Set up IMA SDK

  • IMA SDKs enable easy integration of multimedia ads into websites and apps, supporting VAST-compliant ad servers and managing ad playback while you control content video.

  • Implementing IMA client-side primarily involves four SDK components: IMAAdDisplayContainer, IMAAdsLoader, IMAAdsRequest, and IMAAdsManager.

  • Prerequisites for integrating the IMA SDK include Xcode 13 or later and a dependency manager like CocoaPods, Swift Package Manager, or a manual download of the SDK.

  • The integration process involves creating a simple video player, importing the IMA SDK, implementing content playhead tracking, initializing the ads loader, making an ads request, and setting up delegates for both the ads loader and ads manager.

Select platform: HTML5 Android iOS tvOS

IMA SDKs make it easy to integrate multimedia ads into your websites and apps. IMA SDKs can request ads from any VAST-compliant ad server and manage ad playback in your apps. With IMA client-side SDKs, you maintain control of content video playback, while the SDK handles ad playback. Ads play in a separate video player positioned on top of the app's content video player.

This guide demonstrates how to integrate IMA SDK into a video player app. If you would like to view or follow along with a completed sample integration, download the BasicExample from GitHub.

IMA client-side overview

Implementing IMA client-side involves four main SDK components, which are demonstrated in this guide:

  • IMAAdDisplayContainer: A container object that specifies where IMA renders ad UI elements and measures viewability, including Active View and Open Measurement.
  • IMAAdsLoader: An object that requests ads and handles events from ads request responses. You should only instantiate one ads loader, which can be reused throughout the life of the application.
  • IMAAdsRequest: An object that defines an ads request. Ads requests specify the URL for the VAST ad tag, as well as additional parameters, such as ad dimensions.
  • IMAAdsManager: An object that contains the response to the ads request, controls ad playback, and listens for ad events fired by the SDK.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, you need the following:

1. Create a new Xcode project

In Xcode, create a new tvOS project using Objective-C or Swift. Use BasicExample as the project name.

2. Add IMA SDK to the Xcode project

Install IMA SDK using Swift Package Manager

Interactive Media Ads SDK supports Swift Package Manager starting in version 4.8.2. Follow the following steps to import the Swift package.

  1. In Xcode, install IMA SDK Swift Package by navigating to File > Add Packages....

  2. In the prompt that appears, search for IMA SDK Swift Package GitHub repository:

    https://github.com/googleads/swift-package-manager-google-interactive-media-ads-tvos
    
  3. Select the version of IMA SDK Swift Package you want to use. For new projects, we recommend using the Up to Next Major Version.

Once you're finished, Xcode resolves your package dependencies and downloads them in the background. For more details on how to add package dependencies, see Apple's article.

Install IMA SDK using CocoaPods

To install IMA SDK, use CocoaPods. For more information on installing or using CocoaPods, see CocoaPods documentation. After you install CocoaPods, do the following:

  1. In the same directory as your BasicExample.xcodeproj file, create a text file called Podfile, and add the following configuration:

    source 'https://github.com/CocoaPods/Specs.git'
    
    platform :tvos, '15'
    
    target "BasicExample" do
      pod 'GoogleAds-IMA-tvOS-SDK', '~> 4.16.0'
    end
    
    
  2. From the directory that contains the Podfile, run pod install --repo-update

  3. Verify that the installation was successful by opening the BasicExample.xcworkspace file and confirming that it contains two projects: BasicExample and Pods (the dependencies installed by CocoaPods).

Manually downloading and installing IMA SDK

If you don't want to use CocoaPods, you can download IMA SDK and manually add it to your project.

3. Import IMA SDK

Add IMA framework using an import statement.

Objective-C

#import "ViewController.h"
#import <AVKit/AVKit.h>

@import GoogleInteractiveMediaAds;

Swift

import AVFoundation
import GoogleInteractiveMediaAds
import UIKit

4. Create a video player and integrate IMA SDK

The following example initializes IMA SDK:

Objective-C

NSString *const kContentURLString =
    @"https://storage.googleapis.com/interactive-media-ads/media/stock.mp4";
NSString *const kAdTagURLString =
    @"https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?"
    @"iu=/21775744923/external/vmap_ad_samples&sz=640x480&"
    @"cust_params=sample_ar%3Dpremidpostlongpod&ciu_szs=300x250&gdfp_req=1&ad_rule=1&"
    @"output=vmap&unviewed_position_start=1&env=vp&cmsid=496&vid=short_onecue&correlator=";

