Pause Ads

StreamLayer Pause Ads display interactive brand ads when a viewer pauses live or on-demand content. After a configurable delay, a static but interactive ad unit appears — creating a high-impact brand moment during a natural break in viewing. Pause Ads are available on all platforms: CTV, mobile (iOS, Android), tablet, and web (mobile and desktop).

How It Works

1. The viewer pauses the video stream.
2. After a configurable delay, the SDK displays a Pause Ad unit. The delay can be set to instant (using pre-fetching for zero-latency display), a short delay (e.g., 3 seconds), the industry-standard 5 seconds, or any custom duration. See the SDK integration guides for platform-specific configuration.
3. The ad remains visible until the viewer resumes playback.
4. Viewers can interact with the ad (CTA buttons, shoppable products, QR codes, send-to-phone/email) before resuming.

Key Benefits

• Non-intrusive — Appears only during a pause, never interrupts live action.
• Interactive — Supports CTAs, shopping, QR codes, and device handoff — same capabilities as nonlinear ad units.
• Contextual — Ads can be targeted by game state, audience segment, or content type.
• Proven performance — +49% ad memorability and +15% likeability compared to mid-roll ads.

Best Practices

• Use visual-first creative—simple, striking graphics work best for pause screens.
• Keep copy concise so viewers understand the brand and message instantly.
• Tie messaging to the context of the content being watched.
• Clearly label as sponsored content to maintain viewer trust.

Related

• Nonlinear Moment-Based Advertising — Contextual ad units activated during live content
• Feature Sponsorship — Sponsor placements on interactive features