With over 2.3 billion users worldwide, YouTube has proven that video marketing is here to stay.
So, it shouldn't come as a surprise to know that publishers are increasingly using video ad networks to reach a wider audience and form a connection through creative storytelling.
In fact, ad spending in the video advertising segment is projected to reach over US$92.29 billion by 2021. Spending has a projected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.94% between 2021-2025.
However, this has been a long time in the making. In 2016, BuzzFeed stated that more than half of their advertising revenue was generated by video advertisements, with expectations that this number would climb to 75% in the coming years.
And, it seems it's already paying off as they've seen a 3X increase in Facebook in-stream ads between June and December 2018. Similarly, The Washington Post, Forbes, CBS, and larger publishers have begun exploring alternate video advertising avenues, a.k.a. top video ad networks.
14 Best Video Ad Networks for Publishers:
1. Publift
2. Primis
3. Facebook Audience Network
4. AdPlayer.Pro
5. OpenX
6. Magnite
7. SelectMedia
8. Unruly
9. Verizon Media
10. Chocolate Platform
11. AdMedia
12. Teads
13. Fyber
14. Undertone
What are Video Ad Networks?
Simply put, video ad networks help both publishers and advertisers trade video ad impressions at scale. Video Ad Networks connect advertisers with publishers who want to sell ad space.
According to a Five Minute Marketing report, 85% of content consumed on the internet by 2021 will be video. As a result, 96% of marketers have invested ad spend on video, with another 61% planning to increase their budgets.
A strategically placed video ad can make you between $9 and $20 per 1,000 impressions based on location, niche, and other factors.
And, as a result of these factors, not all video advertisers will make the same amount of money.
There are many ways digital publishers of all sizes can take advantage of this by generating their own unique video content and monetizing it through programmatic demand.
Alternatively, you can utilize different partners that will actually produce the video content for you, so you can reap the benefits of video ads without creating them yourself.
Instream vs. Outstream video ads: Which is right for you?
In-stream video ads
Publishers who already have video content on their websites can run ads and their existing content. This is called “Instream video ads.”
The most reliable and frequently used system for placing video ads within a relevant video context, instream video ads allow advertisers to get into the thick of consumer video content.
However, they can also be somewhat limiting, especially if an advertiser’s audience isn’t active on their advertising channels.
Publishers without video content can place video ad units the same way they would an image or text ad, called “out-stream video ads.” Outstream is a somewhat new addition to the world of video advertising. Still, it offers a massive advantage since it can deliver video ads anywhere, anytime.
Whether a publisher chooses instream or out-stream ads, they still need to connect with buyers to run relevant online advertising campaigns.
Video ad networks allow publishers to connect with thousands of buyers so that video ad impressions are transacted. The best video ad networks also provide publishers with the technology required to run, report, and optimize video ad campaigns.
Which is the most popular platform for video ads?
Before delving into the most popular or the fastest-growing ad network, it's important to know that as a publisher, you should select an ad network that offers technological support and the expertise needed to fight against fraudsters.
We have compiled some of the best video ad networks in the ad space so that publishers can compare and choose from our comprehensive video ad networks list.
14 Best Video Ad Networks for Publishers
1. Publift
Publift has been helping publishers navigate the programmatic advertising landscape since 2015. Founded by ex-Googlers, Publift understands that publishers, especially small and mid-sized publishers, may not always possess the experience, the technical knowhow, and the leverage to work with premium brands. It helps publishers overcome these shortcomings by providing deeply personalized ad strategies tailored for their needs.
The platform aggregates multiple video ad networks like Teads, OpenX, Primis, Magnite, etc. empowering publishers to connect with several video ad networks. It has partnered with over 350 publishers around the world while ensuring an average 55% increase in their revenue.
A Google Certified publishing partner, Publift is preferred by publishers thanks to its easy approval process, low minimum payout of $50, and high level of customer service.
Publishers can also calculate their potential ad revenue uplifts after working with Publift using Publift's Ad Revenue Calculator.
2. Primis
Primis is one of the best video discovery engine platforms. Primis is the original Video Discovery platform built to increase revenue for publishers by helping their users discover high-quality video content.
