recently presented AdMob Rewarded Mediation breaks everything

[sergey...@rhyboo.net]

Hi.Google has recently presented so called AdMob rewarded videos.Which are if I understood correctly not third party videos, but videos from google.Google enables this feature by default.

We use serverside callbacks for each network in the admob mediator.Unfortunately I see no way how to set server callback for google's videos via admob dashboard.Since these videos  are at the top in the mediators list it doesn't allow other networks to show their rewarded videos.Moreover google's videos aren't working correctly since there is no serverside callback configured for these videos => no reward is granted to the user.
In connection with all these I have following questions:
1)Is there way to configure serverside callback for admob rewarded videos?
2)If answer on previous question is no, how can I disable this useless feature?
3)Why Google enables it without any warning if it potentialy could block whole app from receiving its revenue?

[Joshua Lagonera (Mobile Ads SDK Team)]

Hi there,

I think you may have misunderstood the part about AdMob being an available Ad Network for Rewarded Video Ads. 

The AdMob Network does not block third party Ad Networks from mediating with AdMob from your Ad Unit ID. You can still freely mediate from supported Third Party Ad Networks for Rewarded Video Ads.

That said, to answer your question:

Is there way to configure serverside callback for admob rewarded videos?

 

Can you clarify on what you mean by "server side callback for AdMob Rewarded Videos"? Do you mean the reward that the user receives when they view the entire length of the ad? 

If that is so, then you can configure this by editing your Ad Unit ID and providing a Reward Amount and Type in its settings.

Regards,

Joshua Lagonera

Mobile Ads SDK Team

[Sergey Kodzha]

Look here is how looks my admob dasboard:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/68778662/admob.png
As you can see there are 3 third party networks.For each network we have configured server callback like:
https://[our backend url]/fyber_network_callback.php
Here how it works:
1)I pass USER ID to network adapter(in java code)
2)User watching an ad
3)Network's backend pings our backend(fyber_network_callback.php) saying user `USER ID` has watched an ad please grant him with N coins or whatever reward you have.
Now what happens with google ads:
1)I don't pass any user id to admob adapter as I don't know how to do it
2)User see an ad from google.
3)In the end onReward callback is trigered.Of course no reward is granted to user bacause ITS OUR BACKEND CREDITS USER .
Its good I can set reward type in the dashboard, but I need to set callback url(admob_network_callback.php) which google will ping once user finish watching video.We can't credit user from client because this would mean we have to expose script where anyone can send his user id and receive reward for free withouit watching anything.Its common practice crediting user.You can read how fyber does this here:
http://android.fyber.com/v1.0/docs/rv-rewarding-the-user#Server Side
I need admob does something similar.

The AdMob Network does not block third party Ad Networks

It does because before google introduced its own videos everything worked well and now I can see only videos from google which doesn't work as expected as there is no callback configured for them.

So once again:
If you don't support server callbacks, how can I exclude google's rewarded videos from mediator?

[Joshua Lagonera (Mobile Ads SDK Team)]

Hi Sergey,

Thank you for clarifying your concern.

The Mobile Ads SDK currently does not support any server-side callbacks like you described, and there is currently no way to exclude the AdMob Network from the list of Ad Sources for any Ad Unit ID. 

However, you can increase the priority to serve ads from the other Ad Networks by giving them a significantly higher eCPM value.

Regards,

Joshua Lagonera

Mobile Ads SDK Team

[Sergey Kodzha]

Will admob conitnue prioritirizing networks if I set cpms manualy?

Correct me if I'm wrong:
1)You have enabled feature I didn't ask
2)The feature doesn't work as expected
3)I can't disable it
Are you kidding?

[Joshua Lagonera (Mobile Ads SDK Team)]

Hi Sergey,

Yes, the Ad Networks with significantly higher eCPM values will have priority over the others in the mediation stack with lower eCPM values.

Regards,

Joshua Lagonera

Mobile Ads SDK Team

[Sergey Kodzha]

You didn't undetstand. I mean't will admob request cpm from network if I set cpm manualy?
Actualy I don't understand why I have to set eCPM - USD if I have checked "Automatically pull the eCPM value from this ad network" for each network?

[Joshua Lagonera (Mobile Ads SDK Team)]

Hi Sergey,

Apologies for the confusion.

If you set the eCPM value manually for an Ad Network, then AdMob will use that value.

However, if you opt to automatically pull the eCPM value for the Ad Network, then AdMob will use that value instead, regardless of the eCPM value you manually inputted, when the verification process is completed and the "Pending" warning message disappears.

Regards,

Joshua Lagonera

Mobile Ads SDK Team

[Sergey Kodzha]

Thanks.Is there chance there will be option to disable these offers?
The way it implemented now is not acceptabe for us.

[Joshua Lagonera (Mobile Ads SDK Team)]

Hi Sergey,

You're welcome!

Unfortunately, we cannot say if there is a chance to enable an option to disable the AdMob Network from the list of Ad Sources, but do follow our official blog for announcements and releases regarding the SDK.

Regards,

Joshua Lagonera

Mobile Ads SDK Team

[Sergey Kodzha]

Thanks, but no thanks.I'd better consider alternatives with less idiotic policy.