn't fill out all the configuration fields?
- If you didn't add an ad tag URL: An ad tag url is required for successful SSAI configuration. Without this information, your SSAI configuration is considered as null, your live won't include any dynamic ad break.
- If you didn't add bumpers or slate URLs: Slate and bumpers are optional. Ads will be inserted in your live stream without bumpers or slates.
How do bumpers behave during an ad break?
If you configure a 10-second start bumper and a 10-second end bumper in a 70-second ad break, the ad server will be able to fill 50 seconds of personalized ads.
