Google Lets Advertisers Promote YouTube Live Streams as Display Ads – Search Engine Journal

This webinar uses Conductor's research to help you prioritize marketing data and AI visibility measurement fixes.This rundown shows how to test briefs, audits, or rank reporting with a four-layer system built on your own data.Where search leaders are putting 2027 budget, plus the AI visibility scorecard that replaces session reporting.This rundown shows how to test briefs, audits, or rank reporting with a four-layer system built on your own data.Ask the SEJ experts you already read what AI, agents, and algorithm changes mean for your traffic. Private, human to human. $97/mo.Webinar: 9 AI Workflows For Better Content. Nov 18, 2 PM ET.Google is introducing a new ad format that lets marketers run YouTube live streams in display ads.Live stream ads can appear anywhere Google’s display ads are shown. So a person could be scrolling through a website, such as this one, and see a live stream playing right where an ad would be.People can expand the video to full screen and interact with the live stream just as they could on YouTube.Here’s an example of what a live stream ad looks like:Live streaming on YouTube is free, so advertisers will only have to pay for the ad unit itself.The new live stream ad format is currently in a limited beta. There’s no further information available about how Google plans to charge advertisers for these ads.One of my initial thoughts was whether viewing time would be a factor in the cost.For example – would an advertiser be charged the same if a person only watched a few minutes of a live stream as opposed to watching the whole thing?I presume we’ll learn more when the ad format rolls out more widely.In related news, Google introduced another display ad format today that allows users to interact with 3D objects.The new ad format, called Swirl, lets advertisers showcase products from all angles.A car manufacturer could take an existing 3D model of a car and use it in a Google display ad. Then, those who view the ad could rotate the car as well as zoom in and out of it.For more information about the Swirl ad format see our coverage here. Follow on YouTube. Matt G. Southern is the Senior News Writer at Search Engine Journal, where he’s covered Google, SEO, … The AI Search & SEO News That Matters Breaking news and insights to help you lead search strategies. The AI Search & SEO News That Matters Breaking news and insights to help you lead search strategies. The AI Search & SEO News That Matters Breaking news and insights to help you lead search strategies.In a world ruled by algorithms, SEJ brings timely, relevant information for SEOs, marketers, and entrepreneurs to optimize and grow their businesses — and careers. Copyright © 2026 Search Engine Journal. All rights reserved. Published by Alpha Brand Media. source