The rule that keeps your ad from running back-to-back against your competitor's. In linear TV this was standard practice. In CTV it requires active configuration. Programmatic pods don't enforce separation automatically. If this matters to your brand, it needs to be written into the deal, not assumed.
Ad tech glossary
Competitive Separation
Technical definition
Guidelines specifying the minimum distance or time required between competing brand advertisements in the same media property.
The ADLINGO translation
Get the full Mega Glossary as a PDF
Nearly 200 ad tech terms, translated. Plus the ADLINGO newsletter to your inbox. Free.
Where this shows up
The 2026 upfront runs on shape, not size
Supply is outpacing demand. Scarcity has collapsed into sports. And the most useful phrase in the market right now isn't volume or price. It's "the shape of the deal."
⏸️ Pause Ads
I'm back from CES, where (and I can't believe I'm saying this) pause ads were having a moment. I did not have this one on my bingo card. Yes, those ads that pop up when you hit pause on your TV.
Get Better CTV Quality in 2025
I'm not big on New Year's resolutions, but I do want you to look me in the eye and promise that you will press for better CTV quality in 2025. Oh...you thought it all ran on a TV in a living room? Have a seat. We need to talk.