Q4 2017
December 11 Changes to video content source sync options, changes to targeting behavior for deactivated entities, AMP Fast Fetch for cononical AMP pages, Delivery Inspector for AMP pages, policy violation notifications updateManage inventory
Changes to video content source sync options
We’ve introduced the ability to request a manual sync of individual video content sources. The “Sync changes” and “Sync all” buttons for your content sources have moved to the content source details page. They also display on the source list screen to allow you to request syncs for multiple sources. Learn more
Changes to targeting behavior for deactivated entities
Previously, if you deactivated an entity (such as site targeting, mobile apps, or key-values) that was targeted in Ad Exchange rules, that entity continued to be targeted in the rules. For consistency with DFP line items, we've changed Ad Exchange behavior so that deactivated targeted entities are ignored by rules and deals.
AMP Fast Fetch for canonical AMP pages
The Fast Fetch ad request method for AMP is now supported for canonical as well as cached AMP pages. Fast Fetch loads ads on AMP pages more quickly than Delayed Fetch, which is being fully deprecated on March 29, 2018. At that time, Fast Fetch will be the only available ad request method for all
<amp-ad type="doubleclick">ad slots. You may need to make tagging changes to AMP pages using DoubleClick tags to ensure they continue to function correctly with Fast Fetch.
Troubleshoot
Delivery Inspector for AMP pages
See troubleshooting details about which ads delivered on fast-loading AMP pages. You can now enter URLs for AMP pages on the Delivery Inspector for mobile web. Follow these instructions in DFP and on your mobile device to see why certain ads delivered and not others, why line items are underdelivering, which line item would deliver if you were to request the ad slot again, and more. Use this information to optimize future ad delivery on your AMP pages. Note that you must enter the cached version of the URL for your AMP page.
Policy violation notifications update
To improve your policy violation workflow, next month we’ll switch from daily emails to DFP user interface notifications. These notifications allow you to quickly take action on page-level policy violations. You’ll be kept informed on new policy enforcements and be able to filter notifications by type. Learn more
Manage inventory
Publishing products to the Marketplace to retire for DFP sales management
For publishers using DFP Programmatic with sales management, publishing products to the Marketplace is to retire November 28, 2017. Retiring the ability to publish products to the Marketplace simplifies your workflow and removes underutilized features.
As a DFP administrator using DFP sales management, you can still create new products and use existing products for traditional and programmatic sales. However, the Marketplace rate card is to be converted to a conventional rate card. As a result, existing products associated with the Marketplace rate card will be unpublished from the Marketplace and no new products will have the option to publish to the Marketplace. Buyers can continue to initiate RFPs with your network (not based on products) from the Marketplace. Learn more
Publishing products to Marketplace to retire for Programmatic
For publishers using DFP Programmatic without DFP sales management, publishing programmatic guaranteed products to the Marketplace will no longer be possible as of November 28, 2017 as well. You'll no longer be able to create new products to be published to the Marketplace, and existing products will be unpublished. As with DFP sales management publishers, buyers can continue to initiate RFPs with your network from the Marketplace.
Ad Exchange Open Offers to retire
Ad Exchange Preferred Deal Open Offers are to be retired on November 28, 2017 to remove underutilized elements from the user interface. Buyers can continue to initiate requests for proposals to you (not based on open offers) from the Marketplace.
Manage network settings
Changes to Ad Exchange Seller Program Guidelines
We've updated the "Network Partner Management Policies" section of the Google DoubleClick Ad Exchange (AdX) Seller Program Guidelines to clarify monetization and registration of child publisher inventory. These changes have taken effect as of November 15, 2017.
Report and optimize
Improved Active View measurement for custom-rendered native ads on iOS
Starting with Google Mobile Ads SDK version 7.21, we’ve improved Active View measurability for custom-rendered native ads served to iOS devices using one of the standard content or app install formats. Make sure your iOS mobile app is using the latest version of the SDK. Learn more
Traffic and deliver ads
New interface design
We’ve updated the way DFP looks to align with other Google products, such as AdSense and AdMob. Functionality remains unaffected, but navigation are customized to optimize daily tasks. Learn more
Programmatic native support for DoubleClick First Look
DoubleClick First Look functionality now includes programmatic native. This allows you to further maximize yield by expanding the inventory options available to buyers. Note that some native-eligible First Look inventory will backfill more often, increasing the number of programmatic calls made. Please review the targeting of your native styles to account for First Look behavior.
DCM standard placement tags no longer serve ads
As of October 2, 2017, DCM standard placement tags no longer serve image assets larger than 1x1. If you use these tags, request and traffic new image assets from your advertiser using a different placement tag type, such as the ins tag.
