The merits of server-guided ad insertion (SGAI) were one of the big ad-tech talking points at this year’s IBC, but does the technology represent a step change for publishers?
Choosing the best way to insert addressable adverts into streams is one of the key technology dilemmas currently facing ad-supported streaming services.
Server-side ad insertion is often seen as the lynchpin of ad-tech in the streaming age, as media companies look to grow digital revenues to offset linear TV’s decline.
Historically, ads in OTT have either been inserted into a stream by the client (at the player or device level), or stitched into the stream by the server, without the need for client-side integration...
You are not signed in
Only registered users can read the rest of this article.
MWC 2026: Telcos confront the hard economics of 5G
With global 5G coverage now surpassing 50% of the world’s population, but consumer willingness to pay barely shifting, operators at MWC argued that the next chapter must be defined by utilisation.
Kickstart Day 2026: Latest PoCs and partnerships promise most exciting year yet
More than 200 industry leaders gathered at BBC Broadcasting House for the 2026 IBC Accelerators Kickstart Day, taking place on 25 February.
MIP London: “A lot of creators feel held hostage by algorithms”
Digital creators, television producers, platforms, distributors, buyers, and brands across all genres gathered at the IET and Savoy Hotel this week to attend the second-ever iteration of MIP in London.
Sundance: Representation matters, today more than ever
As minority communities face attack in the US, two new films screened at Sundance Film Festival offer powerful takes on Latino American and Chicano culture.
IBC Content Everywhere: Keeping the customer
Consumers have a lot of choices these days when it comes to streaming video content. Indeed, the sheer number of available services can seem overwhelming, leaving customers with often difficult decisions to make about which services to choose, especially when they already have several other demands on their wallets. In this piece, Content Everywhere companies explore what streaming providers can and should be doing to retain existing customers and attract new ones where possible.
.jpg)
