Masthead ads

With YouTube Masthead, you can showcase your brand, product, or service in a native video-based ad format that appears in the YouTube Home feed across all devices. YouTube Masthead is ideal for people who want to:

YouTube offers a tool that companies can use to see what their content would look like as a masthead ad. The video initially autoplays without sound. When viewers click on the video they’ll be taken to the video on the advertiser’s channel. Advertisers can customize the ad title, description, and the call-to-action button that appears next to the video.

Available assets

You can use these assets in a Masthead. To preview your assets, use the YouTube Masthead Preview tool. The YouTube Masthead Preview tool shows what your Masthead will look like on YouTube across desktop, mobile, and TV screens.

Some assets may not be supported or have limited support in the Masthead format:

• 360 videos and app install campaigns aren’t supported.
• YouTube Premieres have limited support for Masthead campaigns.

Creative approval

Make sure to submit your creative to your Google sales representative at least 48 business hours in advance of your campaign. If you don’t submit your creative 48 business hours in advance, your campaign may be delayed.

Reporting tools

Metrics

The Masthead format supports these metrics in reporting. Availability of some metrics depends on the buying model and the device where the Masthead appears.

• Ad impressions
• Clicks to video
• Video viewership (“Video played to: 25% / 50% / 75% / 100%”)
• Clicks to your website (optional)
• Clicks to YouTube channel
• Clicks on companion videos

Third-party measurement

Allowed: Ad impressions (1×1 pixel URL) and clicks to your website (redirect URL).

Not allowed: Pixels intended to collect data on audience composition and JavaScript pixels aren’t allowed. Third-party viewability isn’t allowed on YouTube homepage formats.

Remarketing

Impressions: Remarketing tags are not accepted for impressions.

Views: Remarketing lists can be created based on YouTube Audience lists and video views.Clicks (to play): Floodlight remarketing tags are accepted (only for Masthead on desktop).

Related resources

How to Start YouTube Masthead Ads Easily