Overview

Pause ads are non-intrusive ad placements that appear when viewers pause streaming content, offering high-attention moments without disrupting the viewing experience.

Pause ads are currently available through the following inventory partners:

• FreeWheel. Publishers includeParamount, Xumo, NBCUniversal, and FranceTV.
  To set up pause ads with FreeWheel publishers, follow the steps outlined below.
  
  
• Magnite, TripleLift, PubMatic, and Index Exchange. Publishers include Tubi, DirecTV, Dish, Philo, Xumo, Plex, and Sling.
  To learn more, reach out to the Inventory Desk team (inventorydesk@freewheel.com).

Set Up a Pause Ad with FreeWheel

To properly configure a pause ad with a Streaming Hub seller, do the following:

1. Agree on deal terms and type (either private marketplace or programmatic guaranteed) with the FreeWheel publisher, who will also provide any required creative specs (such as height and width).
   

   Info
   Note: The Buyer Cloud Inventory Desk team can source deals on your behalf. To get started, reach out to inventorydesk@freewheel.com.

2. Provide your Customer or Account Seat ID to the publisher. For more information on using seat IDs, see Seat IDs.
   
   

3. The publisher creates the deal and emails the deal details, including the following:

   • Deal ID
   • Deal start and end dates
   • Deal floor price
     
     

4. Add the deal ID as a deal in Buyer Cloud. For a full explanation on how to create a deal in Buyer Cloud, see Deals.
   
   

5. Create a video line item targeting the deal ID. All FreeWheel pause ads are configured as video line items despite the creative being a static image.
   For programmatic guaranteed deals, follow the line item creation steps in Guaranteed Line Items. 
   
   

6. Create a new creative, and select video as the Creative Type.

   • Select the Non-Linear VAST, Image creative template (template ID: 26).
     
     

     Info
     When using the Non-Linear VAST, Image template, note that: This template must be enabled. If you don't see it in your UI, contact your account team. Image files must be uploaded, third-party tags aren’t supported. Supported image formats include jpeg and png.

     
     

   When creating creatives, keep in mind:

   • Publishers may require specific creative specs 
   • As always, creative pre-approval will be triggered for all FreeWheel programmatic guaranteed deals; for private marketplace deals, it may also occur based on publisher setup. 
     
     
7. Associate the creative to the line item.
   
   

Additional Information

• Campaign performance for pause ads can be measured in Report Builder. Use the Deal Report for measuring deal-specific metrics.
• For help troubleshooting deals, see Deal Troubleshooting or reach out to your account representative.