Ad break templates and ad spots

You can use ad spots and ad break templates to configure video ad breaks and determine how ads serve within the optimized pods you set up in your video ad rules.

• Ad spotsallow you to define serving eligibility for individual ads based on maximum duration, allowed line item types, and blocks placed against backfill, or partner-shared inventory.
• Ad break templatesdefine the sequence and types of ad spots (including custom ad spots) contained within a single ad break.

A flexible ad spot is required for every break template. By default, this spot allows all line item types to serve, but you can edit its settings just like any other ad spot.

Set up an ad break template

To configure your video ad breaks using ad break templates, you can implement them in your network through one of two primary methods.

Set up an ad break template through:

1. Ad rules:Set up ad rules with ad break templates .
2. Ad parameters: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

You can easily apply ad break templates to your video inventory by enabling them directly within your network's ad rules configuration.

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

2. Select Optimizedas the Pod typeto 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 duration set in the pmnd and pmxd parameters of the ad request. This avoids serving issues, such as line item rejections.
   • Ad spot prioritization: By default, pods prioritize the serving of ad spots based on revenue.

     Optionally, you can set prioritization to "Position" to specify the Fill order direction. The "Position" can be "Left to right", "Right to left", or "Edge to center". Primarily, this determines the fill order of optional ad spots.

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

   • Ad fill: Set to Optionalto drop the ad spot if it cannot be filled, or Requiredto 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.
     Note: Bumper line items are only eligible to serve in the first and last positions of an ad pod.
   • Allowed inventory types: Select to allow backfill inventory to serve to this ad spot, or to allow inventory sharing with a publishing partner.
   Tip:You can choose a custom ad spot  that contains predefined settings.
4. Click Done.

Continue to create more ad spots or reorder the ad spots within your break. 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 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.

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 Custom spot to edit its settings, or

   Click  New custom spot, enter a name, and configure the ad spot options.

4. Once you save a custom spot, it's immediately available in an ad break template or for targeting.

Advanced Custom Spot Settings

By default, each ad spot is limited to a single ad. If you want to specify a maximum number of ads and individual durations for a custom ad spot, contact your account manager to enable this feature in your network.