MediaPost’s Wayne Friedman quantifies the early shifting of budgets to online video
in his recent article on this year’s decline in cable as well as broadcast
upfront ad spending. Online video accounts for approximately 7% of the total T/V nut ($5 billion of $70 billion total) and is poised for multiple-digit annual growth. So if television dollars are
moving to Internet distribution and portable platforms, how will brand safety be maintained while ads potentially land everywhere and anywhere a viewer can find content?
One of the reasons the
majority of T/V ad spending still goes to traditional broadcast and cable networks is that they are closed systems where the range of programming environment is finite, and are often organized around
neat environment labels (Travel, Food, Women’s). Networks also give planners and buyers more control through direct deals with only known entities within the traditional television space, rather
than having to deal with the infinite number of Internet sites out there. These are brand safety issues.
The term “brand safety” can conjure up fears that an ad buy will end up on
porn or scam sites. While brand safety strategies address those extreme situations, the concept more importantly includes ensuring that the ad is seen, that it is seen in environments that the buyer
approves, that it will not be placed on sites outside of that “white list,” and that sellers stay open to third-party verification.
We are seeing more and more frequent use of the
phrase “premium” by sellers and buyers to identify the sub-sector of T/V online and mobile advertising defined by known, high-quality sites and apps that will support a positive and
quality brand positioning. But it takes more than slapping the word “premium” on a content site to insure brand safety.
So here are some tips for planners, buyers and publishers
that can help ensure brand safety as budgets continue to move to non-traditional, non-linear T/V:
Insist upon transparency: Ensure that there is enough budget and inventory
purchased through direct buys and private exchange buys where the site list is known to the buyer.
Use Media Rating Council (MRC) accredited publishers and DSPs (demand-side
platforms): This will assure minimum video viewability standards. An ad not seen is an ad that shouldn’t be paid for -- if it is, that is not brand safety.
Use
third-party verification services: Spot check campaigns or flights purchased through DSPs and directly with publishers via third-party audit verification.
Don’t avoid
programmatic buying: Find DSPs that guarantee transparency of sites, even for “white list” or “walled garden” buys. Use private exchanges rather than blind, open
programmatic marketplaces designed to drive CPMs down.
Consider CPCV (cost per completed view) metrics: CPMs don’t need to be based on minimum viewability; now maximum
viewability buys are available. Paying premiums to buy ads that have been fully seen by site audiences renders all partly completed ads as gravy. There are no such minimum or maximum viewability
assurances with traditional television.
Don’t focus only on CPMs: It takes a lot of resources to produce premium content 365 days a year, and advertisers need to be
willing to pay higher rates for advertising that meets brand safety guidelines. I believe publishers needn’t fear the increase in video inventory will diminish their revenue, if they are willing
to bring integrity, transparency and brand safety to advertisers.
Stay interested in contextual targeting: As the technology gets stronger, seek ways to use contextual
targeting to avoid having negative placements (automotive ads on article pages about car crashes) and to seek out environments where the brand is fully supported (automotive ads on article pages about
the value of car ownership).