Newsroom
Jun 21

Summer SpringServe Updates

Segmentation, Audio Ad Serving, and updates to establishing DC Connections, and Header Bidding waterfall changes.

Feature Additions

Segmentation

User segments enable first-party user targeting for your supply and demand. There are three types of user segment options available in SpringServe. All SpringServe accounts have the ability to create targeting lists for Cookie or Device ID segments. Cookie based pixel lists are also available upon approval from your account manager.

In the targeting page of the UI, you can navigate to the Segments tab. Here, click the +Segment button to create a new segment and specify if it is a list of cookies or device ids.

Segment Settings header with List Type pillbox with options cookie and device, cookie selected

Add items to the list manually or via csv, as with other targeting lists. Note that csv file uploads are limited to 500 mb and large files  (> 250 mb) could take up to an hour to complete.

Both supply and demand objects can target user segments. In the Targeting tab of an object, expand the User Segment Targeting section and switch User Segments from All to Custom, and you will be able to apply segment targeting logic.

User Segment Targeting header with User Segments pillbox - Custom selected with User Segment Group expanded

For more information about Segments, please see our wiki.

To be enabled for pixel segments, please talk to your account manager.

Blocking Unknown Device IDs

You also have the ability to block all requests to your CTV and in-app supply tags if a device id is not passed. To enable this feature, go to the Targeting tab of your account settings. In the Device IDs section, specify if Unknown Device IDs are Allowed or Blocked.

Device IDs header with Unknown Device IDs pillbox with Allowed selected, Blocked unselected.

Audio Ads

We have released audio ad support to all SpringServe clients. Audio ad serving is done through VAST only tags and can support PC, tag (DC and managed), and creative asset demand. On the Settings tabs of your supply and demand tags, you now see a Format field. When you create a new tag, you can specify Video or Audio format.

There are two main differences between audio and video demand in SpringServe:

  • Header Bidding is only supported for video demand, as it requires a VPAID
  • audio format creative asset demand supports mp3 or m4a files, rather than mp4 files

All other management remains the same – from enabling PC demand to managing your waterfalls. When associating supply and demand, only inventory of the matching format appears in the modal.

Please see our wiki for more information about audio ad serving with SpringServe.

Core Improvements

Waterfall Updates

When using a VAST only supply tag in SpringServe, we execute a broadcast call. Because we always broadcast to tags in the waterfall of a VAST only supply tag, we have removed the ability to disable a tier for broadfall. You therefore can no longer see the broadcast icon in the Tier Name column of the waterfall.

We no longer require that Header Bidding demand be part of a broadcast tier. This change has two impacts:

  • moving a Header Bidding demand tag into a non-broadcast tier does not enable that tier for broadfall
  • Header Bidding tags can be part of any tier on a DC supply tag

Previously, the First Look tier of a DC supply tag’s waterfall was reserved for Header Bidding demand. With this update, you can place any class of demand in the First Look tier of a DC waterfall.

Waterfall showing Vast tags in first look and tier 1. Tier 2 has Open Market demand and HB demand

Updating DC Status and Preferences

We have updated the process for changing the status of a Direct Connection; these status changes include requesting, approving, disconnecting, and reconnecting.

Now when you click a button in the Actions column of the index table on the Direct Connections page, rather than opening a modal, you will be redirected to the Settings tab for that Direct Connection. On this tab, you will see sections for Action and Connection Details. The contents of the Update Status and Status fields depend on the current status of the connection.

Connect

If you have never connected, the Connect button appears in the Actions column.

On the Settings tab, you can select Request in the Update Status field, which automatically changes the Status to Pending Partner Approval and allow you to write a message, set clearing terms, and set supply and demand preferences. Note that preferences are optional.

View Request

If you have never connected and been requested, or if your partner has disconnected and requested a reconnection (because they want to change clearing terms), the View Request button appears in the Actions column.

dc table with view request in the actions column and purple and orange certificates in the status column

On the Settings tab, you can select Accept or Reject in the Update Status field, which will update the Status to Connected. If you accept the connection, DC activity can start immediately after you click Apply.

