Summary
Server-Guided Ad Insertion (SGAI) is the most significant ad-tech development in 2025–2026 and is absent from this repo. It should be added as a third alternative alongside SSAI and CSAI in the ad-insertion section.
What SGAI is
SGAI combines the robustness of SSAI (seamless server-side stitching) with the flexibility of CSAI (device-side personalization). The server signals ad breaks via manifest or SCTE-35 markers, but the player fetches personalized ads on-device. This avoids the fill-rate and personalization limitations of pure SSAI.
Why it matters
- 132% fill rate improvement and 76% eCPM uplift vs. pure SSAI (IBC 2025 data)
- Google Ad Manager, Bitmovin, and Yospace have commercial SGAI implementations
- This is where the industry is heading for premium streaming ad monetization
Suggested section content
Add SGAI as a third approach in the ad-insertion section with:
- Explanation of how it works and how it compares to SSAI and CSAI
- A decision guide: when to use SSAI vs. CSAI vs. SGAI
- Links to current resources and implementations
SCTE-35 context
Also consider adding a short explanation of SCTE-35 as the ad break signaling mechanism used by both SSAI and SGAI in HLS/DASH manifests — this is often missing from introductory resources.
References
Summary
Server-Guided Ad Insertion (SGAI) is the most significant ad-tech development in 2025–2026 and is absent from this repo. It should be added as a third alternative alongside SSAI and CSAI in the ad-insertion section.
What SGAI is
SGAI combines the robustness of SSAI (seamless server-side stitching) with the flexibility of CSAI (device-side personalization). The server signals ad breaks via manifest or SCTE-35 markers, but the player fetches personalized ads on-device. This avoids the fill-rate and personalization limitations of pure SSAI.
Why it matters
Suggested section content
Add SGAI as a third approach in the ad-insertion section with:
SCTE-35 context
Also consider adding a short explanation of SCTE-35 as the ad break signaling mechanism used by both SSAI and SGAI in HLS/DASH manifests — this is often missing from introductory resources.
References