Want to run ads on YouTube TV? Here’s what Google says

Google has published a new help page detailing the formats, policies, and requirements advertisers must meet to run campaigns on YouTube TV. Advertisers now have a clear guide to help avoid mistakes and ensure compliance with platform standards.

How YouTube TV Advertising Works

You can run ads on YouTube TV through several options:

• Reserved media placements
• Google Ads, including the Reservation option
• Display & Video 360

It’s important to note that meeting eligibility requirements does not guarantee that your campaign will serve on YouTube TV. To ensure guaranteed placements, advertisers must purchase YouTube TV lineups or YouTube TV Sports Lineups through the reservation system.

Learn more about another way to capture a large audience with YouTube: the new Cost-Per-Hour Masthead ad format.

Available Ad Formats

The following video ad formats are available on YouTube TV:

• 15-second non-skippable in-stream ads
• 6-second bumper ads
• 30-second skippable in-stream ads

All auction formats are purchased using the tCPM (Target cost-per-thousand impressions) bidding model.

All video ads must be cleared of music rights claims. For more effective video ad strategies, see our article on using YouTube Shorts for consistent growth and audience engagement.

Policies and Requirements for Campaigns

Ad Categories:
All categories are eligible to run ads on YouTube TV, provided they comply with Google Ads policies and YouTube TV policies.

Political Advertising Policy:
Political or election-related campaigns must follow additional requirements:

Google Ads-wide policies:

• Compliance with local laws
• Verification through Election Ads verification or Advertiser Identity verification
• Approval required for reservation campaigns

YouTube TV-specific policies:

• Ads must include a federal or legally qualified candidate
• Mandatory disclosures (for at least 4 seconds in a readable, contrasting font):
  • If the ad is paid for by a candidate or their campaign: indicate that the ad was approved by the candidate and paid for by the candidate or their campaign
  • If the ad is paid for by a third-party advertiser: indicate that the ad was not approved by the candidate and was paid for by the advertiser

Learn more about expanding advertising opportunities in our article on YouTube expanding the Hype program.

Why This Matters for Marketers

The new YouTube TV help page provides marketers with a single reference point for campaign requirements. This reduces delays, prevents compliance issues, and allows for more effective audience reach on the big screen.

If you’re interested in selling products via YouTube on TVs, check out our guide on YouTube showing shopping ads on TVs.

Conclusion

Advertising on YouTube TV opens up new opportunities for brands, but it’s crucial to follow all rules and requirements—from video formats and music rights to specific policies for political ads. By adhering to Google’s guidelines, marketers can efficiently leverage the platform, avoid policy violations, and engage audiences on the big screen.

This article available in Ukrainian.