Intergrating IMA HTML5 sdk and SWF Preloader

[Aimee]

Hey,

I have IMA Html5 SDK implemented on my site and it's serving video ads. I also want to serve Flash ads. Since HTML5 SDK doesn't support it, I'm thinking to add SWF Preloader on the site. So if the video ad cannot display with HTML5 SDK, it will fall back to SWF Preloader to display the ad, or vice verse. Is it feasible and if yes how?

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Aimee 

[Bret McGowen]

Hi Aimee,

Once the SDK is loaded and has fetched an ad there isn't a way to switch or fall back to another SDK or the SWF preloader to serve that ad. Typically publishers will detect browser capabilities (i.e. Flash plugin installed) when the page is loaded and determine which SDK to load at that time. However, if the HTML5 SDK requests an ad from an ad tag that only has Flash assets, it won't display any ads and will return to the content video.

Thanks,

Bret McGowen

IMA SDK Team

[Oli Cundale]

Hi Brett, on this same topic- is it possible to use a tag that includes links to both a Flash and Javascript in the VAST response?

I know that the VPAID standard dictates that you can return both types and depending on the video type, the appropriate resource type will be selected. 

For example a flash-only player serving an overlay ad would look in the VAST response for the StaticResource with creativeType="application/x-shockwave-flash". 

Where as an HTML5 player would select the resource with creativeType="application/javascript".

Hence you should be able to include both in the VAST response. However the IMA doesn't seem to support this?..Are there any plans to make it VPAID compliant?

Example response:

<StaticResource creativeType="application/javascript">

<![CDATA[//domain.com/creative.js

]]>

 </StaticResource>

<StaticResource creativeType="application/x-shockwave-flash">

 <![CDATA[

    //domain.com/creative.swf]]>

 </StaticResource>

Many thanks,

Oliver

[Bret McGowen]

Hi Oliver,

You can specify different MediaFile elements in the VAST response and the SDK will select one appropriate for the platform the player is running on (e.g. it won't try to play a Flash creative in the HTML5 SDK). You can see an example of multiple MediaFile entries in our sample ad tag. You can also use the AdsRenderingSettings.mimeTypes API to specify what file types you'd prefer the SDK to use.

Let me know if that doesn't answer your question.

Cheers,

[Oli Cundale]

Thanks for the response Bret, I may not have been specific enough about my issue-

We already have a tag for linear preroll that is working fine and selecting the correct MediaFile depending on the player as you mention, however, the problem I am having is for non-linear overlay ads.

For non-linear overlay ads the VPAID standard is to have the creative link returned within the StaticResource node and unfortunately the Google IMA does not seem to be able to handle more than one StaticResource and pick the correct ad type - I have created a quick demo in the Inspector with our ad tag that currently works with other VPAID compliant players for overlay:

https://developers.google.com/interactive-media-ads/docs/vastinspector_dual?player=h5&tag=https%3A%2F%2Fradar.network.coull.com%2Fradar%3Fpid%3D10989%26ad_type%3Dov%26page_url%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fcoulladops.weebly.com

It seems the IMA simply loads the first StaticResource URL regardless of type and hence is causing issues for us.

Does this make sense to you now?

Thanks again for the help, much appreciated!

Oliver

[Bret McGowen]

Hey Oliver,

From checking out the VAST spec doc it seems that the correct way to do this is with multiple NonLinear elements, each containing one StaticResource element. Per the spec:

"In order to ensure that the video player can display at least one NonLinear creative, 

multiple <NonLinear> elements may be provided, each containing a different resource 

file. The video player should poll each <NonLinear> element to determine which 

creative is offered in a format the video player can support"

Unfortunately, the IMA SDK doesn't seem to work with multiple NonLinear elements either. I'll open an issue with the team and update you with any developments.

Cheers,

Bret McGowen

IMA SDK Team

[Oli Cundale]

Thanks Bret, you're totally right- there should only be a single StaticResource within a NonLinear element.

We are now updating our VAST response in accordance with the specification.

Happy to hear you will add support into the IMA, If you need a test tag, give me a shout :)

Cheers!

[Oli Cundale]

Hi Bret, just wanted to check whether you might be able to squeeze this fix into the next release?

(Ability to handle multiple NonLinear elements)

Thanks!

Oliver

[Bret McGowen]

Hey Oliver,

Thanks for checking -- I haven't heard an update so it's unlikely to go into the next release; I'll see if I can chase down some more information.

Cheers,

Bret McGowen

IMA SDK Team