Manage network settings
Changes to Ad Exchange Seller Program Guidelines
We've updated the "Seller Partner Policies" section of the Google DoubleClick Ad Exchange (AdX) Seller Program Guidelines to clarify Seller Partner inventory and registration. These changes have taken effect as of November 13, 2017.
Report and optimize
Find opportunities to earn more with native formats
DFP now lets you know if you can earn more revenue on inventory using a native app install format. This format promotes mobile app installs in both mobile web and apps content. If we find that the native app install format might improve your revenue, we’ll suggest you add the format to selected ad units already eligible for Native Ad Exchange traffic. Learn more
Traffic and deliver ads
Traffic AMP Ads image creatives
Image creatives, including those already in the system, are now automatically AMP Ads-compliant. These image creatives load faster than standard ads. Learn more
Prepare your ads for iPhone X
With the launch of the iPhone X, app developers now need to plan for new design considerations as the rounded corners, notch, and home screen indicator on the extended screen can obscure content and lead to bad ad experiences for users when ads are placed in these areas.
We’ve created an iPhone X ad rendering guide to help you shift placement of mobile app banner or native ads to designated “safe areas” for this new device.
We’ve also updated our Ad Exchange open auction policies to indicate that ads must not be placed where objects may interfere with the user's typical interaction with the ad, app, or website, such as under the home screen indicator on the iPhone X.
Ads should be updated by November 20, 2017 to comply with the new policies.
Manage network settings
Ads.txt management in DFP
We've added a dashboard that shows if Google's crawler thinks any of your linked Ad Exchange seller accounts are attempting to sell unauthorized ad inventory. Since unauthorized inventory won't be monetized by Google, this dashboard helps you understand if any immediate changes are needed to existing ads.txt files. To get you started, we generate content for the file based on seller information for your network and provide validation of file syntax. Learn more
Report and optimize
New Data Transfer files to record requests and served impressions
With the transition to downloaded impressions, new Data Transfer files are now available to record requests and served impressions (also known as code serves). These new files are provided along with the existing impressions file type at no additional cost. Learn more
Only available in Google Ad Manager 360.
Traffic and deliver ads
Deprecation of Ad Exchange UI tags in DFP Ad Exchange line items
Ad Exchange UI tags in the “code snippet” field of DFP Ad Exchange line items have been deprecated for some networks. If you recently received a UI notification about this change, it means your network is affected.
For all traffic from DFP, you can no longer use Ad Exchange UI tags in rules, deals, and reporting in Ad Exchange, but you may replace them with DFP targeting (ad units, key-values, and placements). Use our guide to restructure your Ad Exchange configuration and remove the Ad Exchange UI tag.
If you don't make any changes, Ad Exchange UI tags will no longer be included in your DFP ad requests. Any rule or deal that targets an Ad Exchange UI tag will no longer be matched with ad requests from DFP. Monetization will continue, but will do so via other rules and deals, as Ad Exchange tags associated with DFP line items will no longer be sent.
This doesn't impact Ad Exchange UI tags placed directly on website pages or on third-party ad servers.
Report and optimize
Updated change history archive
The process to view changes made more than 14 months in the past to ad units, line items, and other objects has been updated. Change information not visible in change history remains accessible in downloadable archive files. Learn more
Manage your Data Transfer settings
If you use Data Transfer, you can now update your file configurations in the Admin section of DFP. Only available in Google Ad Manager 360.
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Important updates to impression counting
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DFP impressions
As of October 2, 2017, DFP counts impressions using the downloaded methodology. Learn more -
Ad Exchange mobile app impressions
This week, we’re updating mobile app impression counting for Ad Exchange accounts that fill DFP requests. Starting October 3, 2017, an impression is counted when the ad content has begun to load and at least some part of it is displayed within the user's view. Learn more
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DoubleClick for Publishers
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New policy violation filters and details
DFP now makes it easier to find and resolve policy violations in your creatives: Use new line item filters to find creatives that have been flagged for policy violations.New creative details list the policy violation and other important information. Also, improved creative statuses clarify whether a creative is still in a policy violation or if it’s been re-scanned and cleared by Google.
An improved Help Center article walks you through the steps needed to identify a policy violation, fix it, and re-enable the creative.
- New MRSS feed specification for DFP Video
We are excited to announce some major improvements to DFP content ingestion, which include a much simpler MRSS feed specification for you to implement and maintain, and improved error handling and syncing. With this version:- Only one XML feed is needed. There is no longer a need to maintain separate "full" and "delta" feeds.
