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All creative must meet the requirements of the MSA Creative Acceptance Policy

• User Visits MSN Homepage.  Editorial content loads first, then 300x250 ad unit is populated on the page and commences 15 seconds of video play time within 300x250 space without sound. 
• User can click hot areas on the 300x250 to enable sound during 15 seconds of playback.  Video may then play for longer than 15 seconds if user initiates to click to enable sound. 
• User can choose to replay current video (or a longer version) or other different videos in the 300x250 space.

Examples of possible combinations:


300x250 Non User-Initiated Video

DEMO LINK:  http://ads1.msn.com/ads/demos/universal/msn_hp_300x250_NonUI_Video_Universal_Mummy_06.27.08.htm

From time to time there will be text links featured outside and beneath the landing position for the over the page ad experience. These text links are used to provide information about the ad type featured as well as gather feedback from our users on their advertising experience on MSN. These labels will be featured sporadically and all data collected will be for internal purposes only.

 

300x250 Non User-Initiated Video with Expand
 

DEMO LINK:  http://ads1.msn.com/ads/demos/warner_bros/msn_hp_300x250_UIOTP_11.07.07.htm

MSN.com is the front door to our diverse network. As such, we want to display innovative creative within our home page display ad placement that can appeal to the broader audience. Below are specific guidelines which need to be applied to all creative featured on the MSN.com home page. These guidelines were developed to help support the MSN brand and overall look and feel of the home page.

MSN reserves the right to prohibit any advertisement from being featured on the home page.

 

Ads should contain

• A clear message and offer/promotion
• Clutter-free design
• Relevant imagery to the offer or promotion
• Consistent branding (Use of similar/same logos & messaging)
• Landing pages should provide relevant content to the ad featured

Not allowed

• Ads with fake HTML
• Ads that are misleading in anyway (specifically within creative messaging/offers/promotions etc…)
• Inappropriate graphics: included but not limited to graphic images which generate an adverse emotional response from users (i.e., overly graphic medical conditions/images, images of distressed animals or humans), or overexposure to nudity (i.e., swimsuits, sports bras)
• Rapidly flashing images/multiple flashing images (no more than 2 flashing images at the same time)

For more information, please view MSN's Creative Acceptance Policy.

NON USER-INITATED VIDEO AD PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS:

 

Required elements:

Elements to be provided for all solutions:

• One (1) .fla for 300x250
• One (1) rendered .swf for 300x250
• One .flv for 15 second teaser video to be used if agency has wants to handle video compression
• One source video file (.mov or .wmv) for 15 second teaser video to be used if PMG is to handle the video compression
• One .flv for additional videos to be used (maximum of 3) if agency has wants to handle video compression
• One source video file (.mov or .wmv) to be used if PMG is to handle the video compression
• An .html file or demo link  that shows intended ad experience
• Back-up .gif or .jpeg
• Any custom fonts that were used in the execution
  • Please use the program “Stuffit” to compress the fonts if the creative shop is using Mac fonts.
  • For PC fonts please use .zip files
• Mapped clickthrough URLs
• Third Party Tracking (if required)

 

Additional elements to be provided for expanding element only:

• One (1) rendered .swf for expanded unit
• Any .fla source files for child file loads into expanded unit
• Rendered .swf files for child file loads into expanded unit
• If Streaming Video is used, any source videos in .mov format.  Also be sure to include the associated .flv files.
• Back-up .gif or .jpeg

 

Specifications:
 

• 300x250 Ad Unit.  The 300x250 must abide by the following requirements:
  • Limited to 15 seconds of video play upon load without sound
  • Not exceed 35k of file weight including float elements
  • Published in flash versions 6.0-9.0 (AS3 is supported)
  • Cannot exceed 24 frames per second
  • Cannot have constantly animating elements
  • Must have video controls and a close button
  • Creative must feature a 1 pixel border (gray [#666666] or black recommended, though any color that clearly distinguishes the ad from the content may be used)

If purchased with expanding element:

• Expanded Ad Unit.  The Expanded must abide by the following requirements:
  • Total Area can not exceed 932x450 stage size
  • Can be up to 1.5mb in size, but should be as small as possible to limit loading time
  • Can include child flash and image files (up to 10 total)
  • Can include streaming video
  • Cannot use XML as a file facilitator
  • Publishined in flash versions 6.0-9.0 (AS3 is supported)
  • Cannot exceed 24 frames per second
  • Unlimited animation time until user closes expanded panel

Audio:

• Audio must be user-initiated and never automatic
• Audio controls must be present.
• If audio is used, creative must include an On/Off switch for users.
• Audio insertion into Flash file may begin no earlier than the second frame.

Video:

• Video is streamed from Akamai, not progressively
• Video Controls must be present:  Play/Pause, Volume Control or Mute/Unmute buttons are required.  Stop button is required for In-Banner Video homepage.  Time Scrubber & Replay button are suggested but not required.

CPU Usage:

• Idle CPU usage typically falls within 8-12%. When testing a Flash file for this ad, CPU usage after the initial loading of the file must be between 20% and 30%.  An initial spike of up to 60% is acceptable in the first five seconds. (Idle CPU usage devised upon computer with a 1.8GHz Intel Pentium Processor and 512 MB of RAM running standard programs.)

Browser Support:

• Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 to 8.0 are supported.
• Firefox is a supported browser on a case-by-case basis (dependent upon test results and execution design).
• Limited support may be provided for Safari based on test results.
• In cases in which a browser is not supported (i.e. Firefox or Mac browsers), users will receive the backup image.

Back-up .gif Impression Serve Rate:

• Expected Back-up .gif Impression serve rate varies from 5-10%.

Ad Launch Time:

• Ad starts no earlier than midnight (12AM), Eastern Standard Time.  Specific times can be discussed.

 

CREATIVE PROCESSING TIMES/SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENTS

Rich Media File Validation (Standard Process)
Core Rich Media Product built to spec	10 Business Days
Premier Media Group Creative Services
Build (Animate) and implement approved concept	15 Business Days
Concept, build and implement	30 Business Days
Custom Features/ Editorial Specification Exceptions	Additional SLA will apply on a case-by-case basis

 

 

 

Note:  Additional or custom features may have an additional cost associated with them.  Please contact your Microsoft sales representative for more information.

Any element not meeting spec or submission requirements will be returned for revision, which may delay the expected live date.  If you have any questions regarding creative submissions, please e-mail your Microsoft sales or PMG representative.

REFERENCE GUIDES:

• MSN Rich Media Guide
• MSN Rich Media Solutions
• Individual site pages for product acceptance  

 

 

 

MSN Homepage Ads are not 3^rd party served.  They are served solely via MSN’s Rich Media Servers. 

• An overall third-party impression tag can be implemented, and would track both the flash and backup (down-level) experiences.
• Third-party click tags can be implemented for the flash and backup experiences.
• Currently we do not support implementation of a separate third-party tracking tag for backup (down-level) impressions.  MSN is able to capture this data and provide the number of backup impressions.
• Overall Impressions
• Back-up .gif Impressions
• Clicks from 300x250
• Clicks from Back-up .gif
• # of Non User Initiated Video Plays (Impressions)
• # of User-Initiated Video Plays
• Average Video Play time
• Video Control clicks (Play, Stop, Pause, Mute)

 

If expanding product is used:

• Number of Expands
• Average time spent in expanded panel

 

Custom Brand Interaction Metrics (based on execution layout) are available on a case-by-case basis.

Microsoft permits advertisers to collect user-provided personal information (for example, through web forms embedded in ads).
 

• Advertisers may be required to modify ad units or provided additional disclosure in order to be acceptable for advertising on Microsoft sites.
• Advertisers wishing to collect personal information within advertisements (according to specifications above) must follow these guidelines:
  • Clearly identify organization  
  • Provide link to privacy policy (usually adjacent to the web form’s “submit” button)
  • Identify purpose for collecting information

All creative must meet the MSA Ad Submission Guidelines