Rich Media Custom Mastheads
In light of the recent announcement of the Chrome Plugin Power Saver feature that may become the default as early as September 2015, we highly recommend that you build your Masthead creatives using HTML5 rather than Flash. Building in HTML5 will prevent your ads from being automatically paused as well as avoid negative impact to performance and reach. Please see the HTML5 Masthead build guide for more guidance.
If you are buying a cross-screen rich media custom Masthead, please also see mobile video Masthead specs.
How the Rich Media Custom Masthead Works
The rich media custom Masthead is a 970×250 pixel in-page unit on the YouTube homepage on desktop. You also have the option for an Expandable version that expands on user click to 970×500 pixels. Use of videos is strongly recommended but not required. YouTube links to a client’s Watch page or a channel for additional video content are also recommended. These may result in viral views and higher brand interaction on YouTube.
Creative Submission and Turnaround Time
Select region for more information.
Turnaround time varies by creative complexity, service model and region. They may vary anywhere from 4 to 12 business days. Please consult your sales team and Media Solutions Consultant to establish the delivery schedule based on your specific execution.
Complete assets must be published for QA by the Creative Agency in DoubleClick studio no later than 5 (Five) business days prior to the launch date. HTML5 Mastheads require 9 (Nine) business days. However, this deadline is a variable based on the type of execution. Please work with your sales team and Media Solutions Consultant to best establish the delivery schedule based on your specific execution.
Maximum of 2 revisions* are accepted within the 5 business days before launch, for that reason it is highly recommended to publish the complete assets in advance of the 5 business days.
Turnaround time varies by creative complexity, service model and region. They may vary anywhere from 5 to 15 business days. Please consult your sales team and Media Solutions Consultant to establish the delivery schedule based on your specific execution.
* Revisions are characterized by small changes to specific elements of the creative, that do not alter its original overall concept which was previously agreed upon. If revisions are required, please reach out to your Media Solutions Consultant to check for the impact of those changes.
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Required Assets
- All assets must be submitted via Studio.
- Visit the DoubleClick Rich Media Help Center for detailed information.
- Flash files require coding using AS3 only.
- The use of Flex or any framework other than Flash (excluding Adobe Flash CC) or HTML5 is not permitted as DoubleClick Studio cannot support this technology.
- Page requests will be via HTTPS (SSL) or HTTP.
- Any external asset or data request made from within the ad or creative must use the same protocol as the page or default to https (SSL). More information here.
A step by step guide to the major QA checks for the rich media custom Masthead can be found here, and the expandable version is here.
Technical Specifications
Formatting |
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|---|---|
| Dimensions: | 970×250 pixels |
| Expanded on-click dimensions: | 970×500 pixels |
| Single Expanded Panel: | Needs to collapse and video must stop on clickthrough |
| Format: | Rich media Flash/HTML5 based creatives built in DoubleClick Studio |
| Frame Rate: | Up to 24 fps |
| Flash Versions: | Flash Player 11.2 or lower recommended |
| VPAID | Not allowed on YouTube |
Load Requirements |
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|---|---|
| Initial Load Size: | 150 KB maximum is recommended for the fastest initial load time. |
| Total Non-User initiated Load size |
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| User-initiated Load Size: |
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| All videos must be progressive load. Cannot be streaming. | |
| CPU Usage: | Units containing Flash must not exceed 40% of a user’s CPU. Common causes of high CPU use are continued animation & heavy animation sequences. |
Video/Animation |
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| YouTube-hosted Video |
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| FLV Video |
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| Autoplay Animation / Video Length: | Max 30 seconds |
| Autoplay Audio: | No sound |
| Clicking ‘Unmute’ btn turns the video into user-initiated. | |
| User-initiated Video: | Regardless of the video length, control btns (mute/unmute and pause/play) are required, as well as an indicator of the video duration or elapse status. |
| Except for the initial autoplay video, each video play must be user-initiated. | |
| Actions on User Click (video): | All sound must stop upon exit click. |
| Actions on User Interaction (animation): | Animation must stop within 30 seconds after the interaction with it has ended. All sound must stop upon exit click. |
Attributes |
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|---|---|
| Fallback | All HTML5 ads must gracefully fallback to support basic HTML5 to ensure full functionality across all modern browsers. Flash fallback is not supported and Flash content is not permitted in HTML5 ads on YouTube. |
| Border and iFrame: | Must stay within iframe and have black border of at least 1 pixel.
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| Mouseover Policy: |
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| Close btn: | DoubleClick Studio “Close Ad X” component is required on the top right corner with a padding of 5-10 pixels. |
| “X Close Expanded” btn must have a 5 pixel padding from top and left sides of expanded Masthead unit and must be functional immediately after expansion |
| Backup Image: |
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| Transparency: | A wmode of transparent may only be used during expansion or collapse of the creative. However, the expanded panel must resolve to be opaque. |
Compatible Browsers:
- Internet Explorer 10+, Firefox 25+, Safari 6+; Chrome 33+
Serving Capabilities
- The Masthead unit must be built in DoubleClick Studio and served through DFA or DCM.
- No fourth-party creative asset calls will be accepted without review and explicit sign-off. Any fourth-party call must have a backup functionality
Custom Event and Interaction Tracking
- All tracking and interaction metrics should be discussed and agreed upon by the DoubleClick Rich Media team.
Tracking with Third Party Pixels
Note: SSL capability is required! All tracking pixel URLs must begin with HTTPS:// More information here. Impression trackers should be implemented in DFA rather than in the Flash creative.
- Tracking will be accepted through approved third-party vendors only
- Pixels intended to collect data on audience composition are not allowed
- Javascript pixels are not allowed
Brand Study Tracking
- Brand Study pixels cannot be trafficked directly in DFA and must be implemented in the Flash/HTML5 file and called only after completion of initial load.
- A maximum of 3 brand study pixels are allowed per Masthead.
Remarketing on Impression
- Only AdWords remarketing tags will be accepted.
- Implementation should be done in the Flash/HTML5 file and called only after completion of initial load.
Remarketing on User Click
- Either AdWords or Floodlight remarketing tags will be accepted.
- Implementation should be done in the Flash/HTML5 file upon any and all clicks to the unit.
Additional Requirements
- A Masthead kick-off call is required for all new executions.
- Cannot mimic any YouTube experience, pages, designs, graphics, or logos
- Cannot mimic system processes (data loading, buffering, lags) that can be interpreted as YouTube actions
- The YouTube logo on the video player may only click out to another page within YouTube.
- For expandable Mastheads, the logo may be used as an expansion hotspot in the collapsed state.
- One creative per campaign is standard. Multiple creative per campaign may require additional fees. The use of rich media dynamic creative technology can be used to update certain creative elements on a live Masthead, including images, videos and text. Ask your DoubleClick Campaign Manager for additional information.
If you are buying a Live Masthead, please also see Live Streaming guidelines.
Additional Details
- Video view count for YouTube-hosted videos will increment on click-to-play.
- Small countdown clock (200×50) is permitted.
- Advertisers may use the approved YouTube social media exit btn and/or use “YouTube” in text as per the YouTube Logo Usage in Ads policy.
- “Close Ad X” btn will collapse 100% of the Masthead and leave a “Show Ad” btn that will redisplay the ad on user click.
- When a user clicks “Close Ad X”, the ad will disappear, page content will push up, and a “Show Ad” btn will remain.
- When a user clicks “Show Ad”, the ad will reappear, page content will push back down, and a “Close Ad X” btn will appear on the Masthead.
