Supported Ad Formats and Format Codes

Applies to Roles
Ad Operations
Version
Brightcove 4
Modules
Edition
Pro, Enterprise

When Brightcove players make ad requests from an ad server, the request in most cases includes an ad format code. The ad format code tells the ad server what size and type of ad the player can consume. Brightcove supports the ad formats listed in the following summary table. Note that each format in the table is linked to its more detailed description, including its XML specification.

If you create a custom player template using BEML, read Ads and Custom Player Templates for information about what ad formats your custom player template can support.

Brightcove also supports VAST ad formats. For information about using the VAST ad formats, see VAST Ad Formats and Format Codes.

IAB Digital Video Ad Format Compliance Seal      IAB Universal Ad Package Compliance Seal

Brightcove complies with guidelines issued by the Interactive Advertising Bureau. Read more about Brightcove and the IAB.

frmt ad format description supported players
0 Video Ad A video creative (.flv, .swf, .jpg, .png, or static .gif) that plays in the player's video display. All players
1 Overlay Graphical ad in bottom third of the video display that displays while the video plays (.swf, .jpg, .png, or static .gif). All players
  Overlay to Video A variation of the Overlay Ad format. With this format, you can click-through an Overlay Ad to a Video Ad. All players
2 Video Pod (468x60) Loads a video ad, a 300x250 expandable banner, and 468x60 leave-behind creative. Tabbed Navigation
Compact Tabbed Navigation
6 Banner (468x60) A 468x60 banner (.swf, .jpg, .png, or static .gif) in the bottom right of the player. Tabbed Navigation
Compact Tabbed Navigation
14 Video Pod (728x90) Loads a video ad, a 300x250 expandable banner, and 728x90 leave-behind creative. Compact Tabbed Navigation
15 Banner (728x90) A 728x90 banner (.swf, .jpg, .png, or static .gif) at the bottom of the player, center justified. Compact Tabbed Navigation
17 Banner (300x60) A 300x60 banner (.swf, .jpg, .png, or static .gif) that displays to the upper right in the player. Widescreen with Horizontal List
Widescreen with Vertical Video List
19 Video + 300x60 A video ad with a 300x60 banner. Widescreen with Horizontal List
Widescreen with Vertical Video List
20 Overlay pod 468x60 Graphical ad in bottom third of the video display that displays while the video plays (.swf, .jpg, .png, or static .gif), with a 300x250 expandable banner and a 468x60 leave-behind banner that displays to the bottom right. Tabbed Navigation
Compact Tabbed Navigation
  Overlay pod 468x60 to Video A variation of the Overlay pod 468x60 format. With this format, you can click-through an Overlay pod 468x60 to a Video Ad. Tabbed Navigation
Compact Tabbed Navigation
21 Overlay pod 728x90 Graphical ad in bottom third of the video display that displays while the video plays (.swf, .jpg, .png, or static .gif), with a 300x250 expandable banner and a 728x90 leave-behind banner that displays to the bottom right. Compact Tabbed Navigation
  Overlay pod 728x90 to Video A variation of the Overlay pod 728x90 format. With this format, you can click-through an Overlay pod 728x90 to a Video Ad. Compact Tabbed Navigation
22 Ad SWF A SWF (Flash) ad that is loaded from a URL specified in the response XML, which then draws over any part of the player. All players
23 Overlay + 300x60 Graphical ad in bottom third of the video display
that displays while the video plays, with a companion 300x60 banner that displays in the
top right of the player.		 Widescreen with Horizontal List
Widescreen with Vertical Video List
  Overlay 300x60 to Video A variation of the Overlay 300x60 format. With this format, you can click-through an Overlay 300x60 to a Video Ad. Widescreen with Horizontal List
Widescreen with Vertical Video List

Video creatives can be .flv, .swf, .jpg, .png, or static .gif files. Banners and overlays can be .swf, .jpg, .png, or .gif files.