- New content and changes to existing content are both visible to DFP and immediately available for ad targeting.
See more details in the feed migration guide.
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Programmatic proposal line items can now be set to "Display creatives"
"All"
Previously, the "All" setting was unsupported for programmatic proposal line items. To serve guaranteed roadblocks, single-request architecture (SRA) must be enabled in your network. Learn more -
Improved forecast accuracy starting with 2018 dates
When you include 2018 dates in a forecast's time range, you’ll now see more accurate predictions. We have improved our forecast system to minimize the effect of trafficking anomalies and to more accurately measure growth trends. This update affects inventory forecasts, traffic forecasts, future sell-through reports, and underdelivery warnings.
"All"Ad Exchange
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Deprecation of Ad Exchange UI tags in DFP Ad Exchange line items
Ad Exchange UI tags in DFP Ad Exchange line items are about to be deprecated for some users. If you recently received a UI notification about this change, it means your network will be affected in the next few weeks.For all traffic from DFP, you will no longer be able to use Ad Exchange UI tags in rules, deals, and reporting in Ad Exchange, but you may replace them with DFP targeting (ad units, key-values, and placements). Use our guide to restructure your Ad Exchange configuration and remove the Ad Exchange UI tag.
If you don't make any changes, Ad Exchange UI tags will no longer be included in your DFP ad requests. Any rule or deal that targets an Ad Exchange UI tag will no longer be matched with ad requests from DFP. Monetization will continue, but will do so via other rules and deals, as Ad Exchange tags associated with DFP line items will no longer be sent.
This doesn't impact Ad Exchange UI tags placed directly on website pages or on third-party ad servers.
Q3 2017
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Run A/B experiments on native styles
Maximize your native performance by A/B testing different native styles using Native experiments. Test fonts, colors layouts, and other updates in a new style against an existing style to see which one will perform better before making a change. Learn more
DoubleClick for Publishers
- Automatic archive of unused video content sources
Unused content sources set up in your DFP network were automatically archived on September 11, 2017. Content sources considered "unused" were those created before July 31 and with zero impressions served since June 1, 2017. You can unarchive these or any other content sources at any time. Learn more
Ad Exchange
- Ad Exchange Query Tool retirement has arrived
If your organization has DFP access, the Ad Exchange Seller Query Tool is now officially retired. Going forward, run your Ad Exchange queries using the DFP Query Tool and the “Ad Exchange Historical” report type. You can also transfer your existing Ad Exchange queries to DFP.
DoubleClick for Publishers
- Analyze past and future impressions (Beta)
You can now view historical traffic alongside future impression opportunities to find better ways to segment and package inventory. This data can help coordinate your sales organization on how best to sell in the future. Learn more
- DFP First Look competes on price with remnant inventory
First Look when designed was ‘top of the stack,’ meaning it can serve ahead of any demand in DFP regardless of priority, as long as the bid was above the First Look floor. With this change, a first look bid has to beat the First Look floor and the value CPM of a competing remnant line item to win. This change increases overall publisher yield, while still ensuring First Look is a useful yield optimization tool to provide a selection of programmatic buyers preferred access to inventory, ahead of reservations. Learn more
Ad Exchange
- Ad Exchange Query Tool retirement is fast approaching
If your organization has DFP access, the Ad Exchange Seller Query Tool will be retired soon. Going forward, run your Ad Exchange queries using the DFP Query Tool and the “Ad Exchange Historical” report type. You can also transfer your existing Ad Exchange queries to DFP.
- New sensitive category in Ad Exchange blocking rules
We've added a new "Sensationalism" sensitive category to blocking rules. This category includes ads that aim to induce users to click them by appealing to their curiosity, often using a teaser message with hyperbolic language or imagery. It includes ads that center around sensationalistic subjects (such as celebrity arrests, deaths, or divorces) or aim for shock value. Learn more
DoubleClick for Publishers
- Removed Flash creative templates
Now that DFP support for Flash is deprecated, the creative templates which relied on Flash have been removed. Learn more
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- Change to impression counting for Ad Exchange mobile app impressions
DoubleClick is changing the way impressions are counted for Ad Exchange mobile app ads to align with industry standards. After this change, DFP will count mobile app impressions from Ad Exchange ads when the ad content has begun to load and at least some part of it is displayed within the user's view. DFP Small Business publishers will begin noticing this change in July and finish in October. Learn more
DoubleClick for Publishers
- Retiring the AdMob line item type
Starting in August 2017, DoubleClick for Publishers is stopping AdMob line item delivery. AdMob line items you’ve already created remain in DFP, but the ability to create new AdMob line items has been removed. Use the Ad Exchange line item type or AdMob campaigns instead. - Report on ad request type
You can now run reports that break out performance by the technology used to request an ad. This allows for advanced troubleshooting, such as investigating discrepancies between served and downloaded impressions. When you create a report or a query, select the new "Request type" dimension. Learn more - New geographical locations now available for targeting
We’ve added more locations around the world for targeting, including cities, neighborhoods, provinces, and more. - Generate ad tags for AMP
You can now easily customize and generate ad tags for Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP) without having to manually edit code. Learn more - Use a debug key to troubleshoot a video stream
You can now set a unique debug key for any video stream to be able to monitor and debug using the Stream Activity Monitor.
