AWS for M&E Blog

Non-disruptive streaming with Olyzon and AWS Elemental MediaTailor preconditioned ads

Streaming video providers face the ongoing challenge of maximizing ad revenue while preserving viewer engagement. The challenge lies in delivering seamless advertisements (ads) that integrate with content without causing buffering delays, quality degradation, or playback interruptions that drive viewers away.

AWS Partner Olyzon has developed an innovative solution using the preconditioned ads of Amazon Web Services (AWS) Elemental MediaTailor to achieve this balance.

Introducing preconditioned ads for enhanced ad insertion

MediaTailor supports preconditioned ads, a feature that enables custom control over ad transcoding processes. This capability, also known as bring-your-own-ads through VAST responses, allows ad decision servers to include HLS and DASH manifest URLs for pre-transcoded multi-bitrate ad streams directly within VAST XML creative file attributes.

MediaTailor can now stitch these pre-transcoded ad creatives into manifests without more transcoding steps. Previously, MediaTailor could only dynamically transcode ads to match content streams at insertion time, creating potential delays in the ad delivery process.

How preconditioned ads transform the workflow

Traditional ad insertion workflows need MediaTailor to dynamically transcode ads to match content streams, save them, and stitch them into live streams. This process introduces delays because MediaTailor must wait to receive ads in VAST responses from ad decision servers (ADS) before starting the transcoding and stitching process.

Preconditioned ads reduce the time needed to stitch ads into content by eliminating the trancoding step. These ads must be prepared to match the content stream and already transcoded before use with MediaTailor ad insertion. The ADS VAST response must include direct links to these pre-transcoded HLS and DASH manifests. MediaTailor only needs to register the ad and stitch it into the content stream, reducing the time between receiving the VAST responses and completing ad insertion.

VAST response requirements for preconditioned ads

Unlike standard VAST responses where MediaTailor receives single creatives and transcode them into multiple bitrates, ADS must provide properly formatted VAST responses with pre-transcoded assets.

The following example VAST response includes direct links to pre-transcoded manifests with specific requirements for MediaFiles tags.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<VAST xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" version="3.0">
    <Ad id="ad1">
        <InLine>
            <AdSystem>ExampleAdSystem</AdSystem>
            <AdTitle>ad1</AdTitle>
            <Impression><![CDATA[https://example-impression.amazonaws.com]]></Impression>
            <AdServingId>de8e0d33-9c72-4d77-bb3a-f7e566ffc605</AdServingId>
            <Creatives>
                <Creative id="creativeId1" sequence="1">
                    <Linear skipoffset="00:00:05">
                        <Duration>00:00:30</Duration>
                        <MediaFiles>
                            <MediaFile delivery="progressive" width="1280" height="720" type="video/mp4" bitrate="533" scalable="true" maintainAspectRatio="true"><![CDATA[https://example-ad-origin.amazonaws.com/ad1/ad1.mp4]]></MediaFile>
                            <MediaFile delivery="streaming" width="1280" height="720" type="application/dash+xml" bitrate="533" scalable="true" maintainAspectRatio="true"><![CDATA[https://example-ad-origin.amazonaws.com/ad1/index.mpd]]></MediaFile>
                            <MediaFile delivery="streaming" width="640" height="360" type="application/x-mpegURL" bitrate="262" scalable="true" maintainAspectRatio="true"><![CDATA[https://example-ad-origin.amazonaws.com/ad1/index_low.m3u8]]></MediaFile>
                            <MediaFile delivery="streaming" width="2560" height="1440" type="application/x-mpegURL" bitrate="1066" scalable="true" maintainAspectRatio="true"><![CDATA[https://example-ad-origin.amazonaws.com/ad1/index_high.m3u8]]></MediaFile>
                        </MediaFiles>
                    </Linear>
                </Creative>
            </Creatives>
        </InLine>
    </Ad>
</VAST>

For preconditioned ads to function correctly, MediaFiles tags must include variants that match content stream bitrates, remain accessible on the public internet, use delivery=”streaming” attributes, and use .m3u8 for HLS or .mpd for DASH file formats. MediaTailor automatically chooses appropriate media files based on streaming protocols.

Olyzon’s L-shape overlay implementation

Olyzon’s architecture extends SSAI capabilities beyond traditional ad breaks through innovative overlay technology. The solution reads publisher origin streams, collects video contents, and incorporates overlay ads with animations on top of the original content. Then, this combined video is served to the SSAI server as an ad break, maintaining continuous playback while minimizing interruptions.

Screenshot showing Olyzon's L-shape overlay ad implementation for Audi Q6 e-tron. The main content displays a BBC program with a person driving, while an L-shaped advertisement frames the content. The overlay includes the Audi logo and Q6 e-tron branding at the top, an image of the electric vehicle on the left side, and environmental information at the bottom. This demonstrates how streaming ads can be displayed without interrupting the main content.

Figure 1: Olyzon’s L-shape overlay ad implementation example.

