How to use the AdsTream Income
- Enter monthly video views and ad slots per video.
- Enter the video CPM offered.
- Set fill rate and completion rate.
- Read the effective CPM after those two discounts.
How the calculation works
Revenue = views × slots ÷ 1,000 × CPM × fill × completion. Video CPMs commonly run 3–5 times display because advertisers value the format, but the multipliers erode the advantage: an 18 CPM at 85% fill and 65% completion behaves like an effective 9.95 CPM against the impressions you actually served.
Pre-roll fills more reliably than mid-roll but completes worse, since viewers skip before content starts. Mid-roll on longer videos completes best because the viewer is already invested. Viewability standards matter too — an impression usually counts only when at least 50% of the player is visible for two continuous seconds, so autoplay units below the fold frequently do not bill at all.
Revenue = (views × slots / 1000) × CPM × fill rate × completion rateSource: IAB viewability standard for video impressions and standard VAST fill/completion accounting.
Worked example
140,000 monthly views, one pre-roll and one mid-roll, 16 CPM, 88% fill, 62% completion.
- Ad opportunities = 140,000 × 2 = 280,000.
- Gross = 280 × 16 = 4,480.
- After fill = 3,942.
- After completion = 2,444.
About 2,444 a month — an effective CPM of 8.73 against the 16 quoted.
Frequently asked questions
Why is video CPM higher than display?+
Advertisers pay more for attention and brand impact, and video inventory is scarcer.
What is completion rate?+
The share of started ads watched to the end. It directly reduces payable impressions on completion-based deals.
Does pre-roll or mid-roll pay better?+
Pre-roll fills more reliably; mid-roll usually completes better on longer content.
What counts as a viewable impression?+
Typically 50% of the player visible for two continuous seconds, per the IAB standard.
Last reviewed August 31, 2026. We review this page whenever the underlying formula, tax year, published rate or standard changes.