Ad Exchange Seller
- Ad Exchange Query Tool set to retire
The Ad Exchange Seller Query Tool will be sunset on September 1st. Going forward, run your Ad Exchange queries using the DFP Query Tool and the “Ad Exchange Historical” report type. You can also transfer your existing Ad Exchange queries to DFP. Learn more - Native ads with Ad Exchange
You can now create and programmatically traffic beautiful and highly engaged native ads from Ad Exchange for both web and apps. DFP handles the rendering of your native ads based on the native styles you specify within the product. Learn more - Multi-size pricing in Ad Exchange for mobile app inventory
Multi-size pricing is available for mobile in-app inventory. If you already have multi-size pricing configured for your inventory, you should notice an uplift in revenue with this feature enable. Learn more
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- The new Query Tool
Here's a summary of the exciting enhancements we've made to reporting functionality: Learn more- One location to build and edit reports
To simplify your workflow and focus on saving query parameters rather than report results, “Queries” and “Reports” tabs have been merged. You can "Run" your report from query builder, and "Edit" directly from the results page, both in one location. - New report type: Ad Exchange Historical
Create Ad Exchange reports in DFP by selecting the Ad Exchange Historical report type. Learn more - Enhanced Dimension picker
Use the new “Recently Used” category to view the most frequently selected dimensions, or switch to view specific categories. Mouse over any dimension to view its definition. - Enhanced Metric picker
To make it faster to create queries, your most "Recently Used" metrics are available by default. To minimize confusion and boost clarity, mouse over any metric to view its definition.
- One location to build and edit reports
DFP Premium
- See delivered line items on the “Non-delivery causes” tool
When you use the “Non-delivery causes" tool to see information on the delivery patterns of your line items for the past 7 days, you can now see the line items that did deliver. Under the non-delivery reason, click See delivered line items. Learn more - DFP now supports VAST 4 (Beta)
You can now begin serving VAST 4 in DFP. This fourth version of the Video Ad Serving Template (VAST) is the latest IAB standard. While VAST 4 provides continued support for all features released in VAST 3, it also includes major updates for server-side ad insertion, including support for high-quality mezzanine files and support for universal ad ID programs. Learn more
Ad Exchange
- Ad Exchange Query Tool set to retire
The Ad Exchange Seller Query Tool will be sunset on September 1st. We recommend you start running your Ad Exchange queries using the DFP Query Tool and the “Ad Exchange Historical” report type. You can also transfer your existing Ad Exchange queries to DFP. Learn more
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- New templates for programmatic native Beta
New programmatic native templates provide even more presets based on common native layouts, which you can then customize. When adding a native style for Ad Exchange backfill, click Change template to see the available presets for the selected creative size.
DFP Premium
- Declare authorized sellers with ads.txt
Authorized Digital Sellers, or ads.txt, is an IAB initiative to improve transparency in programmatic advertising. Publishers can create their own ads.txt files to identify who is authorized to sell their inventory. The files are publicly available and crawlable by buyers, third-party vendors, and exchanges. Use of ads.txt is not mandatory, but is highly recommended. Learn how to create an ads.txt file - DFP Flash deprecation is complete
The following are no longer available to serve in DoubleClick. Previously-created assets are also disallowed.
Video
- Flash VPAID
- Ad Exchange Flash VPAID snippets
- IMA Flash
- DFP-hosted "Flash" type creatives
- Flash-related system creative templates
- Uploading Flash file assets on "Custom" creatives or creative templates
- Publisher API returns errors for disallowed creative creation
The IMA Flash SDK and Flash IMA Adapter continue to function. However, they will be sunset at a later date and are no longer supported. The IMA HTML5 SDK no longer plays Flash VPAID ads. If a VAST ad with only a Flash VPAID media file is served to the IMA HTML5 SDK, an error is triggered and the ad is skipped. Developer documentation is no longer available and SDK SWC files can no longer be downloaded for development. Learn more
- DFP no longer syncs content sourced from Brightcove using the Media API (with API Token)
To migrate an existing Brightcove Media content source, you can open the source details page and click the "Migrate this source" option, below the Brightcove source type.
