IGN AD SPECS

Advertising Policies

IGN reserves the right to remove or reject any ads, software code (pixels, tags, JavaScript, etc.), or websites to which ads are linked where IGN determines that they do not comply with the policies posted by IGN or with applicable law.

  1. HTML5 spec basics: 200k initial load, and 2MB *polite (secondary) load.

    *Polite load is waiting until after the rest of the page loads (or 4 seconds into the page load) to serve the sub-loaded files

    This is in line with the new IAB Display Ad standards set

    1. Viewability and Ad Verification measurement (ie pixels from IAS, MOAT, etc.) are not counted towards the 200k load. However, if the measurement pixel file sizes are extremely large we may request revisions be made.
    2. We cannot locally host JS files. These ads should not have any dependency on IGN servers to function properly.
    3. Up to 10mb is accepted for user-initiated load.

  2. We can host HTML5 creative.

    1. For site served HTML Banners they must use Google ClickTag guidelines. IGN Is able to site serve basic HTML5 Creative, but said creative must follow the coding rules found at this link HTML5 requirements for Ad Manager. If your creative includes video, we will not be able to host as a basic HTML banner and will have to serve as a rich media banner. Building a Rich Media banner will require the assistance of creative production team, IGN Studios. If HTML5 creative production and serving assistance is required, please contact your IGN Sales rep.

  3. Ads must average 65% or less CPU usage with occasional spikes allowed.

  4. We allow implementation of up to three 3rd party pixels on individual creatives within a placement. Note pixels are not allowed for non-ad served products.

  5. Platform splitting – For cross platform Display and Video lines, we will only traffic separate tags when the client has valid reason for creating multiple tags.

    Pre-approval for tag splitting within a line is given for the reasons below:

    1. Different exit url for mobile - examples: A separate exit for the iOS store or Android Store, a different exit url for users on Desktop vs Tablet
    2. Different creative per platform - example: HTML5 ad with video for desktop, and an HTML5 ad with simple animation for mobile

  1. We do not site serve HTML Banners.

    1. Any HTML5 banner running on IGN must run through a 3rd party server. If HTML5 creative production and serving assistance is required, please contact your IGN Sales rep.

  2. We do not allow auto-sound.

    1. Muted auto-play video is acceptable.

  3. Rich Media Display Banners are not allowed on Mobile Apps

    1. Display banners with Auto Play Video, User Initiated Video, or Heavy Animation are not allowed in our Mobile OS based apps.

  4. Surveys may not contain any Ziff Davis logos or logos from our properties.

    1. Surveys may not imply Ziff Davis or any of our properties are sponsoring the survey.

  5. We cannot accept blocking ad tags.

    1. They limit proper ad serving. Any filtering or targeting should be handled in the IGN ad server. Tracking and monitoring pixels may be used to track a variety of information but tags that control serving are not allowed.

  6. We do not accept unsecure ad tags.

    1. Please provide HTTPS tags for all placements.

  7. Trackers that gather a user’s personal data are not allowed.

  8. Expandable Display ads are not allowed on the site.

    1. A button to expand an in-banner video player to full screen is allowed.

  9. No Interactive Preroll

Display Ads

AD UNIT
DIMENSIONS
MAX FILE SIZE
(INITIAL LOAD)
MAX FILE SIZE
(POLITE LOAD)
EXAMPLES
Leaderboard
970x250
200k
7MB
Full Details
Medium Rectangle
300x250
200k
2MB
Full Details
Halfpage
300x600
200k
2MB
Full Details
Standard Roadblock
970x250
970x500
200k
250k
7MB
Full Details
Blockbuster Roadblock
1900x500
300k
7MB
Full Details
Mobile Leaderboard
300x50 or 320x50
100k
n/a
Full Details

IGN Custom Ad Units

Products listed here must be produced and served in-house via IGN studios, designs may be provided by client if appropriate templates are utilized

AD UNIT
DIMENSIONS
MAX FILE SIZE
(INITIAL LOAD)
MAX FILE SIZE
(POLITE LOAD)
EXAMPLES
Setlist Unit
300x750
300x420
200k
100k
n/a
Full Details
IGN Promoted Unit
See Full Details
See Full Details
n/a
Full Details
Content Block
See Full Details
200k
n/a
Full Details
Desktop Quicksilver
Responsive
See Full Details
n/a
Full Details
Mobile Quicksilver
Responsive
See Full Details
n/a
Full Details
Mobile Interscroller
Responsive
100k
n/a
Full Details

Video

AD UNIT
DIMENSIONS
MAX FILE SIZE
(INITIAL LOAD)
MAX FILE SIZE
(POLITE LOAD)
EXAMPLES
Pre-roll
1920x1080 (16:9 aspect ratio)
300MB
See Full Details
Full Details

IGN Commerce Buyouts

AD UNIT
DIMENSIONS
TITLE
(Character Max)
DESCRIPTION
(Character Max)
EXAMPLES
IGN Deals Integration
- Homepage Placement 640x360 64 100 Screenshot
- Article Placement 640x360 64 100
IGN Deals Newsletter
- Newsletter Placement 270x180 n/a 120 Screenshot

Programmatic

Please upload creatives at least 3 business days prior to launch to allow for QA. Anything after the 3-day window is subject to a late launch until vetted for specs.

General

  1. All tags must be secure (HTTPS)
  2. We accept all vendors and third-party video partners
  3. No skipping functionality is allowed within tag
  4. Display ads are not allowed to expand
  5. HTML5 and Image based ads are the only formats allowed for display
  6. All lines with viewable measurement being applied must run desktop only

Video

  1. All videos must be in the form of a VAST 2.0/3.0 Tag with MP4 creative*, VPAID 2.0 (HTML5 VPAID) or a Hybrid VPAID 2.0 Tag. (*Preferred creative Tag)
  2. VAST 2.0/3.0 Tag with MP4 creative: Desktop & Mobile Environments
  3. VPAID 2.0 (HTML5 VPAID) or Hybrid VPAID 2.0 Tag: Desktop Environments Only
  4. Preferred video format: MP4

Approved Vendors

IGN serves ads through Google Ad Manager and follows Google's Certified Vendor guidelines:

Google Ads Certified External Vendors
Youtube Certified External Vendors