YouTube has started experimenting with a new form of ads that pop up during a video and play alongside it, rather than interrupting the video itself.
On YouTube's Test Features and Experiments blog, a recent post has revealed the platform's next new feature for advertising in live streams: Picture-in-Picture ads that don't interrupt the content.
Current Ads Killing YouTube Streams
We've all been there. You're watching your favorite streamer on YouTube when boom: Ads! This is the point where many viewers will simply close the stream. Which is bad for the streamers, of course, but also for YouTube.
However, a new form of advertising called "Picture-in-Picture Live Mid-Rolls" might soon fix the problem. As the name suggests, these new ads will appear in a small pop-out window that is layered on top of the original content. This will allow you to view the ad while also continuing to watch the live-stream.
When Will "Picture-in-Picture Live Mid-Rolls" Be Released?
As we said, it is still an experiment, which means that only a few selected devices will be able to get the new feature and test it in September 2024. How it will look and how they will manage the sound of the ad and the stream are still unknown.
We think it will be rolled out by the end of 2025 if the testing goes well. What do you think about the idea, do you prefer to their current way of presenting ads?