Ad format XML elements and attributes

Each ad format has a specification in XML. The XML elements used in the ad formats are:

[format name] The root node of the XML is the name of the ad format. This name is case sensitive. For example, the root node for the Video Ad format is <videoAd>.
version This field can be used to denote the version of XML you are using for your ad format.
trackPointTime A numeric value entered by the trafficker, representing an arbitrary time marker that the player will call the trackPointURL.
trackPointURL A comma-delimited list of ad server tracking macros or third-party tracking redirect URLs for the player to call at the time marker specified in the trackPointTime.
duration

A numeric value entered by the trafficker, representing the length of the video ad in seconds. This value also controls the counter you see when a video ad is displayed and also acts as the value for midpoint tracking capabilities. For expanding banner ads, this value controls how long the banner is displayed in its expanded size before collapsing to its smaller size.

Note: If the video ad is an FLV or SWF file, then the ad may contain embedded information, including the actual duration of the media. (This embedded information in the FLV or SWF files is known an metadata in Flash video.) If this duration metadata is auto-detected by the Player, then that value will be used for calculating midpoint tracking times. However, if no metadata is detected, the information in the XML element called duration is used for those calculations.
trackStartURLs A comma-delimited list of ad server tracking URLs or third-party tracking redirect URLs for the player to call in order to track the impression of the ad post-buffer. For example, for DFP: %i%h/dot.gif,http://3rdparty.tracking.com/ads/tracking/pixel.gif.
trackMidURLs A comma-delimited list of ad server tracking URLs or third-party tracking redirect URLs for the player to call at the midpoint of the video ad. If the duration is specified in the video metadata, then the midpoint is calculated from that duration. If not, then the midpoint is calculated from the duration specified in the XML. In the event that the duration sent in the XML is more than twice the actual media duration, the midpoint tracking event will still be
sent, but at the end of the video.
trackEndURLs A comma-delimited list of ad server tracking URLs or third-party tracking redirect URLs for the player to call at the end of the video ad.
videoURL The external path to the video ad asset.
videoClickURL The click-through URL for the video ad.
overlayURL The external path to the overlay ad asset.
overlayClickURL The click-through URL for the overlay ad.
collapsedBannerURL The external path to the 468x60 banner ad asset.
collapsedBannerClickURL The click through URL for the 468x60 banner ad.
expandedBannerURL The path to the 300x250 banner ad asset.
expandedBannerClickURL The click-through URL for the 300x250 banner ad.
adSwfURL The external path to the Ad SWF.
expandedVideoURL The external path to the video ad asset. This video URL is used specifically with overlays to allow overlay ads to click through to video ads.
expandedVideoClickURL The click through URL for the expandedVideoURL asset .
additionalKey Allows you to traffick additional ad keys to Ad format XML responses. For example you can specify a region or language using the additionalKey tag.

Ad format details

This section describes each of the supported ad formats, including a visual example and the XML specification.

To download any of the Brightcove XML templates, click here.

0 – Video Ad

Format 0

A Video Ad displays in the video display component of the player. It is supported by all Brightcove player templates. The ad can be served as pre-roll, mid-roll or post-roll, or on load. During video ad playback:

  • Mute, unmute, pause and play controls are enabled.
  • A "Sponsor Message" text label appears in the bottom left corner of the player. This text label can be customized in a custom player template; its language can be customized using the player language options.
  • A time counter (counting down in seconds) appears in the bottom right corner of the player. The duration attribute in the ad's XML template determines the starting value of the time counter. Any length video ad supported, however, a duration of less than 15 seconds is recommended.

Video Ad demo

Click here for a demo Video Ad example.