Q2 2017
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- How Chrome plans to support the Better Ads Standards
The Coalition for Better Ads, of which Google is a member, has developed the Better Ads Standards. To understand how Chrome plans to support these standards, visit the DoubleClick publisher blog.
DFP Premium
- Exchange Bidding (beta)
Invite trusted third-party exchanges to compete with Ad Exchange and DoubleClick for Publishers inventory in a unified real-time auction. Learn more - Enable Google signed-in, cross-device personalized ads
The "Enable Google signed-in, cross-device personalized ads" control on the Admin tab will take effect starting in June 2017. Learn more - Improved DFP notifications
The notifications panel now provides fewer, more targeted notifications to help you keep track of changes in your network, take action to resolve issues with delivery or reporting, and find opportunities to optimize your network. Learn more
Ad Exchange
- New sensitive category in Ad Exchange blocking rules
We've added a new ""Significant skin exposure" sensitive category to blocking rules. This category includes ad images where any part of the human body from the sternum to the mid-thigh is not clothed; or the body is clothed in underwear, swimwear, lingerie, or other see-through clothes or non-clothing items such as a towel or bed sheet. Learn more
DFP Premium
- Add tracking URLs to Third Party, Custom, and DoubleClick tag creatives (open beta)
You can now easily add third-party impression tracking URLs to Third Party, Custom, and DoubleClick tag creatives. You simply add the URLs to the new “Third-party impression tracking URLs” field. The URL is pinged when the creative appears and can contain DFP macros. Previously, you had to add tracking code to the creative code snippet, which often resulted in a disparity between how DFP and third parties counted impressions.
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- Simulate video ad requests
The Simulate request feature in Troubleshooting tools is now available for video ads. It shows you which line item or line items would win if you were to request the ad slot again. If an unexpected line item or line items win the simulation, you can see why and change targeting and tag information accordingly. Learn more
DFP Premium
- Changes to Ad Exchange impression counting methodology in DFP reporting
DFP impressions that are filled by Ad Exchange, and where the buyer is Google AdWords, has completed adopting the downloaded impressions methodology as third-party bidder impressions do today. Learn more - Changes to DFP mediation for mobile apps
On Monday, May 8, we updated mediation for mobile apps to streamline the publisher experience. Review your configuration to ensure that your mediation group(s) will deliver as expected. Learn about the changes - Styling updates for programmatic native
This week, DFP will begin providing greater design flexibility in the programmatic native styles beta.- Square advertiser marketing images: You can now include square (1:1 aspect ratio) images in programmatic native ads. We also added templates such as the following to support square images.
- Image and attribution overlap: The “Ad Attribution” and “AdChoices” elements can now overlap the marketing image, allowing the image to take up more of the overall ad design, while eliminating a mostly empty row at the top of the ad.
- Realistic text previews: These improved native style previews give a better sense for how native ads will look in real-world environments by showing a variety of text lengths that may come through programmatic demand. Here are examples of “short content” and “long content” previews.
- New targeting options for direct and programmatic native
For both direct-sold and programmatic native styles, we have expanded targeting options to include:- Placements
- Inventory exclusions
- Geography
- Device category
- Operating system
- Negative targeting
- Complex key-value targeting (up to 20 total key-values)
- DFP system queries to identify instances of google_ad_slot
As part of Ad Exchange code snippet deprecation in DFP, Ad Exchange tags will soon stop being sent from DFP to Ad Exchange. To help identify instances of tags that use google_ad_slot, we've added the following system queries. Use them to determine whether to eliminate, update, or replace these tags.- DFP ad requests using Ad Exchange tags: Deals
- DFP ad requests using Ad Exchange tags: Pricing rules
- DFP ad requests using Ad Exchange tags: Sites
- DFP ad requests using Ad Exchange tags: Tags
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- Opportunities and experiments in DFP
You can now view the following opportunities for increasing your revenue from the DFP UI. Select the "Reporting" tab, then "Opportunities":- Lower open auction minimum CPMs to increase coverage and optimize yield.
- Unblock general categories from your existing blocking rules to increase coverage.
- Opt into high-performing ad technologies to run on your site to increase coverage.