@interface ViewController () <IMAAdsLoaderDelegate, IMAAdsManagerDelegate>
@property(nonatomic) IMAAdsLoader *adsLoader;
@property(nonatomic) IMAAdDisplayContainer *adDisplayContainer;
@property(nonatomic) IMAAdsManager *adsManager;
@property(nonatomic) IMAAVPlayerContentPlayhead *contentPlayhead;
@property(nonatomic) AVPlayerViewController *contentPlayerViewController;
@property(nonatomic, getter=isAdBreakActive) BOOL adBreakActive;
@end

@implementation ViewController

- (void)viewDidLoad {
  [super viewDidLoad];
  self.view.backgroundColor = [UIColor blackColor];
  [self setupAdsLoader];
  [self setupContentPlayer];
}

- (void)viewDidAppear:(BOOL)animated {
  [super viewDidAppear:animated];
  [self requestAds];
}

// Add the content video player as a child view controller.
- (void)showContentPlayer {
  [self addChildViewController:self.contentPlayerViewController];
  self.contentPlayerViewController.view.frame = self.view.bounds;
  [self.view insertSubview:self.contentPlayerViewController.view atIndex:0];
  [self.contentPlayerViewController didMoveToParentViewController:self];
}

// Remove and detach the content video player.
- (void)hideContentPlayer {
  // The whole controller needs to be detached so that it doesn't capture resume events from the
  // remote and play content underneath the ad.
  [self.contentPlayerViewController willMoveToParentViewController:nil];
  [self.contentPlayerViewController.view removeFromSuperview];
  [self.contentPlayerViewController removeFromParentViewController];
}

Swift

class ViewController: UIViewController, IMAAdsLoaderDelegate, IMAAdsManagerDelegate {
  static let contentURLString =
    "https://devstreaming-cdn.apple.com/videos/streaming/examples/"
    + "img_bipbop_adv_example_fmp4/master.m3u8"
  static let adTagURLString =
    "https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?iu=/21775744923/external/single_ad_samples&"
    + "sz=640x480&cust_params=sample_ct%3Dlinear&ciu_szs=300x250%2C728x90&gdfp_req=1&output=vast&"
    + "unviewed_position_start=1&env=vp&correlator="

  var adsLoader: IMAAdsLoader!
  var adDisplayContainer: IMAAdDisplayContainer!
  var adsManager: IMAAdsManager!
  var contentPlayhead: IMAAVPlayerContentPlayhead?
  var playerViewController: AVPlayerViewController!
  var adBreakActive = false

  deinit {
    NotificationCenter.default.removeObserver(self)
  }

  override func viewDidLoad() {
    super.viewDidLoad()
    self.view.backgroundColor = UIColor.black
    setUpContentPlayer()
    setUpAdsLoader()
  }

  override func viewDidAppear(_ animated: Bool) {
    super.viewDidAppear(animated)
    requestAds()
  }

In this example, viewDidLoad() initializes the IMAAdsLoader, and viewDidAppear() requests ads once the view is visible. Helper methods showContentPlayer() and hideContentPlayer() toggle content visibility during ad playback.

This example uses the adTagURLString constant variable to define the VAST ad tag for the ad request, and the following components to manage IMA SDK:

  • adsLoader: Handles ad requests and responses. We recommend using a single instance for the app's lifecycle.
  • adDisplayContainer: Specifies the view for rendering ads.
  • adsManager: Manages ad playback and listens for ad events.
  • contentPlayhead: Tracks content progress to trigger mid-roll ad breaks.
  • adBreakActive: Indicates if an ad break is playing to prevent seeking over ads.

5. Implement content playhead tracker and end-of-stream observer

In order to play mid-roll ads, IMA SDK needs to track the current position of your video content. To do this, create a class that implements IMAContentPlayhead. If you're using an AVPlayer, as shown in this example, SDK provides the IMAAVPlayerContentPlayhead class which does this for you. If you're not using AVPlayer, you need to implement IMAContentPlayhead on a class of your own.

Objective-C

- (void)setupContentPlayer {
  // Create a content video player. Create a playhead to track content progress so the SDK knows
  // when to play ads in a VMAP playlist.
  NSURL *contentURL = [NSURL URLWithString:kContentURLString];
  AVPlayer *player = [AVPlayer playerWithURL:contentURL];
  self.contentPlayerViewController = [[AVPlayerViewController alloc] init];
  self.contentPlayerViewController.player = player;
  self.contentPlayerViewController.view.frame = self.view.bounds;
  self.contentPlayhead =
      [[IMAAVPlayerContentPlayhead alloc] initWithAVPlayer:self.contentPlayerViewController.player];