Video Ad XML specification

<videoAd version="1" 
    duration="[%Ad Duration%]" 
    trackStartURLs="[%Track Start URLs%]"
    trackMidURLs="[%Track Mid URLs%]" 
    trackEndURLs="[%Track End URLs%]" 
    trackPointTime=[%Track Point Time%]" 
    trackPointURLs="[%Track Point URL%]">
  <videoURL>[%URL to Video Creative%]</videoURL>
  <videoClickURL>[%Video Click URL%]</videoClickURL>
</videoAd>

1 – Overlay

Format 1

An overlay ad is a graphical ad that displays in bottom third of the video display while the video plays.

Overlay ad demo

Click here for a demo Overlay ad example.

Overlay XML specification

<overlay version="1" 
    duration="[%Ad Duration%]" 
    trackStartURLs="[%Track Start URLs%]" 
    trackMidURLs="[%Track Midpoint URLs%]" 
    trackEndURLs="[%Track Endpoint URLs%]" 
    trackPointTime="[%Track Point Time%]" 
    trackPointURLs="[%Track Point URLs%]">
  <overlayURL>[%URL to Overlay%]</overlayURL>
  <overlayClickURL>[%Overlay Click URL%]</overlayClickURL>
</overlay>

Overlay to Video Ad

The Overlay to Video format is a variation of the Overlay Ad format. With this format, you can click-through an Overlay Ad to a Video Ad.

Click to expand

Variation of Format 1
The image on the left shows the Overlay Ad. The image on the right shows what displays which you click-through to the Video Ad.

Overlay to Video Ad Demo

Click here for a demo of the Overlay to Video Ad Format. To see the video ad, click on the Overlay Ad while it is displayed.

Overlay to Video XML specification

<overlay version="1" 
    duration="[%Ad Duration%]" 
    trackStartURLs="[%Track Start URLs%]" 
    trackMidURLs="[%Track Midpoint URLs%]" 
    trackEndURLs="[%Track Endpoint URLs%]" 
    trackPointTime="[%Track Point Time%]" 
    trackPointURLs="[%Track Point URLs%]">
  <overlayURL>[%URL to Overlay%]</overlayURL>
  <expandedVideoURL duration="[%Video duration%]">[%URL to Video%]</expandedVideoURL>
  <expandedVideoClickURL>[%Video Click URL%]</expandedVideoClickURL>
</overlay>

2 – Video Pod (468x60)

Format 2
This is a combination of a video ad, a 300x250 expandable banner, and a 468x60 leave-behind creative.

Video Pod ad demo

Click here for a demo Video Pod ad example.

Video Pod (468x60) XML specification

<SynchedBanner468x60 trackPointTime="[%Track Point Time%]"  version="1"
    duration="[%Ad Duration%]" trackPointURLs="[%Track Point  URLs%]"
    trackStartURLs="[%Track Start URLs%]" trackMidURLs="[%Track  Middle URLs%]"
    trackEndURLs="[%Track End URLs%]">
  <videoURL>[%URL to Video Creative%]</videoURL>
  <videoClickURL>[%Video Click URL%]</videoClickURL>
  <collapsedBannerURL>[%URL to Collapsed Banner%]</collapsedBannerURL>
  <collapsedBannerClickURL>[%Collapsed Click URL%]</collapsedBannerClickURL>
  <expandedBannerURL>[%URL to Expanded Banner%]</expandedBannerURL>
  <expandedBannerClickURL>[%Expanded Click URL%]</expandedBannerClickURL>
</SynchedBanner468x60>

6 – Banner (468x60)

Format 6

Banner ad demo

Click here for a demo Banner ad example.

Banner (468x60) XML specification

<Banner468x60 version="1" 
    trackStartURLs="[%Track Start URLs%]">
  <bannerURL>[%URL to 468x60%]</bannerURL>
  <bannerClickURL>[%468x60 Click URL%]</bannerClickURL>
</Banner468x60>

14 – Video Pod (728x90)

Format 14
This is a combination of a video ad, a 300x250 expandable banner, and a 728x90 leave-behind creative.

Video Pod (728x90) demo

Click here for a demo Video Pod (728x90) example.

