Ad break templates and ad spots (Beta)

You can use ad spots and ad break templates to configure video ad breaks, that is, how ads should serve for optimized pods that you set up in your video ad rules.

• Ad spots allow you to define single ad eligibility, based on maximum duration, line item type, and any blocks you'd like to place against backfill or partner-shared inventory.
• Ad break templates allow you to configure which ad spots or custom ad spots, should be included in an ad break, and in which order they should serve.
• A flexible ad spot is required for every break template. By default, all line item types are allowed for this spot, but can be edited like any other ad spot.

• Ad break templates are optional. To use optimized pods without configuring an ad break template, leave the "Flexible ad spot" unedited and don't add any "Ad spots".
• Ad break templates do not work with Dynamic Ad Insertion linear prefetch.

Set up an ad break template

There are two ways to set up an ad break template. 

1. Request via ad rules: Set up ad rules with ad break templates.
2. Request ad param: For use cases where ad rules are not implemented, publishers may request the template directly through one of the two parameters:
   1. Ptpl  template id (uses the ID)
   2. Ptpln template name (uses a string)

 You may pass both Ptpl or Ptpln, but only one is required.

Request via ad rules

1. When you set up a standard ad rule or a session ad rule, select Enable for "Video pre-rolls", "Video mid‑rolls", and/or "Video post-rolls" (where applicable).

2. Select Optimized as the Pod type to display the ad break template and then configure:

   • Max ads: The maximum ads to serve in the pod. You can select up to 10, or No max.
   • Max pod duration: The maximum combined duration for all ads served in the ad pod.

   • Max ad duration: The maximum duration for any individual ad served in the pod.

     • If the maximum duration set for any individual ad spot is lower than this duration, then the maximum is set to the lowest value.
     • The maximum ad duration set in the pod should align with the maximum ad durations set in the pmnd and pmxd parameters of the ad request to avoid serving issues, such as line item rejections.
   • Ad spot prioritization: Pods prioritize the serving of ad spots based on revenue by default.

     You can optionally set prioritization to "Position" to specify the Fill order direction—either "Left to right", "Right to left", or "Edge to center". This primarily dictates the fill order of optional ad spots.

3. (Optional) Click + Ad spot to create a new ad spot and configure the available settings:

   You can also choose a custom ad spot, which contain predefined settings.
   • Ad fill: Set to Optional to drop the ad spot if it cannot be filled, or Required to drop the entire pod if the spot cannot be filled.
   • Allowed line item types: Select to restrict ad serving to specific line item types. If none are selected, all line item types are allowed.
   • Allowed inventory types: Select to allow backfill inventory to serve to this ad spot, or to allow inventory sharing with a publishing partner.
4. Click Done.

You can continue to create more ad spots within your ad break, or reorder the spots within the break. You can include a  maximum of 10 ad spots in a single break template.

Ad break template in the Ad Manager interface

From this screen, you can:

• (1) Add a new ad spot to the ad break template
• (2) Drag existing ad spots to reorder them in the break template
• (3) Custom spots marked with indicate that they require explicit targeting to serve
• (4) Edit and position the flexible ad spot
• (5) Edit a non-custom ad spot

Understand the fill order of ad spots

The fill order for ad spots within a break template is:

1. Ad spots with an Ad fill set to "Required" are served first.

2. Ad spots with an Ad fill set to "Optional" are served second. If you've set the Ad spot prioritization to "Position", optional ad spots fill based on the "Fill order direction" specified in the pod settings.

3. The Flexible ad spot is served last.

Within each type, ads are determined by traditional ad serving priority.

Example
If you have a Sponsorship in the first position, a Standard in the second position, and another Sponsorship of higher priority in the "Flexible ad spot," the Standard still serves to the second position (as long as it's eligible).

Create or manage a custom ad spot

Custom ad spots allow you to create a reusable ad spot that's also targetable. They offer the same settings as any other ad spot. However, since they're likely used in more than one instance in your network, they're not directly editable from a individual break template.

1. Sign in to Google Ad Manager.
2. Click Video, then Ad rules, then Custom spots.

3. Click any spot to edit its settings; or click New custom spot, enter a name, and configure the ad spot options.

   You can choose Optional as the setting for "Ad fill" to drop only the ad spot if it cannot be filled. A required ad fill setting drops the entire pod if the spot cannot be filled.

   Each ad spot defaults to a single ad. However, you can specify a max number of ads and a max ad spot duration for an ad spot.

Once you save a custom spot, it's immediately available in an ad break template or to target.

Any changes you make to an existing custom ad spot apply to all break templates or targeting instances where they're already assigned.