The merits of server-guided ad insertion (SGAI) were one of the big ad-tech talking points at this year’s IBC, but does the technology represent a step change for publishers?
Choosing the best way to insert addressable adverts into streams is one of the key technology dilemmas currently facing ad-supported streaming services.
Server-side ad insertion is often seen as the lynchpin of ad-tech in the streaming age, as media companies look to grow digital revenues to offset linear TV’s decline.
Historically, ads in OTT have either been inserted into a stream by the client (at the player or device level), or stitched into the stream by the server, without the need for client-side integration...
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Content Everywhere at IBC2026: AI moves from hype to action
Companies from across the Content Everywhere ecosystem highlight what they see as some of the most promising industry developments at IBC2026, while calling out areas where they think the industry has room for improvement.
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Innovation Awards: Collaboration and open standards triumph
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IBC2026: What to look out for on Day 4
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IBC Technical Papers 2026: Complete list of tech papers
The IBC Technical Papers Programme features original, novel research on solutions to real-world problems faced by the international broadcast and digital media industry.