- The following opportunities are available to all DFP publishers with a mapped Ad Exchange account:
- Lower First Look auction minimum CPMs to increase coverage and optimize yield. Learn more
- Allow Ad Exchange to compete for your impressions to increase yield (only available in the DFP UI). Learn more
DFP Premium
- MRC Accreditation Labeling
DFP metrics accredited by the Media Rating Council (MRC) are now clearly labeled in the DFP reporting tool using the MRC logo. Additionally, exported reports include a line in their header indicating which metrics in the report are MRC accredited. - Change history for custom fields and key-values
You can now see a history of changes made to custom fields and key-values. Simply navigate to the settings page of a custom field or key-value and click History in the upper right corner. Note that you’ll see changes made from March 8, 2017, onward. Learn more - Native reporting: naming update
For the "Ad request size" and “Request ad sizes” dimensions, we've renamed the "Native" value to the more accurate "Custom rendering."
Ad Exchange
- End date for Preferred Deals mandatory
Ad Exchange Preferred Deals now require an end date not exceeding 12 months from the date the deal was created. Requiring end date with a time limit ensures stale deals don't linger in your network. - Improved "Video ad types" dimension in Ad Exchange reporting
You can now report on additional ad types for your Ad Exchange video inventory, including bumpers, video click-to-download, DBM video, native content, and native app installs. - Native reporting: “Ad type” dimension update
For the “Ad type” dimension, all native creatives (regardless of style) now have a value corresponding to their native ad format. Applying this logic to all native creatives makes their “Ad type” more clear. Previously, some native creatives could have confusing types such as “Text.”
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- Programmatic guaranteed
DFP programmatic automates the negotiation of campaigns for guaranteed inventory. You can initiate proposals with buyers, finalize terms, and send proposals for delivery, all within DFP. Learn moreEnabling programmatic guaranteed is quick and easy. Learn how in the help center.
DFP Premium
- DFP Reporting
- New size dimensions
We've added two new reporting dimensions related to multi-size pricing. Both are in open beta. Learn more- Creative size (delivered): The actual size of the creative served from DFP or Ad Exchange, which also matches the creative size reported in Ad Exchange.
- Requested ad sizes: Includes all ad sizes in each ad request, accurately reflecting ad requests with multiple inventory sizes.
- New "Demand Channel" dimension
You can now report on the method buyers used to access your inventory. For example, "Mediation" or "Ad Exchange." - New Ad Exchange Historical report type in DFP reporting
You can now create and run your Ad Exchange reports in the DFP reporting tool by using the new "Ad Exchange Historical" report type. The Ad Exchange Query Tool will continue to be available in the Ad Exchange Seller tool.
- New size dimensions
- Filter by specific creative template
From the Creatives page, you can now filter for creatives that are related to a specific creative template.
Ad Exchange
- Identify and override invalid advertisers with Deal Check
You can to use Deal Check to identify when the advertiser associated with a buyer's creative doesn't match the advertiser configured for a deal (an "invalid advertiser"). You'll be able to override the advertiser classification under the filtered bid section of Deal Check, enabling the creative to serve properly. Learn more
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- Learn why unexpected ads delivered (for apps, video, mobile web, and desktop)
The full launch of the Delivery Inspector and Simulator helps you troubleshoot ad delivery in the context of inventory. The details can answer which ads delivered on your app or page, why these ads delivered and not others, which line item would deliver if you were to request the ad slot again, and more.- For apps: Easily link your mobile device with DFP - no proxy or HTTP session recorder required. Learn more
- For video: Read this article.
- Changes to Ad Exchange impression counting methodology
DFP impressions that are filled by Ad Exchange, and where the buyer is Google AdWords, have begun adopting the downloaded impressions methodology as third-party bidder impressions do today. This transition is expected to complete in April. Learn more
DFP Premium
- Preview ads in-app
In-app preview lets you see your own creatives rendered within your mobile app. The preview is within the actual ad slot where a creative would normally appear within the normal flow of your app, rather than in DFP. This is especially useful for publishers who have creatives that interact with the app, have unique behavior, or require the app to render elements correctly (including native creatives and MRAID). You can even preview creatives from line items with a Draft status, to make sure they look good before starting to deliver. To learn more, read this article. - Changes to “Ad server unfiltered impressions” metric in DFP reporting
As DFP transitions to downloaded impressions and aligns with industry standards, the "Ad server unfiltered impressions" metric has been replaced with a new metric called "Ad server unfiltered downloaded impressions" that’s based on the MRC accredited count-on-download methodology and populated with data starting Feb 1, 2017. - Filter users by permission
You can now filter your network’s list of users by user role permission. - Changes to DFP Data Transfer
Starting this week, Data Transfer includes rows related to Mediation for mobile apps. Relevant impressions will be marked as such in the "Product" field with the label "Mediation". - DFP Flash deprecation timeline: no uploads
As we mentioned in the February 6 release notes, support for Flash is deprecated and will be phased out by the end of Q2 2017. We have reached the next phase of deprecation: you can no longer upload DFP-hosted Flash creatives. After July 3, Flash creatives won’t serve. Learn more
Ad Exchange
- Ad Exchange Ad Network Optimization has been retired
Due to low usage, Ad Network Optimization (ANO) has been retired as of March 31, 2017. We'll no longer deliver ANO tags, but Ad Exchange will otherwise continue to monetize your inventory when eligible.- We recommend using DFP yield management to replace the functionality of ANO.
