Exoplayer: Play IMA Ads without playing Content video

[EvanHong1]

I'm trying to integrate ima extension module for playing ads using VAST tag.
I've looked into integration guide in blog(https://medium.com/google-exoplayer/playing-ads-with-exoplayer-and-ima-868dfd767ea), and it says
AdsMediaSource constructs a new source that inserts ads linearly with the content specified by contentMediaSource
I want to only play ad video without content video combined, but it seems that passing content media source is not optional.

How can I achieve it using Exoplayer IMA extension?
Or should I just use google IMA SDK instead of extension module to achieve this?

[ojw28]

Interesting question. It's not a use case the IMA extension is designed to support. @andrewlewis - How difficult would it be to support this case?

[andrewlewis]

I'll look into this soon. It may be very easy to support for the case of just playing a preroll or VAST ad tag, but I haven't tried it yet.

[ZohaibGhafoor]

@andrewlewis for now i have just a hacked solution. when ad playing end it throws playererror FileDataSourceException because i have given empty string on content url so i can get that ad is now end playing.

[AlienAsRoger]

Any updates here?

I have this log for same integration, but what I would expect is that AdEventType.COMPLETED would be called after Ad has finished, instead of AdEventType.PAUSED

15:08:17.132 D/ImaAdsLoader: Initialized with ads rendering settings: AdsRenderingSettings [bitrate=-1, mimeTypes=[application/dash+xml, application/x-mpegURL, video/mp4, video/webm, video/3gpp, video/mpeg, audio/mp4, audio/mpeg], uiElements=null, enablePreloading=true, playAdsAfterTime=-1.0]
15:08:17.234 D/ImaAdsLoader: onAdEvent: LOADED
15:08:17.238 D/ImaAdsLoader: handleAdEvent() called with: adEvent = [AdEvent[type=LOADED, ad=Ad [adId=258714333280, creativeId=267341533816, creativeAdId=, universalAdIdValue=unknown, universalAdIdRegistry=unknown, title=video, description=video ad, contentType=video/webm, adWrapperIds=[], adWrapperSystems=[], adWrapperCreativeIds=[], adSystem=AdSense, advertiserName=, surveyUrl=null, dealId=, linear=true, skippable=false, width=0, height=0, traffickingParameters=, clickThroughUrl=https://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/aclk?sa=L&ai=CCiygUc7wWqWnGdOYlAPRrL-wC_LJl8FR4ODN5MMHChABIL2woyJgyfb4hoCAoBnIAQWoAwGYBACqBKcBT9DJkhFy4sdMGm9ggNPoSQtgbhnWyBggOEESnwx2ooizePhQamY671ZFP5B0GfD7E9qXK18kbCPH4bbuvU3sI4Ayxw6OPUd7g1HX9nSXDl5bQv0adfqeVTMFVHxRcHq3SiNYooFRT1uOTppVHvmUPtIARmTvK6Xx7TySO9QwGVycwuEuRpxX0l0PRkbLYZ5K5NCwjzCe_3OlMP4OUulsVBSre1wdK0nABOfivc_HAYgF1vCTkgWQBgGgBhzYBgKAB9yssGuoB47OG6gH1ckbqAf3zBuoB6a-G9gHAaAInqKnBLAIDtIIBwiAYRABGAOxCWV-npATle2FgAoDuBP0A9gTA4IUEBoOd3d3LnR1bmVpbi5jb20&num=1&cid=CAASEuRoNaQ85C-gV7Q0JQtpiWOkGw&sig=AOD64_0hqyR5qpGlpO18KLvGBIdaVoeSrw&client=ca-video-pub-1075310851762143&adurl=https://ad.doubleclick.net/ddm/clk/418151586%3B219817188%3Bt, duration=7.0, adPodInfo=AdPodInfo [totalAds=1, adPosition=1, isBumper=false, maxDuration=7.0, podIndex=0, timeOffset=0.0], uiElements=[], disableUi=false, skipTimeOffset=-1.0]]]