  // Track end of content.
  AVPlayerItem *contentPlayerItem = self.contentPlayerViewController.player.currentItem;
  [[NSNotificationCenter defaultCenter] addObserver:self
                                           selector:@selector(contentDidFinishPlaying:)
                                               name:AVPlayerItemDidPlayToEndTimeNotification
                                             object:contentPlayerItem];

  // Attach content video player to view hierarchy.
  [self showContentPlayer];
}

Swift

func setUpContentPlayer() {
  // Load AVPlayer with path to our content.
  let contentURL = URL(string: ViewController.contentURLString)!
  let player = AVPlayer(url: contentURL)
  playerViewController = AVPlayerViewController()
  playerViewController.player = player

  // Set up our content playhead and contentComplete callback.
  contentPlayhead = IMAAVPlayerContentPlayhead(avPlayer: player)
  NotificationCenter.default.addObserver(
    self,
    selector: #selector(ViewController.contentDidFinishPlaying(_:)),
    name: NSNotification.Name.AVPlayerItemDidPlayToEndTime,
    object: player.currentItem)

  showContentPlayer()
}

You also need to let SDK know when your content is done playing so it can display post-roll ads. This is done by calling contentComplete on the IMAAdsLoader, using AVPlayerItemDidPlayToEndTimeNotification.

Objective-C

- (void)contentDidFinishPlaying:(NSNotification *)notification {
  // Notify the SDK that the postrolls should be played.
  [self.adsLoader contentComplete];
}

- (void)dealloc {
  [[NSNotificationCenter defaultCenter] removeObserver:self];
}

Swift

@objc func contentDidFinishPlaying(_ notification: Notification) {
  adsLoader.contentComplete()
}

6. Initialize the ads loader and make an ads request

In order to request a set of ads, you need to create an IMAAdsLoader instance. This loader can be used to process IMAAdsRequest objects associated with a specified ad tag URL.

As a best practice, only maintain one instance of IMAAdsLoader for the entire lifecycle of your app. To make additional ad requests, create a new IMAAdsRequest object, but re-use the same IMAAdsLoader. For more information, see the IMA SDK FAQ.

Objective-C

- (void)setupAdsLoader {
  self.adsLoader = [[IMAAdsLoader alloc] init];
  self.adsLoader.delegate = self;
}

- (void)requestAds {
  // Pass the main view as the container for ad display.
  self.adDisplayContainer = [[IMAAdDisplayContainer alloc] initWithAdContainer:self.view
                                                                viewController:self];
  IMAAdsRequest *request = [[IMAAdsRequest alloc] initWithAdTagUrl:kAdTagURLString
                                                adDisplayContainer:self.adDisplayContainer
                                                   contentPlayhead:self.contentPlayhead
                                                       userContext:nil];
  [self.adsLoader requestAdsWithRequest:request];
}

Swift

func setUpAdsLoader() {
  adsLoader = IMAAdsLoader(settings: nil)
  adsLoader.delegate = self
}

func requestAds() {
  // Create ad display container for ad rendering.
  adDisplayContainer = IMAAdDisplayContainer(adContainer: self.view, viewController: self)
  // Create an ad request with our ad tag, display container, and optional user context.
  let request = IMAAdsRequest(
    adTagUrl: ViewController.adTagURLString,
    adDisplayContainer: adDisplayContainer,
    contentPlayhead: contentPlayhead,
    userContext: nil)

  adsLoader.requestAds(with: request)
}

7. Set up an ads loader delegate

On a successful load event, the IMAAdsLoader calls the adsLoadedWithData method of its assigned delegate, passing it an instance of IMAAdsManager. You can then initialize the ads manager, which loads the individual ads, as defined by the response to the ad tag URL.

In addition, be sure to handle any errors that may occur during the loading process. If ads do not load, make sure that media playback continues, without ads, so as to not interfere with the user's experience.

Objective-C

#pragma mark - IMAAdsLoaderDelegate

- (void)adsLoader:(IMAAdsLoader *)loader adsLoadedWithData:(IMAAdsLoadedData *)adsLoadedData {
  // Initialize and listen to the ads manager loaded for this request.
  self.adsManager = adsLoadedData.adsManager;
  self.adsManager.delegate = self;
  [self.adsManager initializeWithAdsRenderingSettings:nil];
}

- (void)adsLoader:(IMAAdsLoader *)loader failedWithErrorData:(IMAAdLoadingErrorData *)adErrorData {
  // Fall back to playing content.
  NSLog(@"Error loading ads: %@", adErrorData.adError.message);
  [self.contentPlayerViewController.player play];
}

