VAST 4.0

1. Version 4.0 of the Video Ad Serving Template (VAST)

Standard introduces several advancements and features compared to its predecessor, VAST 3.0. Here are key points about VAST 4.0:

Support for Interactive Ads:

Details: VAST 4.0 supports interactive ads, allowing viewers to directly interact with ads, such as clicking on buy buttons, filling out forms, or engaging within the video without redirecting to another webpage.

Support for Linear and Non-Linear Ads:

Details: VAST 4.0 continues to support both linear (e.g., pre-roll, mid-roll, post-roll) and non-linear ads (e.g., overlays). It enhances management capabilities for these ad types, providing greater flexibility.

Skippable Video Ads:

Details: VAST 4.0 introduces support for skippable video ads, allowing viewers to skip ads after a specified duration. This feature enhances effectiveness and captures viewer attention.

Improved In-Content Video Ad Management:

Details: VAST 4.0 brings improvements to the management and optimization of in-content video ads, including better control over ad positions and durations within the content.

Clear Distinction Between Ad Types:

Details: VAST 4.0 provides a clear distinction between different ad types, such as linear and non-linear. This aids advertisers and publishers in managing and optimizing their ad strategies more effectively.

Ad Delivery on Mobile and Connected TV Platforms:

Details: VAST 4.0 is capable of integrating ads seamlessly on mobile platforms and connected TV, aligning with the growing trend of increased usage on mobile devices and smart TVs.

Premium Performance Measurement:

Details: VAST 4.0 includes upgraded measurement and reporting tools, providing detailed insights into views, interactions, and overall ad performance. These enhanced analytics support advertisers in refining their strategies.

In summary, VAST 4.0 introduces significant improvements, particularly in supporting interactive ads, flexible management of various ad types, and enhanced performance measurement tools. These advancements aim to optimize the viewer experience and provide advertisers and publishers with robust tools for managing their advertising strategies.

2. Sample of Vast 4.0

Inline linear

<VAST version="4.0" xmlns:xs="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" xmlns="http://www.iab.com/VAST">
  <Ad id="20001" sequence="1" conditionalAd="false">
    <InLine>
      <AdSystem version="4.0">iabtechlab</AdSystem>
      <Error>http://example.com/error</Error>
      <Extensions>
        <Extension type="iab-Count">
          <total_available>
            <![CDATA[ 2 ]]>
          </total_available>
        </Extension>
      </Extensions>
      <Impression id="Impression-ID">http://example.com/track/impression</Impression>
      <Pricing model="cpm" currency="USD">
        <![CDATA[ 25.00 ]]>
      </Pricing>
      <AdTitle>iabtechlab video ad</AdTitle>
      <Creatives>
        <Creative id="5480" sequence="1" adId="2447226">
          <UniversalAdId idRegistry="Ad-ID" idValue="8465">8465</UniversalAdId>
          <Linear>
            <TrackingEvents>
              <Tracking event="start">http://example.com/tracking/start</Tracking>
              <Tracking event="firstQuartile">http://example.com/tracking/firstQuartile</Tracking>
              <Tracking event="midpoint">http://example.com/tracking/midpoint</Tracking>
              <Tracking event="thirdQuartile">http://example.com/tracking/thirdQuartile</Tracking>
              <Tracking event="complete">http://example.com/tracking/complete</Tracking>
              <Tracking event="progress" offset="00:00:10">http://example.com/tracking/progress-10</Tracking>
            </TrackingEvents>
            <Duration>00:00:16</Duration>
            <MediaFiles>
              <MediaFile id="5241" delivery="progressive" type="video/mp4" bitrate="2000" width="1280" height="720" minBitrate="1500" maxBitrate="2500" scalable="1" maintainAspectRatio="1" codec="H.264">
                <![CDATA[https://cdn.uconnect.asia/lineitem/video/2024/thp_fullscreen-297-285.mp4]]>
              </MediaFile>
              <MediaFile id="5244" delivery="progressive" type="video/mp4" bitrate="1000" width="854" height="480" minBitrate="700" maxBitrate="1500" scalable="1" maintainAspectRatio="1" codec="H.264">
                <![CDATA[https://iab-publicfiles.s3.amazonaws.com/vast/VAST-4.0-Short-Intro-mid-resolution.mp4]]>
              </MediaFile>
              <MediaFile id="5246" delivery="progressive" type="video/mp4" bitrate="600" width="640" height="360" minBitrate="500" maxBitrate="700" scalable="1" maintainAspectRatio="1" codec="H.264">
                <![CDATA[https://iab-publicfiles.s3.amazonaws.com/vast/VAST-4.0-Short-Intro-low-resolution.mp4]]>
              </MediaFile>
            </MediaFiles>
            <VideoClicks>
              <ClickThrough id="blog">
                <![CDATA[https://iabtechlab.com]]>
              </ClickThrough>
            </VideoClicks>
          </Linear>
        </Creative>
      </Creatives>
    </InLine>
  </Ad>
</VAST>

