Server-Side Ad Insertion (SSAI) for Linear TV & FAST Channels

Buffer-Free Ad Playback

Stitch ads directly into your video stream server-side to eliminate buffering or playback interruptions, ensuring smooth transitions between content and ads.

This results in a TV-like experience for your audience, enhancing viewer engagement and reducing drop-off during ad breaks.

Bypass Ad Blockers

Since ads are embedded into the video stream, most ad blockers can't detect or remove them, maximizing your ad revenue. This ensures that your monetization strategy is effective across devices and browsers without relying on the user's cooperation.

Dynamic Ad Insertion

Automatically insert personalized, context-relevant ads in real time based on viewer data, region, or device type. Support for VAST, VMAP, and VPAID formats ensures compatibility with a wide range of ad networks and demand-side platforms.

SSAI vs CSAI: Which Ad Insertion Method Works Better for Streaming?

Compare server-side and client-side ad insertion to understand how each method affects playback, ad delivery, device consistency, and monetization across FAST, live, and linear channels.

Comparison Point	SSAI Server-Side Ad Insertion	CSAI Client-Side Ad Insertion
Where ads are inserted	At the server level before the stream reaches the viewer device	On the viewer device through the video player or app
Ad playback experience	Helps create smoother transitions between content and ads	May depend on player, device, network, and ad loading conditions
Ad blocker resistance	Higher resistance to traditional client-side ad blockers	More exposed to ad blockers because ad calls happen on the client side
Cross-device consistency	More consistent across devices because ads are delivered as part of the stream	Can vary based on player capabilities, SDK support, and device behavior
Ad targeting and personalization	Supported through server-side ad decisioning and stream personalization	Supported through client-side player and app-level ad requests
Viewer experience	Closer to a TV-like ad experience with fewer visible ad-loading interruptions	Can feel less seamless if ads load separately or formats do not match smoothly
Best suited for	FAST channels, linear TV, live streams, and CTV/OTT ad delivery at scale	Web and app environments where client-side control is preferred

Start your 14 day free trial today

Dynamic SSAI
Schedule On-Demand and Live Content
Launch your channel in less than 24 hours

Start Free Trial

Upgrade / Cancel Anytime. No Commitments.

Support for SCTE Markers

Fully compatible with SCTE-35 ad markers, enabling precise ad cue points for scheduled breaks and dynamic ad insertions.

You can define exact ad placement timings and maintain compliance with industry broadcasting standards.

Live & Linear Support

Works flawlessly for both live broadcasts, scheduled linear channels, and FAST channels using Muvi Playout, offering full flexibility in monetization. No matter the format, your content remains high-quality and monetizable from start to finish.

Ad Server & CDN Compatibility

Easily integrates with third-party ad servers and CDNs, giving you the freedom to work with your preferred partners.

You can connect with platforms like Google Ad Manager, SpotX, FreeWheel, and more, ensuring scalable and reliable ad delivery.

Frequently Asked Questions

Server side ad insertion SSAI is an ad delivery method where ads are stitched into the video stream at the server level before the stream reaches the viewer’s device. This helps create smoother transitions between content and ads, making it useful for live streams, linear channels, and FAST channel monetization.

Server side ad insertion streaming helps deliver ads as part of a continuous video stream instead of loading them separately on the viewer’s device. This can reduce ad playback interruptions, improve consistency across devices, and support a more TV-like viewing experience for ad-supported streaming.

In CSAI, ads are requested and inserted on the viewer’s device through the video player. In SSAI, ads are inserted on the server side before delivery. This makes SSAI better suited for smoother playback, cross-device consistency, and reducing the impact of traditional ad blockers.

Yes. Muvi Playout supports SCTE-35 ad markers for precise ad cue points across scheduled breaks and dynamic ad insertions. This helps define when ads should be inserted within live streams and scheduled linear channels

Muvi Playout supports integration with third-party ad servers and CDNs. The current page mentions platforms like Google Ad Manager, SpotX, and FreeWheel, but this should be verified with the product team before publishing as a final supported integration list.

Yes. Muvi Playout’s SSAI is positioned for live broadcasts and scheduled linear channels, making it suitable for ad-supported streaming experiences such as FAST channels and linear TV-style programming. I would avoid claiming full VOD support unless the product team confirms it.

With SSAI, ads are stitched into the stream at the server level, so the viewer receives a more continuous video stream. This makes ads harder for traditional client-side ad blockers to detect compared to separate client-side ad calls, though it is better to say “reduces ad-blocking impact” rather than “guarantees bypass.”

Previous Feature