[Feature announcement] IMA Android SDK - Faster load times and increased monetization

Hi everyone,

We'd like to bring to your attention about an important change in the IMA Android SDK that reduces SDK load times, leading to better monetization. This change is already available, and we recommend updating your app to take advantage of the load time improvements.

Version 3.35.1 of the IMA Android SDK introduces a new method: ImaSdkFactory.initialize(). This call allows you to proactively load necessary SDK resources when the app starts, saving time when you make an ad request and are ready to play ads.This change is designed to significantly improve ad loading times, leading to:

• Faster "time to first frame": Google is reporting an average decrease of 0.25 to 0.5 seconds, with even larger gains (up to 5 seconds) for TV implementations.

• Reduced ad buffering: A smoother experience for your users.

• Maximized ad impressions and monetization: By minimizing delays and interruptions, you can improve ad fill rates and overall monetization.

We strongly recommend calling ImaSdkFactory.initialize() as early as possible after your app starts.For the full details, see the Optimize IMA Android monetization with faster loading blog post.

We want to hear from you as we continue to improve the SDK

This can be a significant optimization for anyone using the IMA SDK in their Android apps. As you begin to look into integrating this new initialize() method, we would like feedback on the following to help us in continuous development of this feature:

1. Have you encountered any blockers or challenges while trying to implement this change or when planning for it?

2. What are your expected timelines for integrating this new functionality into your Android applications? We're interested in understanding the typical development cycles and any factors influencing your adoption.

Please reply to this post if you have any feedback, questions, or suggestions for IMA Android as the team continues to work on the load time feature and best practices.

Thanks,

Jackson

IMA SDK team