Track video events with third-party URLs

This feature is only available to networks with a dedicated Google account manager, and might not be turned on for your network. Contact your account manager for more information. If you do not have an account manager, your network is not eligible for this feature.

Third-party tracking URLs are used to measure ad metrics. They provide details about user interaction with creatives. Advertiser-supplied tracking URLs are usually used for video line items. If the advertiser is using VAST, it's recommended that the publisher book a VAST redirect that eliminates the need for third-party tracking URLs.

  • All the following tracking events are supported for video creatives on reservation, Programmatic Guaranteed, and Preferred Deal line items.
  • You can associate third-party URLs with line items or on the ad unit level via creative wrappers and labels.

You can enter multiple URLs for each type of tracking, except for Survey, Custom click, and Click tracking, which only support one.

Event tracking URLs are not currently supported for Open Auction or for Private Auction deals.

Available tracking events

Tracking URL Description of tracked activity

Accept invitation

The number of times a user expands the viewable area and launches another portion of an ad.

Click tracking

The number of clicks on the video.

Close*

The number of times a user closes a video.

Collapse*

The number of times a user collapses an ad, either to its original size or to a different size. For overlays, this tracks the number of times the user minimizes the ad without fully removing it from the player.

Complete

The number of times the video plays to the end.

Creative view

The number of times the first frame of the video initially plays for a user. Often used as a synonym for "impression".

Custom click

The number of times a user performs a custom click, such as clicking on a video hot spot.

Engaged view

The number of times the ad was viewed to completion. For VAST 3 or 4, a completion occurs either when the user reaches the end of the ad, or reaches the "Skippable view time" defined in your network settings, whichever comes first.

Expand*

The number of times a user expands a non-linear creative, such as an overlay.

First quartile

The number of times the video plays to 25% of its length.

Fullscreen

The number of times a user expands the video to full-screen size.

Fully viewable and audible for 50% duration

The number of impressions considered audible and had 100% of their pixels in view for 50% of its length.

Measurable impressions

The number of impressions measurable by Active View out of the total number of eligible impressions.

Midpoint

The number of times the video plays to 50% of its length.

Mute

The number of times a user mutes the video.

Pause

The number of times a user pauses the video.

Resume

The number of times a user resumes the video. If the resume control is the same as the pause control, reporting should be able to differentiate between the two.

Rewind

The number of times a user rewinds the video.

Skip

The number of times a user skipped the creative (different to "Close").

Skip shown

The number of times the "skip" button was shown (the skip button is shown 5 seconds after a skippable ad starts).

Start

The number of times the first frame of the video plays for a user (different to "Creative view").

Survey

The URL that calls a survey to accompany an ad. For example, when a creative is served for an ad, a survey may also be served in a pop-up window.

Third quartile

The number of times the video plays to 75% of its length.

Unmute

The number of times a user unmutes the video. If the un-mute control is the same as the mute control, the reporting should be able to differentiate between the two.

Video abandon

The number of times a user views the video but does not complete. 

Viewable impression

The number of impressions viewable by Active View out of all measurable impressions. For in-stream video ads, 50% of its area must be displayed for at least two seconds.

* Appears in the creative set interface in Ad Manager but it is not yet included in the VAST response.

Was this helpful?

How can we improve it?
true
Release notes

Read about the latest Ad Manager features and Help Center updates.

See what's new

Search
Clear search
Close search
Google apps
Main menu
18006436630985891747
true
Search Help Center
true
true
true