Save 50% on a 3-month Digiday+ membership. Ends Dec 12.
This article is a WTF explainer, in which we break down media and marketing’s most confusing terms. More from the series →
There are two main types of video ads: in-stream and out-stream.
As the names imply, one type refers to ads that are streamed alongside a video — like pre-roll and mid-roll ads — whereas the other type describes video ads that appear independent of any editorial video content. Except the placement of these video ads is no longer the only distinction between the two types.
In August, the IAB Tech Lab issued guidelines for digital video and connected TV ad formats, and these guidelines introduced a new distinguishing characteristic that separates in-stream and out-stream video ads, as illustrated in the video below.
More in Future of TV
Future of TV Briefing: The streaming ad upfront trends, programmatic priorities revealed in Q3 2025 earnings reports
This week’s Future of TV Briefing looks at what TV and streaming companies’ latest quarterly earnings report indicate about the state of the streaming ad market.
Future of TV Briefing: The creator economy needs a new currency for brand deals
This week’s Future of TV Briefing looks at why paying creators based on reach misses the mark and what IAB is doing to clear up the creator-brand currency situation.
Future of TV Briefing: WTF is IAB Tech Lab’s device attestation tactic to combat CTV ad fraud?
This week’s Future of TV Briefing breaks down the CTV ad industry’s new tool for fighting device spoofing.