Video Pod (728x90) XML specification

<SynchedBanner728x90 version="1" 
    duration="[%Ad Duration%]" 
    trackStartURLs="[%Track Start URLs%]" 
    trackMidURLs="[%Track Mid URLs%]" 
    trackEndURLs="[%Track End URLs%]" 
    trackPointTime="[%Track Point Time%]" 
    trackPointURLs="[%Track Point URL%]">
  <videoURL>[%URL to Video Creative%]</videoURL>
  <videoClickURL>[%Video Click URL%]</videoClickURL>
  <collapsedBannerURL>[%URL to 728x90%]</collapsedBannerURL>
  <collapsedBannerClickURL>[%728x90 Click URL%]</collapsedBannerClickURL>
  <expandedBannerURL>[%URL to 300x250%]</expandedBannerURL>
  <expandedBannerClickURL>[%300x250 Click URL%]</expandedBannerClickURL>
</SynchedBanner728x90>

15 – Banner (728x90)

Format 15

Banner ad demo

Click here for a demo Banner ad example.

Banner (728x90) XML specification

<Banner728x90 version="1" 
    trackStartURLs="[%Track Start URLs%]">  
  <bannerURL>[%URL to 728x90%]</bannerURL>
  <bannerClickURL>[%728x90 Click URL%]</bannerClickURL>
</Banner728x90>

17 – Banner (300x60)

Format 17

Banner ad demo

Click here for a demo Banner ad example.

Banner (300x60) XML specification

<Banner300x60 version="1" 
    trackStartURLs="[%Track Start URLs%]">
  <bannerURL>[%URL to 300x60%]</bannerURL>
  <bannerClickURL>[%300x60 Click URL%]</bannerClickURL>
</Banner300x60>

19 – Video + 300x60

Format 19

Video + 300x60 ad demo

Click here for a demo Video + 300x60 ad example.

Video + 300x60 XML specification

<SynchedBanner300x60 version="1"
    duration="[%Ad Duration%]" trackStartURLs="[%Track Start URLs%]"
    trackMidURLs="[%Track Mid URLs%]" trackEndURLs="[%Track End URLs%]"
    trackPointTime="[%Track Point Time%]" trackPointURLs="[%Track Point URL%]">
  <videoURL>[%URL to Video Creative%]</videoURL>
  <videoClickURL>[%Video Click URL%]</videoClickURL>
  <collapsedBannerURL>[%URL to 300x60%]</collapsedBannerURL>
  <collapsedBannerClickURL>[%300x60 Click URL%]</collapsedBannerClickURL>
</SynchedBanner300x60>

20 – Overlay Pod 468x60 banners
Format 20

Overlay Pod 468x60 ad demo

Click here for a demo Overlay Pod 468x60 ad example.

Overlay Pod 468x60 XML specification

<SynchedOverlay468x60 version="1" 
    duration="[%Overlay Duration%]" 
    trackStartURLs="[%Track Start URLs%]" 
    trackMidURLs="[%Track Mid URLs%]" 
    trackEndURLs="[%Track End URLs%]" 
    trackPointTime="[%Track Point Time%]" 
    trackPointURLs="[%Track Point URL%]">
  <overlayURL>[%URL to Overlay%]</overlayURL>
  <overlayClickURL>[%Overlay Click URL%]</overlayClickURL>
  <collapsedBannerURL trackStartURLs="[%468x60 Track Start URLs%]">
    [%URL to 468x60%]</collapsedBannerURL>
  <collapsedBannerClickURL>[%468x60 Click URL%]</collapsedBannerClickURL>
  <expandedBannerURL duration="[%300x250 Duration%]" 
    trackStartURLs="[%300x250 Track Start URLs%]">[%URL to 300x250%]</expandedBannerURL>
  <expandedBannerClickURL>[%300x250 Click URL%]</expandedBannerClickURL>
</SynchedOverlay468x60>

Overlay Pod 468x60 to Video Ad

The Overlay Pod 468x60 to Video format is a variation of the Overlay Pod 468x60 format. With this format, you can click-through an Overlay Pod 468x60 to a Video Ad.
Variation of Format 20 (with click-through)
The top image shows the Overlay Pod 468x60. The bottom image shows what displays which you click-through to the Video Ad.

Overlay Pod 468x60 to Video Ad Demo

Click here for a demo of the Overlay Pod 468x60 to Video Ad Format. To see the video ad, click on the Overlay Ad while it is displayed.

Overlay Pod 468x60 to Video XML specification

<SynchedOverlay468x60 version="1" 
    duration="[%Overlay Duration%]" 
    trackStartURLs="[%Track Start URLs%]" 
    trackMidURLs="[%Track Mid URLs%]" 
    trackEndURLs="[%Track End URLs%]" 
    trackPointTime="[%Track Point Time%]" 
    trackPointURLs="[%Track Point URL%]">
  <overlayURL>[%URL to Overlay%]</overlayURL>
  <expandedVideoURL duration="[%Video duration%]">[%URL to Video%]</expandedVideoURL>
  <expandedVideoClickURL>[%Video Click URL%]</expandedVideoClickURL>
  <collapsedBannerURL trackStartURLs="[%468x60 Track Start URLs%]">
    [%URL to 468x60%]</collapsedBannerURL>
  <collapsedBannerClickURL>[%468x60 Click URL%]</collapsedBannerClickURL>
  <expandedBannerURL duration="[%300x250 Duration%]" 
    trackStartURLs="[%300x250 Track Start URLs%]">[%URL to 300x250%]</expandedBannerURL>
  <expandedBannerClickURL>[%300x250 Click URL%]</expandedBannerClickURL>
</SynchedOverlay468x60>

21 – Overlay Pod 728x90 banners

Format 21

Overlay Pod 728x90 banners ad demo

Click here for a demo Overlay Pod 728x90 banners ad example.

Overlay Pod 728x90 XML specification

<SynchedOverlay728x90 version="1" 
    duration="[%Overlay Duration%]" 
    trackStartURLs="[%Track Start URLs%]" 
    trackMidURLs="[%Track Mid URLs%]" 
    trackEndURLs="[%Track End URLs%]" 
    trackPointTime="[%Track Point Time%]" 
    trackPointURLs="[%Track Point URL%]">
  <overlayURL>[%URL to Overlay%]</overlayURL>
  <overlayClickURL>[%Overlay Click URL%]</overlayClickURL>
  <collapsedBannerURL trackStartURLs="[%728x90 Track Start URLs%]">[%URL to 728x90%]
    </collapsedBannerURL>
  <collapsedBannerClickURL>[%728x90 Click URL%]</collapsedBannerClickURL>
  <expandedBannerURL duration="[%300x250 Duration%]" 
    trackStartURLs="[%300x250 Track Start URLs%]">[%URL to 300x250%]</expandedBannerURL>
  <expandedBannerClickURL>[%300x250 Click URL%]</expandedBannerClickURL>
</SynchedOverlay728x90>

Overlay Pod 728x90 to Video Ad

The Overlay Pod 728x90 to Video format is a variation of the Overlay Pod 468x60 format. With this format, you can click-through an Overlay Pod 728x90 to a Video Ad.
Variation to Format 21 (with click-through to video)
The top image shows the Overlay Pod 728x90. The bottom image shows what displays which you click-through to the Video Ad.

Overlay Pod 728x90 to Video Ad Demo

Click here for a demo of the Overlay Pod 728x90 to Video Ad Format. To see the video ad, click on the Overlay Ad while it is displayed.

