Target a Livestream Show with Content Targeting Cue Points

  • Updated on Oct 15, 2025
  • Published on Dec 4, 2024
  • 5 minute(s) read
Prev Next

You can use the content_targeting cue point in a TAP flight to target specific live streaming content via metadata (cart triggers/cue points). 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 for mid-roll ads.

Also see:

For livestream, the process described here only works for mid-roll and pre-roll ads. For podcasts, it works for pre-rolls, mid-rolls, or post-rolls. See Target a Livestream Show and its Podcast with a Single Flight.

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 in 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 a content_targeting cue point to identify content so that TAP sends eligible targeted ads. The cue point identifies a specific show, or a topic in a talk show, or even the host of the show. Triton then inserts ads 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.

Usage Notes

  • 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.

  • When the Triton streaming server receives a new content_targeting cue point, 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.

  • The content_tags string has a maximum character limit of 512.

  • Content tags can use uppercase or lowercase letters, but TAP normalizes them to lowercase. For best results, use lowercase in RAS Adapter, even though this is not strictly necessary.

  • 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.

  • This feature is not intended for minute-by-minute targeting of every phone-in guest, or keywords scraped from live conversation, etc.

  • The flight’s ads are not guaranteed to play. They still compete with other ads that are eligible to play during that show.

Before You Start

This feature 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.

Also, you need good knowledge of your radio automation system (RAS) and Triton's RAS Adapter in Station Manager. Please consult your Triton Digital Client Success Manager or Solutions Specialist before implementing this feature.

Step 1: RAS Setup

In your RAS, identify the show with a trigger or 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.

The RAS setup is specific to the type of RAS you are using. The important thing is that the shows 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.

Step 2: RAS Adapter Setup

Configure the content targeting tag in a RAS Adapter. Alternatively, use your own STWCue integration.

In Station Manager Client, create a content targeting chain mapping that translates the metadata from your RAS and translates it into the content_targeting cue point type.  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: the station being targeted

  • stw_type : content_targeting

  • stw_cache : true

  • content_tags : content targeting tags, comma-separated if more than one

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>

Clear the Tag

At the end of the targeted show, you can clear the tag by sending 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>

Step 3: TAP Flight Setup

In TAP, set the flight up with a content targeting rule that targets the station and the content tag. In our example that’s “Blork FM” and “blorkmorning.” Create a flight with Content targeting for Station and Content tag.

Target a Livestream Show and its Podcast with a Single Flight

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 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:

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

  2. In TAP, set the flight up with the following Content targeting rules:

    • An AND rule specifies Station and Content tag. In our example that’s “Blork FM” and blorkmorning.

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

  3. (Optional) In the flight, select the Position 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 content types will work.