What is VAST?
VAST (Video Ad Serving Template) is a universal XML schema for serving ads. VAST is supported by Google Ad Manager for serving video ads within native BLOX video players.
How to integrate VAST with BLOX
In order to serve both pre and post-roll video ads through VAST, you'll need a VAST-compliant, third-party ad server. Through that server, you'll be supplied with a VAST URL endpoint that will need to be added to the Page Customizations, within the Video panel.
The Page Customizations can accessed by navigating to Settings > URL maps. Next, double-click the URL map (typically flexsystem). Next, navigate to the Customizations tab > Video panel.
Auto advance: This property determines whether videos should auto advance to the next item in the playlist when the current video finishes. Options include Enabled or Disabled.
Auto play: This property determines whether the first video in the playlist should auto play. Options include Enabled or Disabled.
Note: First play through should show full Pre-Roll and Post-Roll, but subsequent plays of the SAME video will not show pre or post rolls.
Custom Macros
Some VAST URL endpoints require various "macros" which trigger certain behaviors or data, such as the dynamic height or width of the video player. All macros need to be added to the end of the URL before it is added to the Page Customizations panel, as outlined above. When the page is rendered, the macro would be replaced by the actual dynamic value.
For example, if you had a URL like this:
You would need to replace the [REPLACE ME] part with the available macro:
This would be the URL that be added within the Vast URL field within the Page Customizations.
Available Macros
%%canonical_url%%: This is the main, canonical URL for the video page. Due to syndication or content sharing, it may not be on the same domain as this current page.
%%full_url%%: The is the full URL for the video page.
%%timestamp%%: This macro will generate a timestamp of the current time. Useful for cache busting.
%%width%%: Current width of the video player.
%%height%%: Current height of the video player.
%%random%%: A random number. Useful for cache busting.
%%keywords%%: This macro will insert asset keywords.
%%path%%: This macro will insert the asset section path.
Where can I learn more about VAST?
To learn more about VAST, please view the following resources:
