One of the best ways to inform and influence your customers is through streaming video advertising. Roku Ads Manager helps you get the most out of your video creatives by delivering your video ads with professionally produced streaming content viewed on the biggest screens in the home.
Making your creative
Keep these things in mind when making your video ads for TV streaming:
Tech specs Video content guidelines Review process
Video Upload Requirements
To upload ads to Roku Ads Manager, videos must adhere to strict technical requirements. The platform does not accept YouTube links or videos pulled from other online sources. Use only MOV or MP4 files meeting Roku’s specifications to ensure compatibility.
Required technical specifications
These requirements help ensure your video ad will look and sound great on TV screens.
| VIDEO | AUDIO |
File size | Maximum 1 GB | n/a |
File format | Use .mov or .mp4 | PCM preferred |
File name length | 170 character max | n/a |
Video length | 6 seconds - 92 seconds | Must match video length |
Aspect ratio | Must be 16:9 | n/a |
Frame rate | 23.98, 25.00, 29.97 FPS | n/a |
Codec compression | AVC or ProRes 422 HQ | n/a |
Bit rate | Minimum 6 Mbps | Minimum 96 kbps |
Bit depth | n/a | 16- or 24-bit |
Channel | n/a | 2-channel stereo |
Sampling rate | n/a | 48 kHz |
In addition to the above video specs, see these requirements for the interactive components of your action ads:
| Image | Text |
Overlay Message | n/a | 40 characters max |
Overlay Logo | PNG only, 150kb max | n/a |
Text Message | n/a | 236 characters max
URL: URL must begin with http:// or https:// |
Video content guidelines
How to Upload Video Ads
Prepare Your File: Ensure it is in MOV or MP4 format and adheres to Roku’s size, resolution, and other specs.
Login: Access your Roku Ads Manager account.
Select Campaign: Navigate to the relevant campaign in your dashboard.
Upload Video: Choose the file upload option and select your video.
Finalize: Review the upload, confirm accuracy, and save.
Make sure the content featured in your video assets (e.g. images, videos, and audio) meets Roku’s Advertising Guidelines. These requirements ensure that your video’s message is acceptable to most consumers.
These are considered sensitive categories that aren't permitted in Roku ads:
Adult products or services, or products or services of an inherently sexual nature
Counterfeit products
Gambling and wagering products or services in jurisdictions where such products or services are prohibited by applicable law
Illegal narcotics
Pharmaceutical services
Products or services designed to violate or bypass copyright or other intellectual property right restrictions
Products or services in which the sale or advertising of violates any applicable law
Products or services that are harmful, threatening, harassing, defamatory or invasive of another’s privacy or right of publicity
Tobacco products (which includes, without limitation, e-cigarettes, vaping or other products that contain nicotine), Drug or tobacco paraphernalia
Weapons, ammunition, or explosives
Review process
There are 2 phases of review:
1. Technical review
The tech specifications checks are typically very quick, just a few minutes. If your video doesn't meet the technical requirements the upload will fail.
2. Manual review
Once it passes the spec check, it'll will have a status of In-review, and will be manual reviewed in 2-3 business days. The images, videos, and audio will be studied closely to make sure it complies with the Roku Advertising Guidelines.
