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Comparison of Vast

1. Comparison between VAST 2.0 and VAST 3.0

  • It reveals key improvements and additions introduced in the latter version. Here's a comparison between VAST 2.0 and VAST 3.0:

Introduction of VAST 3.0:

  • VAST 2.0: VAST 2.0 was the first standardized version for supporting online video ads, introduced in 2008.
  • VAST 3.0: VAST 3.0, released in 2012, brought significant enhancements and refinements to the standard.

Interactive Ads:

  • VAST 2.0: Did not support interactive ads.
  • VAST 3.0: Introduced support for interactive ads, allowing users to engage directly with the ad content.

Ad Resolution and Size Flexibility:

  • VAST 2.0: Limited flexibility in supporting various resolutions and video sizes.
  • VAST 3.0: Improved support for multiple resolutions and video sizes, providing greater flexibility for optimizing the viewer experience.

Extended Measurement Capabilities:

  • VAST 2.0: Offered basic measurement metrics such as views, interactions, and view duration.
  • VAST 3.0: Introduced extensions to enhance measurement capabilities, allowing advertisers to collect more detailed information about ad performance.

Integration of Time-Based Events:

  • VAST 2.0: Did not have the capability to integrate time-based events.
  • VAST 3.0: Introduced the ability to integrate time-based events, enabling advertisers to track viewer interactions over time.

Support for New Ad Formats:

  • VAST 2.0: Provided support for both linear and non-linear ads.
  • VAST 3.0: Expanded support for new ad formats, including different types of ads such as product ads, brand ads, and interactive ads.

Improved Cross-Platform Compatibility:

  • VAST 2.0: Provided a foundation for integrating video ads across multiple platforms but had limitations.
  • VAST 3.0: Continued to improve cross-platform compatibility, ensuring smoother playback across various devices and platforms.

Communication Model Enhancement:

  • VAST 2.0: Introduced a clean communication model between advertisers and publishers.
  • VAST 3.0: Updated the communication model to be more flexible and efficient for transmitting ad information.

In summary, VAST 3.0 represents a substantial advancement over VAST 2.0 by introducing support for interactive ads, enhancing measurement capabilities, improving flexibility in ad resolution and size, and providing a more robust communication model.

2. Comparison between VAST 3.0 and VAST 4.0

  • It will focus on the advancements and new features that VAST 4.0 brings compared to the previous version. Here's a comparison between the two versions:

Support for Interactive Ads:

  • VAST 3.0: Does not support interactive ads.
  • VAST 4.0: Supports interactive ads, allowing viewers to take actions like clicking on a buy button directly from the video.

Support for Linear and Non-Linear Ads:

  • VAST 3.0: Supports both linear and non-linear ads.
  • VAST 4.0: Improves the management of linear and non-linear ads, providing greater flexibility.

Skippable Video Ads:

  • VAST 3.0: Specific information is unclear.
  • VAST 4.0: Introduces support for skippable video ads, allowing viewers to skip ads after a specified duration.

In-Content Video Ads:

  • VAST 3.0: Supports in-content video ads.
  • VAST 4.0: Enhances the ability to manage and adjust in-content video ads.

Support for Multiple Languages and Countries:

  • VAST 3.0: Has the capability to support multiple languages and countries.
  • VAST 4.0: Continues to support multiple languages and countries, with the possibility of new standard updates.

Improved Cross-Platform Compatibility:

  • VAST 3.0: Improves cross-platform compatibility.
  • VAST 4.0: Continues to enhance cross-platform compatibility, emphasizing smooth playback across different devices.

Management of Video Ads in Content:

  • VAST 3.0: Information is unclear.
  • VAST 4.0: Improves the management and optimization of video ads in content, especially regarding appearance positions and durations.

Measurement and Performance Reporting:

  • VAST 3.0: Provides the ability to measure performance.
  • VAST 4.0: Upgrades measurement and reporting tools, offering detailed information on views, interactions, and performance.

In summary, VAST 4.0 marks progress over VAST 3.0 by introducing new features, especially in supporting interactive ads, managing in-content video ads, and improving flexibility and performance across platforms.

3. Tracking events in VAST

  • Impression Tracking: This event occurs when a video ad is displayed to a viewer. Impression tracking helps measure the number of times the ad is viewed.
  • Click Tracking: This occurs when a viewer clicks on the ad. Click tracking is used to measure the number of times viewers click on a link or a specific part of the ad.
  • Start Tracking: Records when the video ad begins playing.
  • First Quartile, Midpoint, Third Quartile, Complete Tracking: These events relate to measuring the viewer's progress in watching the entire or a portion of the ad.
  • Progress Tracking: Updates on the progress of video viewing at specific time points.