Ad Specifications Rich Media/Expandable Ads NBA.com Homepage Takeovers Video/Pre-Roll Emerging Media

2007 - 08 Advertising Specifications:
NBA.com supports a diverse range of online advertising media types and considers itself a leader of the pack in online sports advertising.
The media we support have proven to be effective means of reaching your key audiences in an ever-changing digital landscape.

For sales and pricing information, please contact Daniel Redgate dredgate@nba.com
For ad specification inquiries, please email digitalmediaops@nba.com
For your own copy of the NBA.com Ad Specs, please refer to the pdf document here.

General Ad Specifications:
To allow for proper approval and testing, NBA.com requires that all creative is submitted 5 business days before expected campaign launch.

All ad creative that uses NBA player image/reference must be accompanied by documentation that provides proof of authorization.

NBA.com reserves the right to remove any ad creative that is considered distracting or affects the down load of a page.

A click thru URL must be provided for all units.

Third Party Ad Tags & Vendors:
a. It is our typical policy to not allow third party ad tags from other vendors. AdTags received from any other third party vendors will be discussed on a case-by-case basis.

Accepted Third Party Vendors:

Atlas

Point Roll

DART (see section b)

IMPORTANT NOTE: We do not accept third party AdTags for our homepage units. Please send traditional creative according to our specs for homepage placement. If you would like to track clicks, feel free to provide a click command URL.

b. Advertiser campaigns are allowed thru DFA (Dart For Advertisers), more info below:

DART For Advertisers 5 (DFA 5) represents DoubleClick’s most comprehensive and robust online ad management and serving solution to date. This interactive marketing platform provides you with unparalleled flexibility and ease of use to power your advertising campaigns on the Internet. With fast trafficking capabilities, improved access control, powerful reports and a totally re-engineered workflow process, DFA 5 promises to streamline your ad management functions allowing you to focus on turning your marketing dollars into profit.

http://kb.doubleclick.com/article.asp?article=3552&p;=934

c. The NBA does not accept third party AdTags for our homepage placement. Please send traditional creative according to our specs for homepage placement. If you would like to track clicks, feel free to provide a click command URL.

d. The NBA does not allow third party single pixel tracking on any pages throughout the NBA.com Network.

Flash Ad Requirements:

a. Versions up through Flash 8

b. Click Tracking: The author of the Flash source file (.fla) has to assign a clickTag variable using a getURL button action. They also have to make sure that they have selected _blank for a target so it opens in a new window.

c. File Requirements – backup gifs must be submitted

Audio Policy:
No host-initiated audio is permitted on NBA.com or team sites. Audio must be user-initiated by clicking within the banner and contain a clearly visible “mute” and “stop” function.

Rich Media Options:

Looping restrictions – 3 max, but the TOTAL COMBINED animation cannot exceed 15 seconds. Final, resting frame must include advertising message.

Sound - User initiated with visible mute button

In-banner video – All in-banner video ads will be served through our rich media units as .swf’s and must comply with the file size restrictions.

Expandable Ads:
Expandable Ads are accepted on ALL pages except the pages listed below. If you would like banners to serve on these pages/sections, please send non-expanding creative as well.

Method of expansion and non-expansion must be the same (ie. mouse-over or click)
Close button – mandatory, must be prominent & easily identifiable
Sound - user initiated only with prominent mute button
Restrictions - 728x90 only on inside pages and cant run on competitive partner's sponsored content pages.
Roll over expansion - only 25% of overall banner can be "hot/linkable" and banner must say "roll over to expand". The roll over must only work upon click (NOT Auto-play)

Takeover Ad Specification for 2007-2008 Regular Season:

GENERAL – Only on NBA.com, runs Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday

1. The Takeover Ad must be outputted as Flash 5 – Flash 8 Player



2. The size of the total ad is 938x118. Max file size is 100k.



3. The ad link will be handled by a clicktag that is passed in via our system and is generated by us.


4. The collapsed state of the ad must end on frame 2 of the root level.



5. The collapsed ad state must be built with no background to show background of the header behind it.



6. The functions for the expanding of the ad are located in the Open ad button in the ad collapsed folder.



7. The size of the collapsed ad is in the area to the right and is delineated by the click tag layer within the flash file.



8. The Expanded version of the ad must start on frame 3 of the root level.



9. Edit the Expanded Version of the ad by editing the Movieclip on the Expanded Ad layer.


10. The Expanded State Movie Clip will include the transition to the expanded state from the collapsed state and expanded state must call collapse ad in last frame, this is what collapses the expanded ad state.


11. In the last frame of the expanded_mc movieclip there is a function call that resets the ad to the second frame of the ad mc.


12. If it is preferable that you create your own transition you can just call _root.takeover_stage.gotoAndStop(2); in the last frame of your expanded animation.


13. The Expanded animation should last a maximum of 8 seconds.


14. The swfs are loaded into a swf for the HEXU, as a result the fonts must be included in a font instance in the library.


15. All includes used in the ad must be included in delivery.


16. All Fonts used in delivery must be included in delivery in PC format.

Video/Pre-Roll:
Accepted Streaming Video Formats -

1. Aspect Ratios : 16:9 & 4:3 (16:9 to fit 4:3)


2. Size: Full screen of video player


3. Tape-based media (4:3 only): Any standard-definition format Betacam
   a. SP
   b. SX
   c. Digital Betacam
   d. MPEG IMX
   
   
4. File-based media (16:9 & 4:3): Delivered on CD-R or DVD-R
   e. Uncompressed QuickTime
   f. MPEG-2 Program or Transport Stream file
   g. DV file
   h. MXF
   
   
5. Encoded media
   i. Windows media format. 400x300 screen size. Max bitrate of 500k.
   j. Delivered via FTP or e-mail
   location: ftp02.nba.com
   username: Multimedia3
   password: frlem2e@
   folder: /NBAcomAds
   
   
6. All files must contain a soundtrack, even if the ad is to run without sound.


7. 15 seconds in total length

Emerging Media:
NBA.com has an opportunity to run advertising on third-party emerging media. Due to the frequently changing landscape of emerging media, we will treat all RFP’s relating to emerging media on partner sites on a case-by-case basis.