This non-disruptive approach enables brand visibility while viewers continue watching their chosen content. The preceding figure shows the ad integrating with primary video content through multiple brand engagement points such as messaging at the bottom of screens, product visualization through vehicle images, and interactive elements such as the clock for deeper engagement opportunities.

Comprehensive workflow architecture

Olyzon uses preconditioned ad capability of MediaTailor by acting as an intermediate ADS proxy between MediaTailor and the publisher’s ADS. Their system dynamically combines stream content with creative assets to generate pre-transcoded overlay ads through fully server-side processing.

Architecture diagram showing the AWS MediaTailor pre-conditioned ads workflow with Olyzon integration. The flow begins with a video source connecting to both MediaTailor and the Olyzon Proxy. The Olyzon Proxy sits between MediaTailor and the Ad Decision Server (ADS), intercepting and modifying VAST responses with pre-conditioned ad URLs. MediaTailor then delivers the final stitched stream to the end user's video player. Arrows indicate the directional flow of video content, ad requests, and modified VAST responses through the system.

Figure 2: End-to-end workflow for Olyzon’s L-shape overlay ads with MediaTailor.

This approach eliminates the need for player SDK integration to display the L-shape overlay ads. The ad creative is already composited with the content at the server side, thus the combined streams are delivered as ad video content to any player. This allows video distributors to deploy this solution across diverse devices and platforms without needing app updates or specific player technology.

VOD and live content integration

Olyzon’s L-shape overlay solution provides flexible implementation options for both video-on-demand (VOD) and live-streaming content, while maintaining common foundation architecture that addresses the unique requirements of each content type. Preconditioned ads must be enabled at configuration levels in MediaTailor and support both HLS and DASH streaming protocols across all AWS Regions where MediaTailor is available.

For VOD content, the workflow operates clearly. When viewers request content with ad markers, the Olyzon proxy intercepts ad requests and combines VOD content with overlay ads. These preconditioned composite ad segments are provided to MediaTailor, which stitches ready-to-use segments without transcoding requirements. Viewers experience fluid transitions with ads appearing in the overlay format while maintaining continuous content playback.

L-shape overlay ads present unique challenges for live streams because they integrate with the actual content rather than replacing it entirely. Every impression becomes critical and cannot be missed. Unlike traditional ad breaks that replace content entirely with pre-produced ads, L-shape overlays must incorporate the live content itself, which create fundamental technical challenges. This is because it’s impossible to pre-condition and stitch ads that must integrate with live footage that has not yet occurred.

This demonstration shows Olyzon's seamless L-shape ad integration in a live environment. The sequence illustrates (1) the original content stream, (2) the non-disruptive introduction of the L-shaped overlay ad while content continues playing uninterrupted, and (3) the smooth transition back to the standard viewing experience after the ad completes.

Figure 3: Olyzon’s L-shape ad integration in a live feed.

To solve this technical challenge, Olyzon combines preconditioned ads with a pre-registration process and delayed streams. Live streams are deliberately delayed to create processing windows while maintaining seamless viewer experiences. During these windows, Olyzon detects ad opportunities and creates overlay-enhanced segments combining live content with branded elements. These composite segments are pre-registered with MediaTailor using specialized APIs available upon request through AWS Support. When ad opportunities reach viewers, MediaTailor immediately stitches pre-registered content without more processing requirements.

User benefits and business results

The preconditioned ad feature of AWS Elemental MediaTailor enables streaming video providers to improve viewer experiences through reduced latency, enhanced reliability, and more flexible ad formats. The fully automated server-side ad insertion process needs no other viewer side work while unlocking new monetization opportunities through innovative ad formats that maintain viewer engagement.

Olyzon’s server-side approach works with any video player that supports original content streams. This eliminates significant barriers to advanced ad format adoption and enables immediate deployment across all viewer touchpoints such as smart TVs and connected devices, mobile applications on iOS and Android, web browsers and over-the-top platforms, gaming consoles and streaming devices.

As streaming adoption continues to increase, solutions that balance advertiser needs with viewer expectations become increasingly important. The preconditioned ad capability of MediaTailor, combined with Olyzon’s implementation, provides publishers with tools to enhance their ad strategy while maintaining optimal viewer experiences and maximizing revenue potential.

Video distributors can now deploy sophisticated overlay advertising solutions that preserve content continuity while creating new revenue streams through innovative ad formats that viewers find less intrusive than traditional commercial breaks. This technology represents a significant advancement in balancing monetization goals with viewer satisfaction in the competitive streaming landscape.

For more details on enabling Olyzon’s L-shape ads in your MediaTailor workflow, visit their AWS Marketplace landing page.

Further reading

Thomas Buatois

Thomas Buatois

Thomas Buatois is a Solutions Architect for Startups (EMEA) at AWS. He helps founders build innovative solutions that solve business and technical challenges. With his expertise in Media & Entertainment technologies, Thomas enables startups to leverage AWS services effectively for sustainable growth.