Yospace debuts SGAI and multi-channel live event orchestration for NAB 2025

The shift toward SGAI addresses the operational costs and personalization limits of traditional server-side ad insertion (SSAI) by sharing the stitching workload between the server and the player. By adopting HLS Interstitials and contributing to the CMCDv2 standard, Yospace is aligning with the industry's push for standardized, scalable measurement that doesn't rely on fragmented, device-specific SDKs. This approach is particularly critical for live sports, where low-latency requirements and massive concurrent audiences have historically made one-to-one addressable advertising difficult to scale. Watch for the official ratification of MPEG-DASH Events later this year, which will determine how quickly this hybrid model can achieve parity across non-Apple device ecosystems.

The emphasis on server-guided ad insertion (SGAI) reflects a broader industry pivot toward hybrid models that promise the seamlessness of server-side stitching with the data-rich tracking of client-side insertion. According to Bitmovin’s 2025 Video Developer Report, ad insertion remains the top technical challenge for the streaming industry, cited by 37% of respondents, as providers face increasing pressure to optimize AVOD and FAST revenues. While standard SSAI excels at bypassing ad blockers, it often lacks the granular measurement and interactive capabilities that advertisers now demand for high-value placements.

Technological advancement in this space is heavily dependent on playback standards. Apple has consistently updated its HLS Interstitials specification through 2024 and 2025, recently introducing "Date Range Schedules" to allow more flexible, server-driven ad triggers. However, broader market adoption hinges on the full ratification and implementation of MPEG-DASH Events, which Yospace is tracking for commercial rollout. Per industry reporting from Streaming Media (April 2026), SGAI adoption reached 21% among video professionals as early as 2024, as publishers seek higher eCPMs and fill rates that traditional models struggle to deliver at the edge.

Strategic partnerships on the cloud edge are also intensifying. In 2025, Akamai launched its Akamai Partner Connect program to integrate technical solutions like Yospace’s more deeply into its Connected Cloud. This ecosystem approach, which also includes collaborations with vendors like MediaMelon and Harmonic, aims to reduce the "thundering herd" of ad requests during major live events. As ad volumes grow—with Yospace reporting a milestone of 11.6 billion addressable ads in a single month during the 2026 sports season—efficient orchestration at the network edge is becoming as vital as the ad stitching itself.