Ad Skip Ban. Configuring

Ad Skip Ban is a SmartTUBE feature that prevents users from skipping or fast-forwarding through ads while interacting with TSTV, Pause Live, or nPVR content. It operates exclusively when integrated with the SmartMEDIA media server.

For an in-depth understanding of its mechanics and other requirements, refer to the “Ad Skip Ban. Principles” article. This article describes the configuration process that divides into 3 stages:

1. Import of Ad Block Timing Data
2. Configuring Ad Skip Restriction Policies
3. Assigning Policies to Channels and Service Packages

1. Set Up Import of Ad Block Timing Data

To begin, import the start and end times of ad blocks into the SmartTUBE SDP, typically sourced from third-party data. The supported data format is available here.

Follow these steps for setup:

1. Access the SmartTUBE Admin Console and navigate to Administration > Scheduled jobs.
2. Click Add to create a new job for importing ad block timing data:
   1. In the Method field, select Advertising rewind limits import (advertisinglimitimport#doimport).
   2. Fill in other fields as guided by the tooltips around them.

3. Click Save to apply changes.

2. Configure Ad Skip Restriction Policies

Create one or multiple ad skip restriction policies with various set of options:

1. Go to Dictionaries > Ad skip restriction policy
2. Click Add to create a new Policy
3. Set the following fields:
   1. Name: Name the policy to indicate its uniqueness (e.g., “Policy (non-skip timer = 7 sec)”).
   2. Display ad skip timer: Check to show in the SmartTUBE Apps a counter of remaining time until the user can skip the current ad block.
   3. Ad skip ban duration: Set the restriction duration for skipping ads after they start. For example, a 5-second value means ads cannot be fast-forwarded within the first 5 seconds.
   4. Ad skip ban grace period: This feature allows users to temporarily bypass the ad skip restriction for a specific duration after launching the app and turning on the TV channel for the first time. For instance, if set to 3 minutes, users can rewind any ad within 3 minutes of switching to the channel.
   5. Restart Grace period on channel switch: Enable to restart the grace period upon a user returning to a previously watched channel. If disabled, the grace period continues from where it left off.
   6. Grace period restart standby threshold: Set a duration for how long the grace period maintains after STB restarts. For example, a 5-minute threshold maintains the grace period if the STB restarts within this time; exceeding this threshold resets the grace period.
   7. Disable ad skip ban for a current program: Check to allow ad skipping for ongoing programs. Only applicable if the Pause Live service is active for a channel.

4. Click Save to finalize the Policy. Repeat these steps to create additional policies as needed.

3. Assign Policies to Channels and Service Packages

Finally, apply the created policies to specific channels and TV packages:

1. Navigate to Channels > Channels > [select desired channel] > Adv skip TV settings tab.
2. In the Ad skip restriction policy field, choose the Policy to apply to the channel (only one Policy can be applied per channel).
3. In the Apply ad skip ban for the packages field, select the applicable TV packages for the restriction.
4. Click Save to apply changes.