Overlay Pod 728x90 to Video XML specification

<SynchedOverlay728x90 version="1" 
    duration="[%Overlay Duration%]" 
    trackStartURLs="[%Track Start URLs%]" 
    trackMidURLs="[%Track Mid URLs%]" 
    trackEndURLs="[%Track End URLs%]" 
    trackPointTime="[%Track Point Time%]" 
    trackPointURLs="[%Track Point URL%]">
  <overlayURL>[%URL to Overlay%]</overlayURL>
  <expandedVideoURL duration="[%Video duration%]">[%URL to Video%]</expandedVideoURL>
  <expandedVideoClickURL>[%Video Click URL%]</expandedVideoClickURL>
  <collapsedBannerURL trackStartURLs="[%728x90 Track Start URLs%]">[%URL to 728x90%]
    </collapsedBannerURL>
  <collapsedBannerClickURL>[%728x90 Click URL%]</collapsedBannerClickURL>
  <expandedBannerURL duration="[%300x250 Duration%]" 
    trackStartURLs="[%300x250 Track Start URLs%]">[%URL to 300x250%]</expandedBannerURL>
  <expandedBannerClickURL>[%300x250 Click URL%]</expandedBannerClickURL>
</SynchedOverlay728x90>

22 – Ad SWF

Ad SWF XML specification

<adSwf version="1" trackStartURLs="http://trackingurl">
  <adSwfURL>http://pathtoadswf</adSwfURL>
  <optionalArg1>arg value</optionalArg>
  <optionalArg2>arg value 2</anotherArg>
</adSwf>

Note that the optionalArg elements are just there to show you that you can freely add child elements to the adSwf element. For more information, see Developing Ad SWFs.

23 – Overlay + 300x60

Format 23

Overlay + 300x60 demo

Click here for a demo Overlay + 300x60 example.

Overlay + 300x60 XML specification

<SynchedOverlay300x60 version="1"
    duration="[%Ad Duration%]"
    trackStartURLs="[%Track Start URLs%]"
    trackMidURLs="[%Track Mid URLs%]"
    trackEndURLs="[%Track End URLs%]"
    trackPointTime="[%Track Point Time%]"
    trackPointURLs="[%Track Point URL%]">
  <overlayURL>[%URL to Overlay Creative%]</overlayURL>
  <overlayClickURL>[%Overlay Click URL%]</overlayClickURL>
  <collapsedBannerURL trackStartURLs="[%URL to 300x60%]"></collapsedBannerURL>
  <collapsedBannerClickURL>[%300x60 Click URL%]</collapsedBannerClickURL>
</SynchedOverlay300x60>

Overlay 300x60 to Video Ad

The Overlay 300x60 to Video format is a variation of the Overlay 300x60 format. With this format, you can click-through an Overlay 300x60 to a Video Ad.

Variation to Format 23 (with click-through to video)
The top image shows the Overlay 300x60. The bottom image shows what displays which you click-through to the Video Ad.

Overlay 300x60 to Video Ad Demo

Click here for a demo of the Overlay 300x60 to Video Ad Format. To see the video ad, click on the Overlay Ad while it is displayed.

Overlay 300x60 to Video XML specification

<SynchedOverlay300x60 version="1"
    duration="[%Ad Duration%]"
    trackStartURLs="[%Track Start URLs%]"
    trackMidURLs="[%Track Mid URLs%]"
    trackEndURLs="[%Track End URLs%]"
    trackPointTime="[%Track Point Time%]"
    trackPointURLs="[%Track Point URL%]">
  <overlayURL>[%URL to Overlay%]</overlayURL>
  <expandedVideoURL duration="[%Video duration%]">[%URL to Video%]</expandedVideoURL>
  <expandedVideoClickURL>[%Video Click URL%]</expandedVideoClickURL>
  <collapsedBannerURL trackStartURLs="[%URL to 300x60%]"></collapsedBannerURL>
  <collapsedBannerClickURL>[%300x60 Click URL%]</collapsedBannerClickURL>
</SynchedOverlay300x60>

 

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