There’s nothing worse than being engrossed in a YouTube video and it’s interrupted by a mid-video advert. So YouTube are testing out ‘ad pods’ to get multiple ads out of the way in one block.

YouTube have began testing playing two consecutive adverts before videos instead of splitting them out across the video. Creating a more uninterrupted experience would definitely enhance YouTube’s giant video platform with adverts popping up in the middle of longer videos often randomly placed and therefore disturbing the flow of whatever you’re watching.

YouTube are looking towards a TV-style block of advertising so that multiple ads play back-to-back, allowing videos to play for longer without interruption. YouTube have found in their own analysis that fewer interruptions in viewing sessions leads to higher rates of people actually watching the adverts and causes less people to leave the content. The new ‘ad pods’ will give viewers the option to watch two ads stacked or they will have the option to skip to the video after a set watch-time as usual.

YouTube are launching ad pods on desktop this year and are planning on bringing it to mobile and their TV apps soon after. YouTube want to enhance the viewer experience whilst retaining brands and advertisers strong connection with YouTube and their ability to reach YouTube viewers.

YouTube taking an approach more similar to TV doesn’t come as a surprise as they continue to re-invent the platform as not just a place for posting short and snappy content but also prioritise longer content and watching experiences. The facts speak for themselves as more and more users begin watching YouTube on their TVs – over 180 million hours of YouTube is watched on TV screens every day. As they continue to prioritise engagement and longer sessions with users we will no doubt see more updates that enhance extended YouTube viewing.