About Connected TV (CTV) Advertising
Connected TV (CTV) refers to any television that can connect to the internet, such as smart TVs or TVs connected to streaming devices (like Roku or Amazon Fire Stick) or gaming consoles. This enables viewers to access streaming content from platforms like Netflix, Hulu, and YouTube, streaming equivalents from more traditional cable & satellite TV providers like DirecTV and DISH, and online viewing of TV networks like NBC, FOX, and Discovery.
Now, through found.ee, you can create Connected TV ad campaigns on a self-serve basis with no minimum spends! According to a recent study, nearly 80% of all US households now own a smart TV, providing massive reach potential to generate awareness for your artist, tour, project, or brand.
While specific network deals change frequently over time, generally speaking, our CTV/OTT inventory falls into these categories:
Premium Video Streaming: Subscription-only streaming services like Hulu, Max, Peacock, and Paramount.
Traditional TV & Cable Networks: For this category, think of TV networks like NBC, CBS, FOX, Discovery, TNT, A&E, and ESPN, or OTT cable services like DirecTV, Dish Network, fubo, and Sling.
Device-Specific Programming: This would include programming hosted across specific TV brands such as LG, Samsung, or Vizio, or hosted on OTT devices like Roku.
Free/Low-Cost Programming: These lower-cost placements include networks such as GlewedTV, PlutoTV, Tubi, and more.
To create CTV ad campaigns through found.ee, follow the steps below:
Campaign Setup
First, fill out the Campaign Setup and Location Targeting sections as usual, including the campaign name, advertising dates, total budget, and the geo(s) you'd like to target. Click here if you have any questions on this process!
However, note that the majority of our self-serve CTV ad inventory is within the US. If you'd like to utilize CTV advertising to reach users outside the US, send us an email at info@thefoundgroup.com, and we can let you know what inventory may be available in your preferred geo(s).
Deal Targeting
Our self-serve CTV advertising tool features a wide selection of placement-focused targeting options, and with Deal Targeting, you can choose exactly which video networks you'd like to advertise on. Simply click on the 'Type to search' bar to see all available network options, and browse networks based on category like RON (Run-of-Network), Entertainment, Sports, Lifestyle, and more.
In order to ensure optimal performance for your CTV ad campaign, we recommend selecting at least 10-15 video networks if possible (and even more if you're targeting a small geographical area).
A few additional notes on deal targeting:
When browsing through available video network deals, you may see what appears to be duplicate deal listings. However, note that while these deal listings appear to be the same, there are additional parameters such as device type and video playback format which aren't visible in this window. In other words, if you'd like to target a particular network (eg. NBC), we'd recommend searching 'NBC' and selecting all associated deals, even if they appear to be duplicates.
Due to the constantly fluctuating nature of CTV inventory, some of the deals you select may no longer be active. If this is the case, you will receive a pop-up notification when you submit your campaign. While this is rare, if a large portion of your selected deals are affected by this, we recommend going back and selecting more networks to broaden the scope of your campaign again.
If you have any questions about CTV targeting or if you'd like us to create a custom CTV targeting mix for you (free of charge), simply email info@thefoundgroup.com, and we'd be happy to assist.
Upload Creatives
Last, it's time to upload the video creative & destination URL you'd like to use for your CTV campaign. Note that only one video creative can be added per CTV campaign. Here are our recommended specs:
File Format: MP4
Bitrate: 14,000 kbps or higher
Frame Rate: >= 29.97 fps or higher
Creative Size: 1280 x 720 or 1920 x 1080
Duration: 15-30 seconds
Creative suggestions: Consider voiceover messaging & call-to-action (similar to a radio ad or Spotify audio ad)
Also, while Destination URL is a required field, note that this link will only be clickable for certain ad placements, such as desktop/laptops and mobile devices.
Once you've uploaded your creative, click Publish, and you're good to go! Once your ad has started, feel free to check in on its performance at any time via the Ads Reporting page.