Using Content Targeting Cue Points to Target a Livestream Show

  • Published on Dec 4, 2024
  • 5 minute(s) read
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The feature described below requires good knowledge of your radio automation system (RAS) and Triton's RAS Adapter application (part of Station Manager). Please consult your Triton Digital Client Success Manager or Solutions Specialist before implementing this feature.

You can use the content_targeting cue point to target flights in TAP to specific live streaming content via metadata (cart triggers/cue points). This requires your radio automation system (RAS) to be properly set up, as described below, and RAS Adapter to be configured to work with that setup. The targeting is based on specific content tags described in the Triton Digital STWCue Metadata Dictionary.

For livestream, the process described below only works for mid-roll and pre-roll ads. For podcasts, it can work for pre-rolls, mid-rolls, or post-rolls. (See Variation: Target both a Livestream Show and its Podcast with a Single Flight in TAP, below.)

The cue points with the proper information need to be triggered from the RAS. You can use existing triggers or create new ones; the important thing is that the triggers are caught and mapped to a Triton cue point, either via Triton Digital’s RAS Adapter (Station Manager) or via your own STWCue integration. Those triggers are then mapped to Triton content_targeting cue points, which are targetable as "Content Tags" in TAP.

The objective is to use the content_targeting cue points to identify content (e.g., a specific show, or a topic in a talk show, or even the host of the show) so that TAP can send eligible targeted ads (i.e., ads from flights that match the content_targeting cue point with content targeting via TAP’s content tags) during that show's breaks. When the show ends, you clear the show’s content targeting by sending either an empty content_targeting cue point or a new content_targeting cue point that targets the next show.

A typical use-case for content targeting cue points is to create a flight in TAP that targets a live streaming show (via content tag, as described above) for mid-roll ads. You can target by the show name, show host, show topic, etc. Here’s how to set that up, using the example of the “Blork Morning Show” live stream and its blorkmorning content targeting cue point/tag:

  • In your RAS, identify the show with a trigger/tag such as blorkmorning. This tag will work for non-syndicated programs as well as syndicated programs across multiple stations and time zones, as long as each station’s RAS sends the tag before or during the show, and clears it once the show ends. (See RAS Setup below.)

  • Configure the content targeting tag in RAS Adapter. (See RAS Adapter Setup below.) Alternatively, use your own STWCue integration.

  • In TAP, set the flight up with the following content targeting rule:

    • A content targeting rule  that targets the station AND the content tag. In our example that’s  “Blork FM” and “blorkmorning.” (See TAP Flight Setup below.)

  • Result: the flight targets the live show whenever it is playing.

Important usage notes:

  • When a new content_targeting cue point comes in, the ads from the previous content_targeting cue point that are still in the queue are flushed, and the streaming server requests a new set of ads from the ad server. It is preferable to send the content_targeting cue points ahead of an ad break, so the streaming server can fill the ad queue ahead of time.

  • The content_tags string has a maximum character limit of 512. Spaces are not allowed in content tags.

  • This feature is intended to be used to target programs, hosts, and broad topics, and typically shouldn’t be updated more than once per hour. It is not intended for minute-by-minute targeting of every phone-in guest, or keywords scraped from live conversation, etc.

  • Targeted ads are not guaranteed to play; they still compete with other ads that are eligible to play during that show.

RAS Setup

The RAS setup is specific to the type of RAS you are using. The important thing is that the show(s) you want to target should have an identifiable content tag, such as blorkmorning for the Blork Morning Show. You can also target hosts and even guests, as long as they have identifiable content tags.

RAS Adapter Setup

Create a content targeting chain mapping that translates the metadata from your RAS and translates it into the content_targeting cue point type. Note that content tags can use uppercase or lowercase, but TAP normalizes them to lowercase; for best results, use lowercase in RAS Adapter, even though this is not strictly necessary. Also, the content tag in RAS Adapter needs to be an exact character match to the content tag used in TAP, so create tags that are easy to identify and easy to enter without typographical errors.

The required mapping items are shown below:

  • stw_mount (value = the station being targeted)

  • stw_type (value = content_targeting)

  • stw_cache (value = true)

  • content_tags (value = content targeting tags, comma-separated if more than one)

In the end, your chain should look something like this:

Below is an example of a properly formed content targeting cue point, targeting the blorkmorning tag on the BLORK_FM station:

<stwcue xmlns:xsi="<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"> xmlns:xsd="<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema"> version="1" xmlns="<http://www.streamtheworld.com/metadata/stwcue-1.0">>
  <mount>BLORK_FM</mount>
  <cuepoint type="content_targeting" cache="true">
    <attributes>
      <attribute name="content_tags">blorkmorning</attribute>
    </attributes>
  </cuepoint>
</stwcue>

You can also send a series of content tags using a comma-separated list. For example:

<attribute name="content_tags">blorkmorning,blorkafternoon,blorkevening</attribute>

Clearing the Tag

To clear the tag (such as at the end of the targeted program), simply send a content targeting cue point with an empty attribute, such as:

<stwcue xmlns:xsi="<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"> xmlns:xsd="<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema"> version="1" xmlns="<http://www.streamtheworld.com/metadata/stwcue-1.0">>
  <mount>BLORK_FM</mount>
  <cuepoint type="content_targeting" cache="true">
    <attributes>
      <attribute name="content_tags"></attribute>
    </attributes>
  </cuepoint>
</stwcue>

TAP Flight Setup

Create a flight in TAP that targets the station’s live stream and the content targeting tag.

For more information about targeting in TAP, see the TAP User Guide.

Variation: Target both a Livestream Show and its Podcast with a Single Flight in TAP

An interesting use-case for content targeting cue points is to create a flight in TAP that targets both a live streaming show (via content tag, as described above) and the podcast version of the show, via the podcast name. Here’s how to set that up, using the example of the “Blork Morning Show” live stream and podcast:

  • Set up the content tag in your RAS and RAS Adapter as described above.

  • In TAP, set the flight up with the following content targeting rules:

    • A content targeting rule that targets the station AND the content tag. In our example that’s “Blork FM” and blorkmorning.

    • An  "OR” content targeting rule set that targets the specific podcast you  want to target. In our example that’s “Blork Morning Podcast.”

  • (Optional) In TAP, select the delivery method as pre-roll, mid-roll, and post-roll.

  • Result:  a single flight targets both the live show whenever it's playing and  the podcast of that show. For livestream, only mid-rolls will deliver.  For podcast, all delivery methods will work.