Google confirms side-by-side ads are here for YouTube mobile

• Google has confirmed that side-by-side ads for livestreams are now rolling out to mobile after launching on desktop and TVs last year.
• While the livestream video remains visible during the ad, the stream’s audio is intentionally muted in favor of the advertisement.
• The format is designed for automated mid-rolls to keep viewers connected to the broadcast visual without a full-screen takeover.

Yesterday, we reported on YouTube seemingly testing a new concurrent ad format that plays ads alongside a livestream, without disrupting the video (but disrupting the audio). Google has now confirmed to us that side-by-side ads are new on mobile, but have been around since last year on desktop and TVs.

Google pointed us to the launch of side-by-side ads for livestreams on YouTube: