Skandha Media Services , a provider of scalable playout services that leverage cloud technology, automation, AI and machine learning, has launched Evince, an AI-based Ad verification tool for live sports streaming platforms and advertising agencies.

Designed to empower broadcasters; OTT platforms; content owners and aggregators; rights holders; and brands, the AI-enabled technology automates the detection and capture of primary and secondary ad elements on live sport streams.

With Evince, Skandha says, “advertising agencies and advertisers can see exactly how an ad appeared on a specific channel via mobile, digital or CTV, and at what point during a live event. The solution ensures that contractual obligations are met by providing advertisers with automated visual proof-of-delivery.

“This technology goes far beyond providing traditional logs for a live sports stream that may be firing hundreds and even thousands of Ads over the full length of a live game or competition,” says Yogesh Salian, Skandha director of client services. “The advertising agency not only has the ability to check that a particular Ad appeared visually correctly during an event on a specific stream or platform, but also that it was delivered at a specific time, or in a particular spot, for the expected duration.”

Ad placement and timing are crucial during live sports events. Evince, Skandha says,” provides visual evidence that an ad has been served by using AI to detect ad elements displayed in a live sport stream. It captures and meticulously records each one as a video or image file with timestamps, using metadata to automate file names relating to the commercial ID and brand.”
Video spot ads (including those carrying QR codes) are saved as files in MP4 format and L-Band, Aston and Bug Ads are saved as PNG, JPG and MOV files. The files are instantaneously and securely stored in the cloud so that each ad insertion record can be accessed reliably in real-time.

Skandha says it developed the new AI-based technology after a customer approached them to find a way to provide visual proof to their advertisers that 100% of ads were being served and displayed correctly during the streaming of a live cricket match.

“Initially we implemented a manual process to monitor and record screenshots and videos of each Ad on multiple streams during the match,” Salian says. “Although the client was impressed with having instant access to the visual files of every single ad, the manpower and resources to accomplish this level of verification was unsustainable. This is when we introduced machine learning to automate the process — training cameras to identify and capture ad elements. With Evince we can deliver super-efficient ad verification and next-level proof of delivery that simply did not exist before.”

Salian concludes: “Advertisers spend big money on Ad insertions during live sporting events, so being able to provide easily accessible visual proof of delivery using AI is a game changer. Our new Evince tool fosters a trustworthy and sustainable advertising ecosystem for all stakeholders.”