Brightcove maps the tradeoffs between CSAI and SSAI
This article from Brightcove details the differences, advantages, and disadvantages of Client-Side Ad Insertion (CSAI) and Server-Side Ad Insertion (SSAI). It explains how each method works, identifies suitable use cases, and briefly touches on hybrid approaches to ad delivery for AVOD services.
Key Takeaways
- CSAI pauses the video player, requests an ad from the server, then resumes playback after the ad runs.
- SSAI stitches prefetched ads into the video stream and matches bitrate, frame rate, and audio level before delivery to the device.
- Brightcove says CSAI fits VOD streaming and short pre-roll ads, where interactive formats and session-based targeting matter more.
- Brightcove says SSAI fits live/linear streaming and longer mid-roll ads, especially when viewers use a wide range of devices.
- Brightcove outlines three hybrid options: CSAI with SSAI auto-failover, client-side ad beaconing with SSAI, and client-side pre-roll with live SSAI.
Why It Matters
The practical decision here is not between “better” and “worse,” but between control and consistency. CSAI is stronger when services want real-time ad changes, interactive formats, and more detailed client-side metrics; SSAI is stronger when the priority is smoother playback, broader device compatibility, and less ad-blocker exposure. Brightcove frames the choice around content type as much as monetization: VOD and short pre-roll lean CSAI, while live/linear streams and longer mid-rolls lean SSAI. The useful signal to watch is which hybrid setup a service adopts, since Brightcove’s auto-failover and beaconing options trade off measurement, ad-blocker resistance, and live-stream support.
Read full article at brightcove.com
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