15:08:17.255 D/ImaAdsLoader: Loaded ad 1 of 1 in group 0
15:08:17.287 D/ImaAdsLoader: loadAd in ad group 0
15:08:17.809 D/ImaAdsLoader: onAdEvent: CONTENT_PAUSE_REQUESTED
15:08:17.811 D/ImaAdsLoader: handleAdEvent() called with: adEvent = [AdEvent[type=CONTENT_PAUSE_REQUESTED, ad=Ad [adId=258714333280, creativeId=267341533816, creativeAdId=, universalAdIdValue=unknown, universalAdIdRegistry=unknown, title=video, description=video ad, contentType=video/webm, adWrapperIds=[], adWrapperSystems=[], adWrapperCreativeIds=[], adSystem=AdSense, advertiserName=, surveyUrl=null, dealId=, linear=true, skippable=false, width=0, height=0, traffickingParameters=, clickThroughUrl=https://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/aclk?sa=L&ai=CCiygUc7wWqWnGdOYlAPRrL-wC_LJl8FR4ODN5MMHChABIL2woyJgyfb4hoCAoBnIAQWoAwGYBACqBKcBT9DJkhFy4sdMGm9ggNPoSQtgbhnWyBggOEESnwx2ooizePhQamY671ZFP5B0GfD7E9qXK18kbCPH4bbuvU3sI4Ayxw6OPUd7g1HX9nSXDl5bQv0adfqeVTMFVHxRcHq3SiNYooFRT1uOTppVHvmUPtIARmTvK6Xx7TySO9QwGVycwuEuRpxX0l0PRkbLYZ5K5NCwjzCe_3OlMP4OUulsVBSre1wdK0nABOfivc_HAYgF1vCTkgWQBgGgBhzYBgKAB9yssGuoB47OG6gH1ckbqAf3zBuoB6a-G9gHAaAInqKnBLAIDtIIBwiAYRABGAOxCWV-npATle2FgAoDuBP0A9gTA4IUEBoOd3d3LnR1bmVpbi5jb20&num=1&cid=CAASEuRoNaQ85C-gV7Q0JQtpiWOkGw&sig=AOD64_0hqyR5qpGlpO18KLvGBIdaVoeSrw&client=ca-video-pub-1075310851762143&adurl=https://ad.doubleclick.net/ddm/clk/418151586%3B219817188%3Bt, duration=7.0, adPodInfo=AdPodInfo [totalAds=1, adPosition=1, isBumper=false, maxDuration=7.0, podIndex=0, timeOffset=0.0], uiElements=[], disableUi=false, skipTimeOffset=-1.0]]]
15:08:17.811 D/ImaAdsLoader: handleAdEvent: CONTENT_PAUSE_REQUESTED
15:08:17.878 D/ImaAdsLoader: playAd
15:08:19.641 D/ImaAdsLoader: onAdEvent: STARTED
15:08:19.643 D/ImaAdsLoader: handleAdEvent() called with: adEvent = [AdEvent[type=STARTED, ad=Ad [adId=258714333280, creativeId=267341533816, creativeAdId=, universalAdIdValue=unknown, universalAdIdRegistry=unknown, title=video, description=video ad, contentType=video/webm, adWrapperIds=[], adWrapperSystems=[], adWrapperCreativeIds=[], adSystem=AdSense, advertiserName=, surveyUrl=null, dealId=, linear=true, skippable=false, width=0, height=0, traffickingParameters=, clickThroughUrl=https://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/aclk?sa=L&ai=CCiygUc7wWqWnGdOYlAPRrL-wC_LJl8FR4ODN5MMHChABIL2woyJgyfb4hoCAoBnIAQWoAwGYBACqBKcBT9DJkhFy4sdMGm9ggNPoSQtgbhnWyBggOEESnwx2ooizePhQamY671ZFP5B0GfD7E9qXK18kbCPH4bbuvU3sI4Ayxw6OPUd7g1HX9nSXDl5bQv0adfqeVTMFVHxRcHq3SiNYooFRT1uOTppVHvmUPtIARmTvK6Xx7TySO9QwGVycwuEuRpxX0l0PRkbLYZ5K5NCwjzCe_3OlMP4OUulsVBSre1wdK0nABOfivc_HAYgF1vCTkgWQBgGgBhzYBgKAB9yssGuoB47OG6gH1ckbqAf3zBuoB6a-G9gHAaAInqKnBLAIDtIIBwiAYRABGAOxCWV-npATle2FgAoDuBP0A9gTA4IUEBoOd3d3LnR1bmVpbi5jb20&num=1&cid=CAASEuRoNaQ85C-gV7Q0JQtpiWOkGw&sig=AOD64_0hqyR5qpGlpO18KLvGBIdaVoeSrw&client=ca-video-pub-1075310851762143&adurl=https://ad.doubleclick.net/ddm/clk/418151586%3B219817188%3Bt, duration=7.0, adPodInfo=AdPodInfo [totalAds=1, adPosition=1, isBumper=false, maxDuration=7.0, podIndex=0, timeOffset=0.0], uiElements=[UiElementImpl[name=adAttribution], UiElementImpl[name=countdown]], disableUi=false, skipTimeOffset=-1.0]]]
15:08:21.070 D/ImaAdsLoader: onAdEvent: FIRST_QUARTILE
15:08:21.072 D/ImaAdsLoader: handleAdEvent() called with: adEvent = [AdEvent[type=FIRST_QUARTILE, ad=Ad [adId=258714333280, creativeId=267341533816, creativeAdId=, universalAdIdValue=unknown, universalAdIdRegistry=unknown, title=video, description=video ad, contentType=video/webm, adWrapperIds=[], adWrapperSystems=[], adWrapperCreativeIds=[], adSystem=AdSense, advertiserName=, surveyUrl=null, dealId=, linear=true, skippable=false, width=0, height=0, traffickingParameters=, clickThroughUrl=https://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/aclk?sa=L&ai=CCiygUc7wWqWnGdOYlAPRrL-wC_LJl8FR4ODN5MMHChABIL2woyJgyfb4hoCAoBnIAQWoAwGYBACqBKcBT9DJkhFy4sdMGm9ggNPoSQtgbhnWyBggOEESnwx2ooizePhQamY671ZFP5B0GfD7E9qXK18kbCPH4bbuvU3sI4Ayxw6OPUd7g1HX9nSXDl5bQv0adfqeVTMFVHxRcHq3SiNYooFRT1uOTppVHvmUPtIARmTvK6Xx7TySO9QwGVycwuEuRpxX0l0PRkbLYZ5K5NCwjzCe_3OlMP4OUulsVBSre1wdK0nABOfivc_HAYgF1vCTkgWQBgGgBhzYBgKAB9yssGuoB47OG6gH1ckbqAf3zBuoB6a-G9gHAaAInqKnBLAIDtIIBwiAYRABGAOxCWV-npATle2FgAoDuBP0A9gTA4IUEBoOd3d3LnR1bmVpbi5jb20&num=1&cid=CAASEuRoNaQ85C-gV7Q0JQtpiWOkGw&sig=AOD64_0hqyR5qpGlpO18KLvGBIdaVoeSrw&client=ca-video-pub-1075310851762143&adurl=https://ad.doubleclick.net/ddm/clk/418151586%3B219817188%3Bt, duration=7.0, adPodInfo=AdPodInfo [totalAds=1, adPosition=1, isBumper=false, maxDuration=7.0, podIndex=0, timeOffset=0.0], uiElements=[UiElementImpl[name=adAttribution], UiElementImpl[name=countdown]], disableUi=false, skipTimeOffset=-1.0]]]
15:08:22.394 D/ImaAdsLoader: onAdEvent: MIDPOINT
15:08:22.396 D/ImaAdsLoader: handleAdEvent() called with: adEvent = [AdEvent[type=MIDPOINT, ad=Ad [adId=258714333280, creativeId=267341533816, creativeAdId=, universalAdIdValue=unknown, universalAdIdRegistry=unknown, title=video, description=video ad, contentType=video/webm, adWrapperIds=[], adWrapperSystems=[], adWrapperCreativeIds=[], adSystem=AdSense, advertiserName=, surveyUrl=null, dealId=, linear=true, skippable=false, width=0, height=0, traffickingParameters=, clickThroughUrl=https://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/aclk?sa=L&ai=CCiygUc7wWqWnGdOYlAPRrL-wC_LJl8FR4ODN5MMHChABIL2woyJgyfb4hoCAoBnIAQWoAwGYBACqBKcBT9DJkhFy4sdMGm9ggNPoSQtgbhnWyBggOEESnwx2ooizePhQamY671ZFP5B0GfD7E9qXK18kbCPH4bbuvU3sI4Ayxw6OPUd7g1HX9nSXDl5bQv0adfqeVTMFVHxRcHq3SiNYooFRT1uOTppVHvmUPtIARmTvK6Xx7TySO9QwGVycwuEuRpxX0l0PRkbLYZ5K5NCwjzCe_3OlMP4OUulsVBSre1wdK0nABOfivc_HAYgF1vCTkgWQBgGgBhzYBgKAB9yssGuoB47OG6gH1ckbqAf3zBuoB6a-G9gHAaAInqKnBLAIDtIIBwiAYRABGAOxCWV-npATle2FgAoDuBP0A9gTA4IUEBoOd3d3LnR1bmVpbi5jb20&num=1&cid=CAASEuRoNaQ85C-gV7Q0JQtpiWOkGw&sig=AOD64_0hqyR5qpGlpO18KLvGBIdaVoeSrw&client=ca-video-pub-1075310851762143&adurl=https://ad.doubleclick.net/ddm/clk/418151586%3B219817188%3Bt, duration=7.0, adPodInfo=AdPodInfo [totalAds=1, adPosition=1, isBumper=false, maxDuration=7.0, podIndex=0, timeOffset=0.0], uiElements=[UiElementImpl[name=adAttribution], UiElementImpl[name=countdown]], disableUi=false, skipTimeOffset=-1.0]]]
15:08:24.039 D/ImaAdsLoader: onAdEvent: THIRD_QUARTILE
15:08:24.041 D/ImaAdsLoader: handleAdEvent() called with: adEvent = [AdEvent[type=THIRD_QUARTILE, ad=Ad [adId=258714333280, creativeId=267341533816, creativeAdId=, universalAdIdValue=unknown, universalAdIdRegistry=unknown, title=video, description=video ad, contentType=video/webm, adWrapperIds=[], adWrapperSystems=[], adWrapperCreativeIds=[], adSystem=AdSense, advertiserName=, surveyUrl=null, dealId=, linear=true, skippable=false, width=0, height=0, traffickingParameters=, clickThroughUrl=https://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/aclk?sa=L&ai=CCiygUc7wWqWnGdOYlAPRrL-wC_LJl8FR4ODN5MMHChABIL2woyJgyfb4hoCAoBnIAQWoAwGYBACqBKcBT9DJkhFy4sdMGm9ggNPoSQtgbhnWyBggOEESnwx2ooizePhQamY671ZFP5B0GfD7E9qXK18kbCPH4bbuvU3sI4Ayxw6OPUd7g1HX9nSXDl5bQv0adfqeVTMFVHxRcHq3SiNYooFRT1uOTppVHvmUPtIARmTvK6Xx7TySO9QwGVycwuEuRpxX0l0PRkbLYZ5K5NCwjzCe_3OlMP4OUulsVBSre1wdK0nABOfivc_HAYgF1vCTkgWQBgGgBhzYBgKAB9yssGuoB47OG6gH1ckbqAf3zBuoB6a-G9gHAaAInqKnBLAIDtIIBwiAYRABGAOxCWV-npATle2FgAoDuBP0A9gTA4IUEBoOd3d3LnR1bmVpbi5jb20&num=1&cid=CAASEuRoNaQ85C-gV7Q0JQtpiWOkGw&sig=AOD64_0hqyR5qpGlpO18KLvGBIdaVoeSrw&client=ca-video-pub-1075310851762143&adurl=https://ad.doubleclick.net/ddm/clk/418151586%3B219817188%3Bt, duration=7.0, adPodInfo=AdPodInfo [totalAds=1, adPosition=1, isBumper=false, maxDuration=7.0, podIndex=0, timeOffset=0.0], uiElements=[UiElementImpl[name=adAttribution], UiElementImpl[name=countdown]], disableUi=false, skipTimeOffset=-1.0]]]
15:08:25.295 D/ImaAdsLoader: pauseAd
15:08:25.358 D/ImaAdsLoader: onAdEvent: PAUSED

[andrewlewis]

I followed up with the IMA team about this. They recommended using the Google Mobile Ads SDK for Android to play video ads without a content video.

Regarding the workaround mentioned above, it may be the case that IMA is pausing playback of the ad because the content position/duration returned from getContentProgress is unset as the ad is finishing. Adding some logging there may help you figure out what's going on.

[andrewlewis]

Closing as AdMob is the recommended way to do this.