Android TV countdown element focus issue

[Tom Van Laerhoven]

Hey Team,

When using the IMA SDK (any version) on Android TV, it is possible to navigate focus to the COUNTDOWN UI element using the remote. Clicking/tapping it has no effect, but there is a visible focus rectangle that suggests the possibility to interact.

Is there any way, except for disabling the COUNTDOWN element or injecting some Javascript to forcefully disable it, to avoid being able to focus this component? Would it be possible to let the IMS SDK make it non-focusable by default?

Kind regards,

Tom.

[IMA SDK]

Hi Tom,

Thank you for contacting the IMA SDK support team.

Ad attribution is required for a countdown timer to be displayed. Both UiElements.COUNTDOWN and UiElements.AD_ATTRIBUTION must be present in AdsRenderingSettings.setUiElements. Disabling the “Countdown UI element” button is currently not supported by the IMA SDK.  Is there a business use case for hiding “countdown"?

Thanks,
 

IMA SDK Team

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[2025-05-02 11:52:49Z GMT] This message is in relation to case "ref:!00D1U01174p.!500Ht01qVUYh:ref" (ADR-00303110)

[Tom Van Laerhoven]

Hey Team,

The main goal would be to avoid the countdown timer getting focus using the remote control. A user can currently navigate focus from, for example, the skip button to the ad countdown timer. While pressing it does not trigger any action, it is still confusing that the UI element is showing  a visual focus rectangle (see screenshot).

My question is if this can be avoided somehow. I guess there is no use-case where this element should get focus, so maybe it makes sense to make it a non-focusable by default?

Kind regards,

Tom.

[IMA SDK]

Hi Tom,

To investigate the issue where the countdown timer gains focus when using the remote control, please verify if this behavior is reproducible on a Google samples. If it is, kindly provide the following details so we can analyze the root cause and identify a potential solution:

• Can you confirm the specific platform type you are using and clarify whether the SDK integration type is client-side or DAI? 
• Provide stream details: if it is live or video on demand (VOD). Furthermore, if the content is live, what is the stream format and the asset key? If the content is VOD, what is the stream format, CMS ID, and Video ID?
• If the issue is in client side then please share VAST tag URL
• If DRM is used, please provide a "clear stream" that has no DRM.
• Charles logs

You can provide the requested details via reply privately to the author option.

Thanks,
 

IMA SDK Team

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[2025-05-05 16:56:38Z GMT] This message is in relation to case "ref:!00D1U01174p.!500Ht01qVUYh:ref" (ADR-00303110)

[IMA SDK]

Hi,

I will raise this issue with the wider team and will reach out to you once we have an update on this. Meanwhile, your patience is highly appreciated.

Thanks,
 

IMA SDK Team

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[2025-05-15 19:52:18Z GMT] This message is in relation to case "ref:!00D1U01174p.!500Ht01qVUYh:ref" (ADR-00303110)