Swift

func adsLoader(_ loader: IMAAdsLoader, adsLoadedWith adsLoadedData: IMAAdsLoadedData) {
  // Grab the instance of the IMAAdsManager and set ourselves as the delegate.
  adsManager = adsLoadedData.adsManager
  adsManager.delegate = self
  adsManager.initialize(with: nil)
}

func adsLoader(_ loader: IMAAdsLoader, failedWith adErrorData: IMAAdLoadingErrorData) {
  print("Error loading ads: \(adErrorData.adError.message ?? "No error message available.")")
  showContentPlayer()
  playerViewController.player?.play()
}

8. Set up an ads manager delegate

Lastly, to manage events and state changes, the ads manager needs a delegate of its own. The IMAAdManagerDelegate has methods to handle ad events and errors, as well as methods to trigger play and pause on your video content.

Starting playback

There are many events that the didReceiveAdEvent method can be used to handle. For this basic example, listen for the LOADED event to tell the ads manager to start playback of content and ads. The IMA SDK triggers the ICON_FALLBACK_IMAGE_CLOSED event when the user closes an icon fallback dialog after tapping an icon. After this action, ad playback resumes.

Objective-C

#pragma mark - IMAAdsManagerDelegate

- (void)adsManager:(IMAAdsManager *)adsManager didReceiveAdEvent:(IMAAdEvent *)event {
  switch (event.type) {
    case kIMAAdEvent_LOADED: {
      // Play each ad once it has loaded.
      [adsManager start];
      break;
    }
    case kIMAAdEvent_ICON_FALLBACK_IMAGE_CLOSED: {
      // Resume ad after user has closed dialog.
      [adsManager resume];
      break;
    }
    default:
      break;
  }
}

Swift

func adsManager(_ adsManager: IMAAdsManager, didReceive event: IMAAdEvent) {
  switch event.type {
  case IMAAdEventType.LOADED:
    // Play each ad once it has been loaded.
    adsManager.start()
  case IMAAdEventType.ICON_FALLBACK_IMAGE_CLOSED:
    // Resume playback after the user has closed the dialog.
    adsManager.resume()
  default:
    break
  }
}

Handling errors

Add a handler for ad errors as well. If an error occurs, like in the previous step, resume content playback.

Objective-C

- (void)adsManager:(IMAAdsManager *)adsManager didReceiveAdError:(IMAAdError *)error {
  // Fall back to playing content.
  NSLog(@"AdsManager error: %@", error.message);
  [self showContentPlayer];
  [self.contentPlayerViewController.player play];
}

Swift

func adsManager(_ adsManager: IMAAdsManager, didReceive error: IMAAdError) {
  // Fall back to playing content
  print("AdsManager error: \(error.message ?? "No error message available.")")
  showContentPlayer()
  playerViewController.player?.play()
}

Triggering play and pause events

The last two delegate methods you need to implement are used to trigger play and pause events on the underlying video content, when requested by IMA SDK. Triggering pause and play when requested prevents the user from missing portions of the video content when ads are displayed.

Objective-C

- (void)adsManagerDidRequestContentPause:(IMAAdsManager *)adsManager {
  // Pause the content for the SDK to play ads.
  [self.contentPlayerViewController.player pause];
  [self hideContentPlayer];
  // Trigger an update to send focus to the ad display container.
  self.adBreakActive = YES;
  [self setNeedsFocusUpdate];
}

- (void)adsManagerDidRequestContentResume:(IMAAdsManager *)adsManager {
  // Resume the content since the SDK is done playing ads (at least for now).
  [self showContentPlayer];
  [self.contentPlayerViewController.player play];
  // Trigger an update to send focus to the content player.
  self.adBreakActive = NO;
  [self setNeedsFocusUpdate];
}

Swift

func adsManagerDidRequestContentPause(_ adsManager: IMAAdsManager) {
  // Pause the content for the SDK to play ads.
  playerViewController.player?.pause()
  hideContentPlayer()
  // Trigger an update to send focus to the ad display container.
  adBreakActive = true
  setNeedsFocusUpdate()
}

func adsManagerDidRequestContentResume(_ adsManager: IMAAdsManager) {
  // Resume the content since the SDK is done playing ads (at least for now).
  showContentPlayer()
  playerViewController.player?.play()
  // Trigger an update to send focus to the content player.
  adBreakActive = false
  setNeedsFocusUpdate()
}

That's it! You're now requesting and displaying ads with IMA SDK. To learn about additional SDK features, see the other guides or the samples on GitHub.

Next Steps

To maximize ad revenue on the tvOS platform, request App Transparency and Tracking permission to use IDFA.