Introduction Monetization performance in programmatic advertising can be affected by various factors, including device type, geographical reach, and traffic volume. Amagi provides this troubleshooting guide to help optimize revenue by identifying common issues and actionable solutions.


Device Considerations


CTV vs. Desktop Issue: Monetization rates are lower on desktop and mobile compared to Connected TV (CTV).

Why it matters:

  • CTV inventory typically commands higher CPMs (Cost per Mille) because advertisers prioritize premium, large-screen environments for brand messaging.
  • Desktop and mobile have more supply and lower engagement rates, leading to increased competition and lower CPMs.

Solution:

  • Prioritize CTV inventory where possible.
  • Ensure device macros (e.g., {{DEVICE_MAKE}}, {{DEVICE_MODEL}}) are correctly passed in bid requests and that user agents are valid and passing in the header.

Geographical Consideration

Region-Based Monetization Issue: Ad revenue is significantly lower in certain geographical regions.

Why it matters:

  • North America and Western Europe generate the highest CPMs due to strong advertiser demand.
  • Regions with lower digital ad spend (e.g., Latin America, Southeast Asia) typically see lower monetization rates.

Solution:

  • Prioritize traffic from the US, Canada, UK, Germany, and France to maximize revenue.
  • Ensure IP is captured in the HLS so location can be passed correctly to demand partners.

Low Volume Issue: Limited ad fill and revenue due to low traffic volume.

Why it matters:

  • Advertisers prioritize high-traffic publishers with consistent inventory.
  • Low-volume traffic may result in fewer bid responses from demand partners.

Solution:

  • Increase traffic acquisition efforts through content syndication or partnerships.
  • Ensure ads.txt and app-ads.txt files are correctly implemented to attract verified buyers.

Ad Requests Missing Key Macros Issue: Revenue loss due to missing targeting signals in bid requests.

Why it matters:

  • Advertisers rely on critical signals (e.g., app bundle id, app name, app store URL, IP, user agent, ifa/device id, ifa_type, gdpr consent, gpp, gpp sid, us_privacy, lat, dnt, channel name, network name, content language, content rating, content genre, etc) for bidding decisions.

  • Missing metadata in the EPG or incorrect macros in the HLS can result in lower bid rates or no bids at all.

Solution:

  • Ensure all essential macros are included in bid requests.


Content Type Consideration Issue: Some content categories monetize better than others.

Why it matters:

  • Advertisers prefer brand-safe, high-quality content.

  • Content that aligns with premium categories (e.g., sports, entertainment, news) often receives better ad rates.

Solution:

  • Classify content correctly using IAB categories ({{IAB_CATEGORY}}).

  • Ensure metadata (e.g., {{CONTENT_TITLE}}, {{CONTENT_GENRE}}, {{CONTENT_RATING}}, {{CONTENT_LIVESTREAM}}) are passed correctly/included in the EPG.


Conclusion Optimizing monetization requires a strategic approach that considers device type, geography, traffic volume, targeting accuracy, and content quality. By addressing these factors, Amagi partners can improve fill rates, CPMs, and overall revenue.