Video Click and click tracking Inline

<VAST version="4.0" xmlns:xs="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" xmlns="http://www.iab.com/VAST">
  <Ad id="20009" sequence="1" conditionalAd="false">
    <InLine>
      <AdSystem version="4.0">iabtechlab</AdSystem>
      <Error>http://example.com/error</Error>
      <Extensions>
        <Extension type="iab-Count">
          <total_available>
            <![CDATA[ 2 ]]>
          </total_available>
        </Extension>
      </Extensions>
      <Impression id="Impression-ID">http://example.com/track/impression</Impression>
      <Pricing model="cpm" currency="USD">
        <![CDATA[ 25.00 ]]>
      </Pricing>
      <AdTitle>iabtechlab video ad</AdTitle>
      <Category authority="http://www.iabtechlab.com/categoryauthority">AD CONTENT description category</Category>
      <Creatives>
        <Creative id="5480" sequence="1" adId="2447226">
          <UniversalAdId idRegistry="Ad-ID" idValue="8465">8465</UniversalAdId>
          <Linear>
            <TrackingEvents>
              <Tracking event="start">http://example.com/tracking/start</Tracking>
              <Tracking event="firstQuartile">http://example.com/tracking/firstQuartile</Tracking>
              <Tracking event="midpoint">http://example.com/tracking/midpoint</Tracking>
              <Tracking event="thirdQuartile">http://example.com/tracking/thirdQuartile</Tracking>
              <Tracking event="complete">http://example.com/tracking/complete</Tracking>
              <Tracking event="progress" offset="00:00:10">http://example.com/tracking/progress-10</Tracking>
            </TrackingEvents>
            <Duration>00:00:16</Duration>
            <MediaFiles>
              <MediaFile id="5241" delivery="progressive" type="video/mp4" bitrate="2000" width="1280" height="720" minBitrate="1500" maxBitrate="2500" scalable="1" maintainAspectRatio="1" codec="H.264">
                <![CDATA[https://cdn.uconnect.asia/lineitem/video/2024/thp_fullscreen-297-285.mp4]]>
              </MediaFile>
              <MediaFile id="5244" delivery="progressive" type="video/mp4" bitrate="1000" width="854" height="480" minBitrate="700" maxBitrate="1500" scalable="1" maintainAspectRatio="1" codec="H.264">
                <![CDATA[https://cdn.uconnect.asia/lineitem/video/2024/thp_fullscreen-297-285.mp4]]>
              </MediaFile>
              <MediaFile id="5246" delivery="progressive" type="video/mp4" bitrate="600" width="640" height="360" minBitrate="500" maxBitrate="700" scalable="1" maintainAspectRatio="1" codec="H.264">
                <![CDATA[https://cdn.uconnect.asia/lineitem/video/2024/thp_fullscreen-297-285.mp4]]>
              </MediaFile>
            </MediaFiles>
            <VideoClicks>
              <ClickTracking>
                <![CDATA[http://myTrackingURL/clickTracking]]>
              </ClickTracking>
              <ClickThrough id="blog">
                <![CDATA[https://iabtechlab.com]]>
              </ClickThrough>
            </VideoClicks>
          </Linear>
        </Creative>
      </Creatives>
    </InLine>
  </Ad>
</VAST>