> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.mottostreaming.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Video ads

> How to plan, configure, and test video ad delivery with Motto.

## Introduction

Video ads let you monetize live or on-demand streams with pre-roll ads. Motto supports two ad sources:

* **Sponsorship Video Ad**: Upload and control your own video directly in Motto Studio — ideal for direct sponsor deals, partner promos, or house ads.
* **VAST Ad Tag**: Connect to an external ad server (e.g. Google Ad Manager, SpringServe, FreeWheel) for programmatic campaigns and dynamic targeting.

Both options are configured from the **Video Ads** screen under **Monetization** → **Ads & Sponsorship** in Motto Studio.

### Prerequisites

* A Motto Studio account with access to the Monetization section
* If using external ad-tech: a VAST-capable ad server with tags created for your inventory

## Get Started

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Step 1: Navigate to Video Ads">
    Open Motto Studio and navigate to **Monetization** → **Ads & Sponsorship**. Ensure the **Video Ads** tab is selected.

    Click **Create new Video Ad** to open the configuration panel.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Step 2: Name the Video Ad">
    Enter a clear, internal name that will help you identify and manage this ad later.

    **Example names:**

    * `Main Sponsor – Pre-roll (15s)`
    * `GAM – VAST Pre-roll`
    * `House Ad – Season Promo`
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Step 3: Set applicability">
    Choose which videos this ad applies to. By default, the ad will apply to **All content**.

    Click **Show advanced options** to scope the ad by:

    * Competition
    * Content type
    * Other delivery rules

    <Tip>Use specific targeting to ensure sponsor ads only appear on relevant content, improving both viewer experience and sponsor satisfaction.</Tip>
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Step 4: Control visibility">
    Use the **Published** toggle to control when the ad is active:

    * **On**: The ad is live and will be delivered to viewers based on your applicability rules.
    * **Off**: The ad is staged or paused and will not be shown to viewers.

    <Tip>Keep new ads unpublished while testing, then toggle on when ready to go live.</Tip>
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Step 5: Choose the ad type">
    Select the source for your video ad. You have two options:

    #### Option A: Sponsorship Video Ad

    Choose **Sponsorship Video Ad** when you want to upload and control your own video.

    1. Upload one or more video files (multiple qualities recommended for adaptive streaming)
    2. Configure playback options:
       * **Skippable**: Allow viewers to skip after a set duration (optional)
       * **Duration**: Set the length in seconds (must match the asset length exactly)
       * **Clickthrough URL**: Where viewers go when they click the ad (optional)

    <Note>Best for: direct sponsor deals, partner/league promos, house ads, and fixed pre-roll placements where you need guaranteed visibility.</Note>

    #### Option B: VAST Ad Tag

    Choose **Ad Tag URL (VAST)** when connecting to an external ad server.

    1. Paste the full VAST tag URL from your ad server
    2. The tag handles ad selection, rotation, and tracking automatically

    **Example tag:**

    ```
    https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?...
    ```

    <Note>Best for: programmatic campaigns, ad rotation, dynamic targeting, and pacing controlled by your ad server.</Note>
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Step 6: Save and publish">
    Click **Save ad** to store your configuration.

    If the **Published** toggle is on, the ad will immediately begin delivery following your applicability rules and ad type settings.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/motto/T7UhMRlkhugQjs8a/images/video-ad-config.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=T7UhMRlkhugQjs8a&q=85&s=b292065129c8609e75a25e64e948df0d" width="3204" height="2382" data-path="images/video-ad-config.png" />

## Testing and validation

Before going live with your video ads, verify the following:

* **Pre-roll playback**: Confirm ads play correctly before both live and VOD content
* **Ad ordering**: Verify ads play in the expected sequence using test tags from your ad server
* **Tracking**: Confirm clickthrough URLs, quartile beacons, and companion creatives fire as expected
* **Error handling**: Test on slow networks and with ad timeouts to ensure playback resumes gracefully on errors

<Tip>Most ad servers provide test tags specifically for validation. Use these during development to avoid affecting live campaign metrics.</Tip>