JW Player now supports VPAID 2.0, the IAB standard that allows interactive video ad units to play in HTML5 without the use of Flash

JW Player Spearheads Support of VPAID 2.0 -- World's Largest Open Video Ecosystem Counters Google Chrome's "Flash-Pocalypse" To Provide Customers with Uninterrupted Video Monetization

NEW YORK -- JW Player, a leading digital and mobile video platform and player company, now supports Digital Video Player-Ad Interface Definition (VPAID) 2.0, the IAB standard that allows interactive video ad units to play in HTML5 without the use of Flash. JW Player customers can now serve VPAID 2.0 ads against HTML5 video content, allowing viewers to choose their own ad experience or to get additional information about the product advertised.

With the rise of mobile video and Chrome's recent discontinued support of Flash, video solutions must be at the forefront of tech standards in order to deliver viewers a seamless experience and content creators the ability to monetize. With its open-source model and consistent deployment of new product features, including mobile SDKs, JW Player is committed to maintaining its ability to offer publishers the most flexible monetization options possible.

"In the early days of online video Flash was king, but that is no longer the case. Apple famously criticized the platform, deciding not to support it on their mobile solutions. Late this year, Chrome suppressed Flash-based ads. Flash is no longer the platform of choice for advertisers who want to reach and interact with their target audience," says Dave Otten, CEO of JW Player. "At JW Player, we realize the necessity for our customers to monetize the content they create and publish. Support of VPAID 2.0 provides our customers with the ability to create interactive ads in the growing video language HTML5 and reach viewers on Flash-disabled devices."

IAB established VPAID 2.0 as the standard in 2012, however; it has not been widely adopted by the online video industry. As audiences are increasingly consuming video on mobile devices, and with Chrome's recent policy to block autoplay Flash ads, demand for VPAID 2.0 support has increased dramatically. JW Player leads VPAID 2.0 support, which publishers and content creators will need as the use of Flash continues to decline. As online video standards move to HTML5, JW Player advises all publishers to work with ad agencies that develop in this new format in order to successfully reach viewers and monetize.

JW Player support for VPAID 2.0 provides the following immediate benefits:

• Ability to reach viewers and monetize content on flash-disabled browsers and devices, eliminating the risk of substantial lost revenue
• Interactive video ads on mobile devices, including iOS and Android
• Autoplay VPAID 2.0 in Chrome, with players smaller than 400X300, which would otherwise be blocked

"JW Player is at the cutting edge of new video technology and has always projected that HTML5 will ultimately take over online video, as demonstrated annually through our State of HTML5 Video," says Jeroen Wijering, Founder of JW Player. "As more advertisers and publishers turn to HTML5, over Flash, our early adoption of VPAID 2.0 will help make for an easy transition."

About JW Player
JW Player is the New York-based startup that pioneered video on the web and is now innovating for the future. Started in 2008 as the world's first open source video player, today the company's customers span the globe across 193 countries and range from Fortune 500 companies to individual bloggers. The company's flagship product, JW Player, is live on more than 2 million sites with over 700 million hours of videos watched monthly by over 1.2 billion monthly unique viewers across all devices — phones, tablets, and desktops. Nearly five percent of all video streams worldwide are delivered through JW Player. In addition to the player, the company's services include video hosting and streaming, advertising, and analytics. For more information, see www.jwplayer.com.

SOURCE JW Player