In-game ads show during live play rather than before the match, in breaks or after the final whistle. You set them up in the In Game (Live) tab of your Automated Game Plan by adding an advert to a playlist and giving that playlist a trigger. The steps are the same as for break playlists. Only the tab and the triggers are different.
Before you start
You need an Automated Game Plan assigned to your competition. See Create an Automated Game Plan.
Your adverts need to be uploaded to your organisation, unless you're handing the slot to a club.
The match overlay must use the theme instance the game plan is assigned to.
How to add in-game ad slots
Go to the Automation tab and open your Automated Game Plan.
Click the In Game (Live) tab. This is where playlists that fire during live play live.
Open the playlist where you want the ad to appear, or create a new one.
Click Add Item to Sequence.
Choose Advertisement. To cycle through several adverts in a set order, choose Ad Template instead. See Add an ad template to a playlist.
Configuring the ad slot
When you add an Advertisement item, set the following:
Advert source: choose Image Ads, Custom Images, Video Ads or Club Slot.
Size: choose a size from Small to Extra Large.
Start time: when the ad starts within the playlist, in mm:ss.
Duration: how long the ad stays on screen. Leave it empty to keep the ad on screen for the whole playlist.
Position: drag the ad on the 1920x1080 canvas. Turn on Grid Snap to line it up neatly.
An Advertisement item can sit anywhere on screen at any size, on top of whatever else is showing. For more detail, see Add an advertisement to a playlist.
Keeping or hiding the scorebug
The scorebug stays on screen while your ad shows unless you clear it. To show the ad without the scoreboard:
Add a Hide all action at 00:00.
Add the ad at 00:01.
Add a Show scorebug action just after the ad ends.
A live playlist should always end by bringing the scorebug back. Give every item its own start second, because two transitions on one second can wipe each other. Full steps are in Show sponsor ads during play without the scoreboard.
In-game ads vs break-time ads
In-game ads go in playlists on the In Game (Live) tab and fire during live play. Break-time ads go in playlists on the Pre/Post Match & Breaks tab and show before the match, at half time, in extra time breaks or after the match. You add and position the advert the same way in both. The difference is the tab you work in and what triggers the playlist. See Create a break playlist.
Triggering in-game ads
Set the trigger in the playlist's Configure settings, under Trigger Playlists. In-game playlists can fire on:
Match events: such as Goal, Yellow Card, Red Card or Substitution, from live scoring.
Time trigger (Time elapsed): enter a time in mm:ss, and click + Add time trigger to add more times, for example a sponsor every 5 minutes.
Milestones: every Nth time something happens for a team, such as every three corners.
Learn more in Live triggers: events, milestones and time.
Priority and guards
A time trigger defaults to priority 4 with the guards isLive and isNotPenaltyShootout. Attaching the trigger doesn't change the playlist's own priority or guards, so set those yourself in Configure > Show Advanced Options. For sponsor playlists, priority 4 with isLive and isNotPenaltyShootout means the ad only runs during play, never in a shootout, and goals and cards always win. See Playlist priority and guards explained.
Enabling ads on the overlay
Ads only show if the match overlay has ads switched on.
On the Matches table, expand your match.
Open the menu on the overlay's row and click Configure. The UPDATE OVERLAY window opens.
In the Ads section, set Ad Type to Brands.
Turn on Enable Ads.
Click Update.
If Ad Type is No Brands or Enable Ads is off, no ads show on that overlay, however your playlists are set up.
Delegating ad slots to clubs
Choose Club Slot to give the slot to the home or away club, with a name, size, timing and position. The club sees the slot on the Ad Slots page in the Club Portal, including the playlist, when it shows and its size, and uploads the advert to fill it. If the club hasn't uploaded an advert, the slot is empty during the broadcast. See How to delegate ad slots to clubs through the Club Portal.
Testing your in-game ads
Use Preview to play the playlist over the vision and check the timing and position. Use Review Match to see when your triggers would have fired in a real match.
Common issues
Ads not appearing during live gameplay:
Check the overlay's Ad Type is Brands and Enable Ads is on.
Check the ad is in the right playlist on the In Game (Live) tab, and that the playlist has a trigger.
Check the game plan is assigned to the competition and the overlay uses that theme instance.
Check Manual is turned off in the Control Room, so the game plan runs the graphics automatically.
Check a higher priority playlist isn't taking over at the same time.
More checks are in Why ads are not appearing on broadcast output.
Delegated in-game ad slot is empty:
The club hasn't uploaded an advert for the slot. Ask the club to check the Ad Slots page in their Club Portal. See Why a delegated ad slot is empty during broadcast.
You can also play sponsors inside the scorebug with the Live Sponsor Loop in the Ads tab. Both approaches are valid. See Ad Allocation or playlist ads: which to use.