- If you use DFP, you can move your tags to price priority line items to take advantage of dynamic allocation.
- If you don't use DFP or don't want to use ANO, you can archive your existing tags or wait for us to do so.
- The following Ad Exchange Query Tool dimensions have been deprecated: Third-party buyer accounts, Third-party ad tags, and Third-party buyer currency.
Q1 2017
March 20 Google signed-in, cross-device personalized ads; auto-archive ad units; deactivate unused roles and teamsDFP Premium
- Enable Google signed-in, cross-device personalized ads
We’re enhancing our ads system to deliver better ad experiences for a world where people are using multiple devices. Beginning in 2016, Google users could choose to associate their cross-device web and app activity with their Google account to see more useful, personalized ads. And now, we are adding a new control for publishers in DoubleClick to help you earn more from these ads from Google demand sources (Google Display Network and DoubleClick Bid Manager) which are personalized based on users’ interests, demographics, and Google account information.
This publisher control will be activated no earlier than April 10th, 2017. Learn how to enable the new control from the DFP and Ad Exchange Admin tabs. - Archive unused ad units automatically
DFP now automatically archives any ad units that haven’t served impressions for 12 months. These ad units can be unarchived for reuse at any time. - Deactivate unused user roles and teams
You can now deactivate user roles and teams you no longer need. Marking a user role or team as “inactive” doesn’t affect users already assigned to the user role or team. Learn more
Ad Exchange
- Ad Exchange Ad Network Optimization will be retired
Due to low usage, Ad Network Optimization (ANO) is anticipated to be retired on March 31, 2017. Passback tags will no longer receive traffic, but will keep monetizing through Ad Exchange.- We recommend using DFP yield management to replace the functionality of ANO.
- If you use DFP, you can move your tags to price priority line items to take advantage of dynamic allocation.
- If you don't use DFP or don't want to use ANO, you can archive your existing tags or wait for us to do so.
- Help us improve our Video help content
We're looking for your feedback about our video help content. Let us know your thoughts on what we're doing well, or what you'd like to see improved. Complete the short survey found on most video help articles
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- Share a troubleshooting session (open beta)
When you use the Delivery Inspector to see details on which ads delivered and why, you can now share this information with users who have access to your network. From the Troubleshoot page, click the new Share this session link, copy the URL that appears, and send it to the other user. They can paste it into their browser to see the same ad delivery details. Learn more
DFP Premium
- Reports
- Updated basis for "Ad server Active View eligible impressions" metric
As of March 2nd, the "Ad server Active View eligible impressions" metric now uses downloaded impressions as the basis for counting, instead of served impressions. This change better aligns Active View with how third-party providers measure viewability. Learn moreThis methodology change is not retroactive and only affects reported data on and after March 2nd. - New Active View metrics coming this week
This week, we're launching new Active View metrics to help you optimize viewability. These metrics comply with MRC standards.
- Updated basis for "Ad server Active View eligible impressions" metric
- Minor updates to user interface design
We’ve updated how buttons, fonts and other user interface elements appear. Functionality remains exactly the same.
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- Improvements to multi-size reporting in Ad Exchange
We've made the following changes and improvements for reporting on multi-size inventory in the Query Tool.
- The "Creative size" dimension no longer displays "Dynamic" for text ads and other dynamic creatives. Instead, it shows the rendered size of the creative on the page.
- If you’re using the flexible size feature in Ad Exchange, the "Creative Size" dimension no longer displays the size of the creative served. Instead it shows the requested size (the size of space the ad occupied on the page).
- We've fixed a bug that sometimes caused the "Creative size" dimension to group impressions under "(unknown)."
DoubleClick for Publishers
- Report on unclaimed apps
You can now use the “App names” dimension to report on all apps, not only those that have been claimed through the My apps page. Learn more - Correction to network setting on Admin tab
We've reworded the name of a checkbox on the "Network settings" page on the Admin tab to describe the behavior of this control more accurately. The name of the checkbox was "Exclude First look from 100% sponsorships;" it has been renamed to "Set 100% sponsorships to always serve ahead of First Look buyers."