Their Video Discovery technology is used by 100s of digital publishers worldwide, empowering 300M uniques with an engagement-based video experience that recommends video content they love, automatically skipping content they don't interact with.
Every month, Primis makes 4.8B recommendations of 3.4M pieces of content across 30 verticals leading to the monetization of over 4.5B video impressions.
Primis holds itself accountable to the highest industry standards in digital advertising. The network is safe to use and protects users against fraud.
This ad network describes itself as an endless library, as it allows publishers to exert complete control over categories, channels, and keywords that prompt the display of relevant video ads. Meanwhile, the ads are carefully selected to maximize RPMs and improve video monetization.
3. Facebook Audience Network
Publishers can join the company's in-stream video ads system and use their original content. Since most Facebook users are on mobile devices, it's more suitable for mobile video ad inventory. You can opt for mid-roll or pre-roll ads with FAN, as the platform does not presently support post-roll ads.
With assorted video ad formats, Facebook is a compelling addition to this list. While Facebook Audience Network is an excellent option for the video ad format, remember that CPMs depend on various factors, including bid density and location. You'll also need to configure SSP or ad server to deliver video ads.
4. AdPlayer.Pro
AdPlayer.Pro is an outstream video ad solution, which enables publishers and content creators to generate ad revenue by monetizing editorial content, regardless of whether they have on-site video inventory or not. This platform allows publishers to display in-app and in-page video ads.
This network provides additional ad revenue with no interruption to your current ad stack through video monetization tactics.
The audience targeting of the video content served to users on the platform provides a better user experience than most ad server networks, so your ads will only be served to the highest quality audience.
5. OpenX
OpenX is a video ad network that is available across all major video ad servers, video players, and integrations, including VAST tags, header bidding, and OpenRTB maximizing inventory value via open auctions and private marketplaces.
It has also proved to be a good option in over-the-top (OTT) media services (i.e., Netflix) and can run both in-stream and outstream video ads. In-content and in-content sticky are some of the top supported formats on this ad network.
This video marketing platform is suitable for users who have access to a good amount of their own video content since it lacks a syndication service.
While it's a major con, it has more than 50 demand-side partners on the positive side. Plus, it offers a bunch of campaign optimization and custom targeting tools.
6. Magnite
Magnite (previously known as both Rubicon Project & Telaria before the merger) is a reliable source for advertisers, serving over 65% of the global comScore 300 publishers, including big names, like CNN, Bloomberg, ESPN, and The Economist.
Magnite is known as the world's largest independent sell-side ad platform as well as a curated programmatic advertising marketplace with a global demand to place video ads. Very few video ad networks enjoy the kind of reputation and recognition that the Rubicon video ad network does.
The merger combines Telaria's strong, connected TV and video management operations with Rubicon's big programmatic desktop and mobile video advertising.
Unlike other options out there, this one serves all kinds of users including, mobile and desktop users.
You will find different ad formats on this network. Plus, it provides information in real-time and can be a good option if you're looking to monitor how campaigns are performing at a glance.
This video network also uses the latest video ad technology, including AI, to improve the delivery of rich media. Publishers who use Magnite are said to earn more revenue than publishers who use other ad networks. However, we do not have figures to test the claim.
It has enabled video header bidding, which can be used as a tool to increase competition and generate more revenue via video content.
7. SelectMedia
If you're looking for a top video ad network in Asia, then your search ends here. This international ad system is best suited for Asian publishers and brands.
SelectMedia offers a variety of formats here, including slider playlist, in-content, bottom sticky, and overlay.
The network runs outstream video ads and provides a bunch of reliable and user-friendly yield optimization tools to enhance revenue. Another benefit of this ad network is the freedom to micro-direct your own campaigns.
On the negative side, SelectMedia doesn't offer very high CPMs for video ads since the auction occurs on open exchanges. Plus, unlike some other options out there, this one doesn't let users make use of first-party data.
8. Unruly
Joining Unruly will give you access to every major DSP and trading desk, in addition to 95% of top brands found in the AdAge 100.
Unruly isn't like other options out there because the network does not require publishers to have video content to monetize since a large number of video ad units on the platform are displayed within the content.
