Changing sources in a playlist results in unexpected behavior with certain ads

[Alex]

SDK: HTML5

Description:

The SDK architecture page states that in order to handle a playlist source change, integrators should call AdsManager.destroy(), followed by AdsLoader.contentComplete(), followed by a new AdRequest(). This works as expected in the default playlist sample which has a single preroll ad. However, when using a VMAP containing a postroll ad (either by itself or along with additional pre- and midrolls), the source change fails and in at least one case postroll ad playback occurs, which is unexpected according to this past thread from 2018 which states that if the AdsManager is destroyed prior to calling contentComplete(), a postroll ad should not play. 

Test pages:

Note: The following playlist test pages are identical to the default sample except for using different tags from the "IMA Sample tag" page

1. VMAP Pre-, Mid-, and Post-rolls, Single Ads: https://solutions.brightcove.com/abarstow/ima-sdk-samples/playlist/pre-mid-post/index.html

• Ad tag: https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640x480&iu=/124319096/external/ad_rule_samples&ciu_szs=300x250&ad_rule=1&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vmap&unviewed_position_start=1&cust_params=deployment%3Ddevsite%26sample_ar%3Dpremidpost&cmsid=496&vid=short_onecue&correlator=

• Result: After source change, the postroll plays (although no ad events occur), then the player goes black and the content source does not play

2. VMAP Postroll: https://solutions.brightcove.com/abarstow/ima-sdk-samples/playlist/post/index.html

• Ad tag: https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640x480&iu=/124319096/external/ad_rule_samples&ciu_szs=300x250&ad_rule=1&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vmap&unviewed_position_start=1&cust_params=deployment%3Ddevsite%26sample_ar%3Dpostonly&cmsid=496&vid=short_onecue&correlator=

• Result: After source change, the player goes black and no content plays

Steps to reproduce:

1. Press play and let any preroll finish.

2. Once content starts to play, click "Video 2" to change to the next source in the playlist. 3. Compare observations to the results described above.

[IMA SDK]

HI Alex,

Thank you for reaching out to us with your question. I was able to test the 2 links that you gave us and can see the difference in behavior that you are talking about. At the same time I have also looked at both links that you have included. Especially the older case which looks to offer a more accurate possible solution to this. I would first remove the this.ads_.destroyAdsManager() from the onPlaylistItemClick, as suggested. At the same time I would then look at adding this to the function above it, onContentEnded. it would definitely appear that the destroy function call is happening out of order when you have to change the PlayListItems.

Regards,

William Pescherine IMA SDK Team

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[Alex]

Thanks for your quick response, William.

In both of the test pages I provided I am seeing AdsManager.destroy() correctly called before AdsLoader.contentComplete(). Yet in the "VMAP Pre-, Mid-, and Post-rolls" test page the postroll ad still plays, and in a seemingly broken state as no ad events occur. 

Assuming I've understood them correctly, making your suggested code changes does not resolve the issue on my end, as moving the destroyAdsManager() call out of onPlaylistItemClick() and into onContentEnded() results in destroyAdsManager() not being called at all during a playlist item change since no 'ended' event occurs during that process.

-- Alex

[IMA SDK]

Hi Alex,

I work along with William. Allow me to assist you in this.

As per testing, I was able to reproduce the behavior on my end which is odd. That said, let me bring this up (including the reports and discussion thus far) to the rest of the team for further investigation, and to get their insight as well. We'll update this thread the soonest we have our findings.

Regards,

Teejay Wennie Pimentel IMA SDK Team

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[Alex]

Hi Teejay,

Just checking on the status of this investigation-- are there any updates at this point?

Thanks,

Alex

[IMA SDK]

Hi Alex,

Thank you for reaching out to us again. Want to let you know our team is actively looking into this. At this moment there is no suggested workaround. But we would suggest to keep an eye on our release notes for any updates involving this.

Regards,

William Pescherine IMA SDK Team

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[João Paulo da Silva Vieira]

Hi William and Teejay,

We face the same problem. Any news about the one fix or one workaround for it?

Best Regards,

João Paulo.

[IMA SDK]

Hello João Paulo,

 

Michael here from IMA SDK Team.

 

Let me check on our internal teams for the most recent update on this issue. Give us some time and we will provide an update on this thread when they have responded.

Regards,

Michael Angelo IMA SDK Team

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[IMA SDK]

Hello,

I hope you're safe and doing fine.

I just want to circle back on this and let you know that the issue reported here has been fixed. Let us know if you still encounter the issue, so I could raise it to the team once again.

Regards,

Teejay Wennie IMA SDK Team

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