Integrating your Ad Server with Brightcove is a one-time activity performed when you initially set up video advertising with Brightcove.
After you have selected an ad server and set up an account with that ad server, you integrate the ad server with Brightcove by establishing a connection between that ad server and Brightcove. Once the connection is established, all ad requests generated by the Brightcove player are in a format which the ad server expects, allowing seamless communication between the Brightcove player and the ad server.
Brightcove supports several different approaches to ad integration, including:
- If you are a Brightcove Express publisher on the Express $499 plan, you can integrate with the Tremor Acudeo ad network.
- If you are a Brightcove Pro or Enterprise publisher, Brightcove is configured by default to request ads from DoubleClick DART for Publishers (DFP).
- If you choose not to use the default ad server, Brightcove Pro or Enterprise publishers can integrate your Brightcove players with many different ad servers or ad networks besides DART for Publishers. You can use a simple plug-in called an Ad Translator to integrate with many ad servers, or you can integrate with the Tremor Acudeo ad network.
It is also possible to integrate Brightcove players with ads without using an ad server. For more information, refer to the article titled, Setting Ads without using an Ad Server in the Developer's Center.
To integrate your ad server with Brightcove, you must:
- Identify your integration method. There are several methods to choose from:
- Ad Translator. The easiest method of integration is to use one of the Ad Translators developed by Brightcove. If there isn't an existing Ad Translator for your preferred ad source, you can develop a custom ad translator.
- Ad Display SWF. An ad display SWF is similar to an Ad Translator. However, an ad display SWF allows Flash based (SWF) components to be returned to the Brightcove player. Ad display SWFs are used to get ads to and from ad networks, such as Tremor Media's Acudeo.
- Ad Rules SWF. The ad rules SWF is the most complex and flexible solution. Using the Ad Rules APIs, you can create a SWF that overrides a player's configured ad policy settings. An ad rules SWF makes it easier to integrate with third-party ad libraries, while still allowing use of Ad Translators and ad display SWFs.
- Brightcove Ad API. Use the Brightcove API to integrate an ad server with a custom Brightcove player. The API allows your development team to build a code wrapper to connect with a custom ad serving system.
- Specify the Ad Server URL. The Ad Server URL (also called the Base Tag URL) contains the string that will be used to form the beginning of each ad request that is made to the ad server.
After you have selected your method of integration and determined your Ad Server URL, you must decide how the Ad Translator and Ad Server URL will be assigned. You can:
Enabling at the account level means that the selected ad source or the Ad Server URL will be used for all players on the system. Enabling at the account level requires assistance from the Brightcove Customer Support organization. Enabling at the player level means that the ad source or Ad Server URL will only apply to the selected players.
What's Next...
Setting Ad Policies