Accept in update status changes Status to Connected

If you reject the request, you have the option to send a rejection message so the other account can know why you did not want to connect. The status will update to Rejected.

update status to Reject shows rejection message and status updated to rejected

Disconnect

If you are currently connected, there is no button in the Action column, but you can select Disconnect in the Update Status field on the Settings tab.  Selecting Disconnect updates the status to Rejected and allow you to write a rejection message. Click Apply to update the connection and disconnect from the partner.

Update Status Disconnect shows rejection message and changes status to Rejected

Reconnect

If you have disconnected or rejected a connection request, you can send a request to reconnect.

actions column shows reconnect

Selecting Reconnect in the Update Status field automatically changes the Status to Pending Partner Approval and display clearing terms and preference fields. Once you click apply, the reconnection request will appear in your partner’s account.

update status reconnect changes status to pending partner approval

Always be sure to click Apply to update the status and make your desired changes.

UI/UX Improvements

Add Supply / Demand Modal Updates

You can now see targeting icons and quickstats in the modals when adding new supply or demand associations. The metrics shown in the modal are across all inventory for the period selected and are as follows:

  • Add Demand modal: Ad Requests, Imps, and Request Fill
  • Add Supply modal: Usable Requests, Imps, and Request fill

add deman modal with time dropdownadd supply modal with targeting icons

Targeting icons allow you to make sure you the pairing is compatible so you do not associate supply and demand that have conflicting targeting. As in other places in the platform, hovering over the icon displays a popover with details. Quickstats metrics allow you to estimate how a particular supply-demand association might perform.

Inactive Campaign Visibility

When deactivating a campaign, all child demand tags will be deactivated. It is possible to change the status of a demand tag back to active without reactivating the campaign. However, inactive demand tags that are part of an inactive campaign will not serve. We have therefore added an indicator for inactive campaign / active demand tag; these tags have a grey checkmark in the status column.

table showing two lines - one with the grey check indicating the campaign is inactive, one with the green showing active tag

This addition helps to avoid confusion as to why a demand tag might have stopped getting requests, even though it is active.

Reporting Improvements

Deal ID Dimension & Filters

If you use Deals through PC in SpringServe, you can now add Deal ID as a dimension or filter by a particular Deal ID. Demand report metrics are available when reporting by Deal ID.

Alerts

API endpoint cutover

API users must start using the new API endpoint https://console.springserve.com by Thursday July 18th. https://video.springserve.com will be no longer be accessible after Thursday July 18th.

Event Pixels

In preparation for adding event pixels to Supply objects in SpringServe, we have made updates to how we process event pixels on demand objects. If you are using the API, please make note that for event pixels you should pass tag_pixels in place of demand_tag_pixels.

Ads.txt

If you are connected to bidders via Programmatic Connect, update the ads.txt files for you and your partners to include the following lines:

springserve.com, 826, DIRECT, a24eb641fc82e93d
beachfront.com, 4969, RESELLER, e2541279e8e2ca4d
advertising.com, 26282, RESELLER
pubmatic.com, 157310, RESELLER, 5d62403b186f2ace
rhythmone.com, 2968119028, RESELLER, a670c89d4a324e47
spotxchange.com, 239904, RESELLER, 7842df1d2fe2db34
spotx.tv, 239904, RESELLER, 7842df1d2fe2db34
contextweb.com, 561910, RESELLER, 89ff185a4c4e857c
openx.com, 540454059, RESELLER, 6a698e2ec38604c6
districtm.io, 101856, DIRECT, 3fd707be9c4527c3
appnexus.com, 1908, RESELLER, f5ab79cb980f11d1
google.com, pub-9685734445476814, RESELLER, f08c47fec0942fa0
undertone.com, 3817, DIRECT
appnexus.com, 2234, RESELLER
openx.com, 537153564, RESELLER, 6a698e2ec38604c6
synacor.com, 82101, DIRECT, e108f11b2cdf7d5b
advertising.com, 19623, RESELLER

Make sure to replace [YOUR ACCOUNT ID] with the number in the lower right hand corner of the screen. For example, CrushTownUSA’s Account ID is 17.

For any and all questions and requests, please reach out to you account manager, who can connect these partners and ensure your domains are whitelisted.

Bug Fixes

Various bug fixes and performance improvements