Outstream Video

Outstream video is a video ad format that plays inside non-video content, such as the body of an article or a content feed, rather than before, during, or after a video the user chose to watch. The unit typically appears and begins playing (usually muted) as the user scrolls it into view, then collapses or pauses when it leaves the screen.

How it works#

Unlike instream video, which runs inside a publisher's video player, outstream creates its own player on demand within a text placement. This lets publishers without video content still sell video inventory, and it gives advertisers far more places to run video. Teads pioneered and popularized the outstream format, embedding video between paragraphs of editorial articles.

Why it matters#

Outstream expanded video advertising well beyond traditional video sites, making it a major channel for brand and performance campaigns alike. Because the format is built to grab attention mid-scroll, viewability and completion are closely watched. It overlaps conceptually with the Motion Ad, animated and video-style units increasingly common in native feeds, and it often runs alongside Native Advertising placements that blend into editorial content.

Related terms: Teads, Motion Ad, and Native Advertising.