How to Verify Ads on Connected TV (CTV) and OTT Platforms

Connected TV (CTV) and Over-the-Top (OTT) platforms like Roku, Hulu, and YouTube TV are where the "Big Budgets" are moving. For advertisers, CTV offers the precision of digital with the impact of traditional television.

However, verifying that a 15-second spot actually ran correctly on a smart TV in a specific zip code is a significant technical hurdles.

The Challenge of the "Living Room" Environment

Unlike the web, CTV isn't just about URLs. It’s about apps running on proprietary operating systems (Tizen, webOS, Roku OS). Standard "Screenshot" tools simply don't work in these closed ecosystems.

How Modern AdOps Handles CTV Verification

1. VAST and VPAID Tag Auditing

Most CTV ads are delivered via VAST (Video Ad Serving Template). While you can't always "snapshot" the TV itself, agencies use AdShot Pro to audit the VAST URL on a desktop or mobile environment that simulates the CTV player. This confirms that the creative assets, tracking pixels, and companion banners are all functional.

2. Cross-Device Proxy Verification

CTV campaigns are often hyper-local. Agencies use AdShot Pro’s Multi-Region Proxies to visit the "Companion Sites" or the publisher’s web-portal from the same zip code targeted by the CTV buy. This verifies that the "Omnichannel" part of the campaign is firing in sync with the TV spot.

3. Verification of "QR Code" Response

Many modern CTV ads include a QR code. AdShot Pro allows you to verify the Landing Page that the QR code leads to. We ensure that the mobile-optimized site is live, fast, and correctly tagged for the CTV source.

Building Confidence in the "Big Screen"

As CTV grows, the demand for transparency will only increase. Agencies that can provide documented proof of asset health and regional compliance will be the ones that win the largest CTV budgets.

Scaling your CTV spend? Audit your campaign assets with AdShot Pro.