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In a CSAI flow, advertisements are managed and added to the end-user’s device. From a delivery point-of-view, content and ads are separated; the player plays content and advertisements independently of each other. The player will switch between the two as needed. Client-Side Ad insertion is specified via the IAB (Interactive Advertising Bureau) standards:

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A compliant player supports all ad solutions that adhere to these standards, making it easier to switch to another provider.

CSAI systems with a different flow can then be added on an individual basis. Alternative implementations, for instance, Google IMA, can also be added in parallel.

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What is SSAI (Server-Side Ad Insertion) ?

In an SSAI flow, advertisements are directly stitched to the streaming manifest on the server side at the last moment. The content and advertisements are closely related to each other, allowing smoother playback and transitions. This way of working is comparable to traditional linear television. The main difference between broadcast advertising and SSAI is that the latter allows advertisements to be targeted towards individual end-users.

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