However, there are options for video content in the form of in-stream, out-stream, and mobile video formats.
What makes this an incredible choice for advertisers is the impressive onboarding process. It follows IAB Tech Lab's LEAN Principles and the standards set by the Coalition for Better Ads. It offers dedicated account management for ease of use.
You will also be able to keep an eye on your video content in real-time to know how ad units are performing.
9.Verizon Media
Originally known as Oath, Verizon Media is among the most reliable names helping advertisers to run video ads. It combines some of the best assets of AOL and Yahoo and is known for offering excellent customer support.
This self-serve platform is easy to use and offers top-notch safety tools. It enables publishers to run outstream video ads by placing a script in different ad formats.
While it's essentially a video ad network, non-video publishers can utilize Verizon Media's syndication service. This means you will not need to rely solely on ad revenue.
10. Chocolate Platform
No video ad network list would be complete without mentioning Chocolate Platform—one of the fastest-growing video ad networks for publishers out there.
This platform primarily serves mobile developers and publishers and can be a good choice if you want to target mobile users.
However, we must mention that it doesn't focus much on mobile sites, as 90% of the demand bids are on mobile apps, and only 10% are on the mobile web.
Due to these limitations may only be suitable for publishers who own or market mobile apps due to these limitations.
11. AdMedia
AdMedia is a unique platform, as it allows users to monetize third-party videos. It seems to be gradually growing in popularity. Still, some users are apprehensive about using this ad program due to how it operates.
Most networks connect to video ad exchanges and sell impressions. This is a universally accepted method to display ads.
However, AdMedia, like Google AdSense, works differently and only sells impressions to advertisers who are on its platform.
The platform uses contextual targeting, which can result in relevancy issues. You can, however, pick video content from its partners—making it a preferred option for publishers who do not have their own video ads to display.
12. Teads
Teads distributes video advertising to 1.9 billion people every month across some of the world's biggest publishers. It's one of the few ad exchanges that share high-quality video ads with mass audiences globally—much like YouTube.
At the core of Teads' video ad platform is the goal to produce professionally-produced editorial content that captures attention and catapults viewability.
How does this global video ad network achieve this? Through contextual targeting, branding, and optimized creatives for mobile.
Brands no longer want to spend additional money on mobile advertising, which is why Teads adopts a mobile-first approach to your ad campaigns and supports many different ad formats, including video and display.
According to the company, Teads achieves a 30% increase in reach on target vs. Nielsen benchmarks and scans 100 million articles to understand what 1.9 billion consumers are reading each month to help inform their ad inventory.
While it's best suited for publishers who own video content, you can still use it if you don't produce your own, as it can provide thousands of videos for your campaign.
13. Fyber
Fyber offers video ads and a large number of ad formats and is said to be best suited for premium brands. It takes data very seriously and is one of the few ad platforms that offer information in real-time.
This programmatic tool mainly focuses on mobile-first video formats such as VPAID for mobile. You can choose from a number of ad units, including banner, vertical, landscape, and square.
Fyber brings a lot of tools under one platform and even allows publishers to run A/B tests to find what works and what doesn't. With this tool, you will be able to attract more advertisers.
Such features make this one of the best ads networks for video ads and rich media ads.
14. Undertone
Undertone works with publishers who have an existing video library. You will not find a lot of video ad formats on this platform. However, it's still in demand due to higher CPMs.
It mainly promotes full-screen takeover ads and offers limited ad and rich media customization options. With the right video campaigns, you will be able to create an ad that exceeds your business goals.
What next?
These were some of the best video ad networks for publishers.
As a publisher, your target should be to optimize every page and earn as much as you can. Learn how to create the right ad to make sure you can attract big brands. The key lies in generating “impressions” without affecting the user experience.
Some networks provide tips on making a high-quality video ad. Look for ad resources and work on your skills to create a successful ad campaign and maximize your video inventory to achieve your goals.
Also, don't forget the importance of ad analytical tools that offer real-time figures to know how your videos perform.
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If you’re making more than $2,000 in monthly ad revenue, contact us today to learn more about how Publift can help increase your ad revenue and best optimize the ad space available on your website or app.