Ad Exchange
- Deprecation of "discoverable" feature on Private Auctions
We have removed the setting for publishers to make Private Auctions "Discoverable by all buyers." Pending Private Auction applications will remain available until the end of February. - Deprecation of cross-network mobile app and key-value targeting in Ad Exchange
As of February 21, 2017, you can only target mobile apps and key-values defined in the DFP network mapped to the Ad Exchange account where you want to use this targeting. This change reduces latency and makes it easy to manage your targeting in one place.Any mobile apps or key-values you've already targeted in Ad Exchange rules will remain targeted there. To target any new apps or key-values, you must first create them as inventory in DFP. Learn more
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- New “Downloaded impressions” metric in DFP Query Tool
To reduce discrepancies between DFP and third parties, improve viewability rates, and ensure DFP is compliant with the latest industry standards across formats and technology platforms, DFP is introducing a new metric called “Ad server downloaded impressions.” This metric counts an impression when an ad begins to load in the publisher’s content rather than when requested from the ad server. The new metric displays alongside the existing impression metric, which allows you to see the difference compared to the current served reporting metric. Learn more
Things to know:- “Ad server downloaded impressions” is a temporary metric and will fully replace “Total impressions” in DFP no sooner than Q3 of 2017. There are no billing changes at the moment.
- For ActiveView users: shortly after this release, viewability rates will be based off “Ad server downloaded impressions” instead of “Total impressions.” This should result in increased viewability rates.
DFP Premium
- Increased native style limit
You can now add up to 500 native styles per native ad format (the previous limit was 50). This provides much more flexibility when customizing for native. Learn more - DFP Flash deprecation timeline
Support for Flash is deprecated and will be phased out by the end of Q2 2017. Learn more- Starting February 13, we will show contextual warning messages in the DFP UI when you’re working with Flash creatives.
- On April 3, you’ll no longer be able to upload new DFP-hosted Flash creatives or save modifications to existing ones.
- After July 3, these creatives won’t serve.
- Deprecation of Contributor First Look for DFP
We’re launching a new and improved Contributor in early 2017. As part of the relaunch, we deprecated Contributor First Look for DFP.
Ad Exchange
- Simplified values for “Inventory types” dimension (beta)
To make the data easier to analyze and act on, we made some changes to the available values for the “Inventory types” reporting dimension (located under “Platform”). The new values are Web, App, AMP, and Other:- Web: The combined values of the previous “Desktop,” “Mobile web,” and “Mobile optimized web.”
- App: Previously “Mobile app”
- AMP: All Accelerated Mobile Pages stats are now in one row.
- Other: Previously “Unknown”
For more granular data, you can select both the “Inventory types” and “Device category” dimensions. For example, see web performance broken out by desktop, feature phone, smartphone, and tablet. Learn more
DFP Premium
- Sort DFP table columns
You can now show, hide, and rearrange the order of DFP trafficking, inventory, and admin table columns. Learn more
- DFP Query Tool and Data Transfer
- Changes for mobile
To be consistent with the Query Tool's Device Category English language values, we’re updating the Query Tool Targeting dimension's "platform" values and the Data Transfer “DeviceCategory” values:- OLD: Mobile Highend, Mobile Midrange, Desktop, Tablet
- NEW: Smartphone, Feature Phone, Desktop, Tablet
- Report size column
The report size column in the DFP Queries and Report listing has been retired. We've replaced it with a column that shows the number of rows in each report, to give you a better idea of the size of your reports. - Simplified values for “Inventory types” dimension (beta)
To make the data easier to analyze and act on, we made some changes to the available values for the “Inventory types” reporting dimension (located under “Platform”). The new values are Web, App, AMP, and Other:- Web: The combined values of the previous “Desktop,” “Mobile web,” and “Mobile optimized web.”
- App: Previously “Mobile app”
- AMP: All Accelerated Mobile Pages stats are now in one row.
- Other: Previously “Unknown”
For more granular data, you can select both the “Inventory types” and “Device category” dimensions. For example, see web performance broken out by desktop, feature phone, smartphone, and tablet. Learn more
- Changes for mobile
DFP Premium
- DFP Query Tool report size column
The report size column in the DFP Queries and Report listing has been retired. We've replaced it with a column that shows the number of rows in each report, to give you a better idea of the size of your reports.
Ad Exchange
- Content mapping for apps
Content mapping for apps provides content-based targeting for partners with dynamic app content, such as traditional media publishers or retail product descriptions. Publishers with matching web and app content can now show contextually relevant ads on their apps. This feature is now available to all publishers (whitelisting no longer required). Learn more
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