Overlay Video Ad

The Overlay Video Ad delivers while the user is watching a content video. There are three required elements and one optional element for submission; the overlay component and one companion ad will always display, the video ad and additional companion ads may display depending on the player and user behavior. This ad is sometimes known as the Interactive Video Ad. Screenshots and the final look and feel of the ad will be updated prior to ads going live in Mid July. Check back soon!





Components & Click Behavior:

• Overlay (300x60 or 60x60):
  • Will remain visible for 10-30 seconds
  • When clicked, the user may be taken to the CT URL or the video ad may begin playing.
  • Can be closed by the user
  • Recommended to be a different creative than is used as small companion.

• Companions (300x60 & 300x250):
  • Lg companion will not be present on most players, including the MSN Video player.
  • Remain visible until the next ad or next content clip begins playing, whichever comes first.
  • When clicked, take the user to the CT URL.
  • Recommended to be a different creative than is used as overlay creative.

• Video:
  • Streaming ad 4:3 (432x320) or 16:9 (424x240) aspect ratio.
  • Plays only when overlay banner is clicked.
  • Submitted video will be transcoded into WMV and FLV formats.
  • Can be closed by the user to return to the content video.

• The user chooses to view streaming content that is set up for overlay ads (there is no visible indication that an overlay ad will show).

• The overlay component appears while the content is playing,
  • The overlay ad will appear over the lower portion of the content.
  • In most cases the small companion banner will appear. In some cases, the larger companion banner could also appear.

• The user may ignore, click on or close the overlay ad.
  • Ignore: the overlay component will float over the content clip for 10 – 30 seconds then disappear. Content keeps playing.
  • Click: the behavior of the ad depends on if the advertiser has provided video to go with their overlay ad.
    • With Video: Overlay disappears and is replaced with the advertiser’s video ad.
    • Without Video: User is redirected to the advertiser’s CT URL.
  • Close: the user may close the overlay component. Content keeps playing.

• Companion Ad Behavior:
  • Players may show no, one or two companion banners.
  • If present, the 300x60 companion ad will remain present during video ad stream until the next video ad or the end of the current content clip.

• Ad Timing Information:
  • Overlay ads may show during the viewing of some, but not all content or in some, but not all players.
  • The amount of time before and between overlay ads is not fixed, and may vary from clip to clip and player to player.

• Miscellaneous notes:
  • There is no ad shown when the content stream is user generated content from Soapbox.
  • Pharmaceutical advertisers, especially in the US must be aware of the companion ad behavior of the specific placement they are buying. Contact your account team for Pharma specific considerations. 

Streaming Ad Requirements
A streaming media video file is optional for Overlay Video ads. If not present, clicks on the overlay portion of the ad will redirect to the CT URL. If the video file is present, clicks on the overlay ad will pause the content video and start playing the advertiser video ad. Closing the advertiser video will return the user to the content video. Clicking on the advertiser video will redirect the user to the CT URL.

• Windows Media Format (preferred), QuickTime, MPEG, AVI
• Sound is required
• Digital files should be built to fit either 4:3 (w432x320h) frame dimensions or 16:9 (w424x240h) frame dimensions

Overlay Ad Requirements
There are 2 options for submitting the overlay component:

• Banner = 300x60 JPEG or SWF
• Bug = 60x60 JPEG or Flash file 

300x60 Companion Ad Requirements
There are 2 options for submitting the expanding ad unit:

• 300x60 JPEG – required
• 300x60 Flash file – optional (Flash files require that an FSCommand is embedded in the file. For detailed Flash guidelines, visit advertising.microsoft.com.)

300x250 Companion Ad Requirements

• 300x250 JPEG file - required
• 300x250 SWF file – optional (Flash files require that an FSCommand is embedded in the file. For detailed Flash guidelines, visit advertising.microsoft.com.)
• Unable to support .gif or animated .gif images
• Max file size = 20k per each file

Limitations:

• Only .jpg images can be submitted (cannot use .gif)
• Third-party served JPEG images will not be supported. All images must be hosted by MSN
• One click through URL is used as the CT for video, the small and large companion ads. Different click through URLs for the small and large companion ad are not supported.

• Impressions
• Click-through (there is one CT URL for the whole ad)
• On Load (video play started)
• Duration Track (7.5 second mark)
• End Track (end of video reached)