Paid Ads: CTV / Streaming TV
Guides Connected TV (CTV) and OTT advertising: ads on streaming platforms (Hulu, Roku, YouTube TV, etc.). Use when targeting viewers who watch streaming content; CTV achieves ~95% ad completion, higher than mobile/desktop.
When invoking: On first use, if helpful, open with 1–2 sentences on what this skill covers and why it matters, then provide the main output. On subsequent use or when the user asks to skip, go directly to the main output.
What Is CTV / OTT
- CTV (Connected TV): Smart TVs, streaming devices (Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV) that serve ads
- OTT (Over-the-top): Video delivered over the internet (Hulu, Peacock, Paramount+, etc.)
- Streaming share: Streaming surpassed broadcast + cable combined in 2025 (~45% of TV viewing)
Why CTV
| Advantage | Detail |
|---|---|
| High completion | ~95% ad completion rate vs lower on mobile/desktop |
| Unskippable | Most CTV inventory is non-skippable pre-roll/mid-roll |
| Targeting | Demographics, interests, location, household data |
| Underinvested | CTV received ~7% of ad spend despite ~18% of media time (2024) |
Ad Formats
| Format | Use |
|---|---|
| Pre-roll / Mid-roll | Standard video; 15–30 sec |
| Interactive | Drives engagement; ~71 sec additional time vs standard |
| QR / URL | Direct response; track offline-to-online |
Platforms & Buying
- Programmatic: DSPs (The Trade Desk, etc.); audience-based buying
- Direct: Hulu, Roku, YouTube TV, Peacock—platform-specific deals
- Google: YouTube on TV; part of Video campaigns
Metrics
| Metric | Use |
|---|---|
| Completion rate | % who watch full ad; CTV typically 95%+ |
| Reach / frequency | Household reach; avoid over-frequency (e.g., <7) |
| CPM | Cost per thousand impressions |
| Attribution | QR scans, URL visits; harder than web/app |
Creative
- Horizontal: 16:9; TV screen format
- Sound on: Assume sound; design for audio
- Brand focus: CTV often awareness; clear brand, CTA
UTM for CTV
Use utm_medium=video or ctv with utm_source (e.g., hulu, roku) for QR/URL campaigns. Tag links in interactive CTV ads for attribution.
Pre-Launch Checklist
- Creative in 16:9; sound-on
- Targeting defined (demo, interests, geo)
- Attribution plan (QR, URL, brand lift)
- Frequency cap set
- Budget aligned with CPM expectations
Related Skills
- paid-ads-strategy: Ad formats by medium; when to use TV vs web vs app
- traffic-analysis: UTM for CTV direct-response; attribution
- analytics-tracking: Conversion tracking for QR/URL campaigns