VNU Network

Introduction
VNU offers a wide range of creative opportunities across its Network of sites:

• IT professional
• Personal Technology
• Business, Information and Finance
• Recruitment

Where possible, we aim to employ specifications set out by the Internet Advertising Bureau (more information about the IAB and their work can be found at www.iabuk.net).

It will not be possible to accept creatives which do not adhere to the specifications. From time to time we will introduce new creative opportunities. These changes will be discussed with the client/agency contact, and will be highlighted in the specifications below. If you have any feedback or comments, please email sales@vnunet.com.

AD TYPE**	Dimensions (pixels)	Format - standard gif or jpg (with alt text)
Leaderboard	728x90	15k max file size
Large rectangle (MPU)	336x280	15k max file size
Banner	468x60	12k max file size
Button	120x60	8k max file size
Skyscraper	120x600	15k max file size
Text link	50 characters	Plain text
PDA banner*	150x18	Use contrasting colours to ensure clarity on non-colour devices.

* Ad types in italics are not standard IAB sizes
** For PDA sponsorship, please also provide up to 500 words and image for destination page.

There are 4 main types of Content sponsorship, each requiring a different combination of creatives from the table above, plus either a Logo or Promotional Text:

Content category - All ad types	Leaderboard, Skyscraper, MPU, 2 buttons, Text link, Sponsorship logo
Content category - leaderboard	Leaderboard, Sponsorship logo
Site special	Leaderbaord, Skyscraper, MPU, 2 buttons, Text link, Promotional text

AD TYPE	DIMENSIONS	FORMAT
Sponsorship Logo – Categories and Subject areas	110 x 26 pixels	4k, gif or jpeg only - VNU produce a 110 x 45 graphic (we will send this back for tagging)
Promotional Text – Site Specials	50 words + url	Text only

VNU Email Newsletters are delivered in either a combination of Plain Text, or Plain Text and HTML. (Please speak to your Account Manager for guidance.

AD TYPE	DIMENSIONS	FORMAT
HTML Email Newsletter Ad	468x60 pixels	12k max file size, gif or jpeg only plus Alt  text
TEXT Email Newsletter Ad	50 words + URL	Plain text only

Image 'Alt' text
Standard gif or jpeg ads require a 50 character 'alt text'. This is text that is displayed:

• when users have turned off images in their browsers, or if they had dowloaded their emails and switched off their internet connection
• while ads are loading
• as Tool Tips when the cursor is placed over the fully loaded ad image.

If alt text is not supplied, it will default to 'Click here!'.

All Rich Media ads should be tested for stability in a variety of browser and platform combinations, as described below. Stability is defined as not causing:

• error messages
• dialog windows
• browser crashes
• system crashes

Please alert VNU to any unstable combinations – where possible they will be removed when the creative is trafficked in Dart. (this may have an impact on our ability to deliver the campaign)

 RICH MEDIA LEADERBOARDS  

File size	Up to 15k initial load, additional 25k may be loaded after a user moves their cursor over or clicks on the banner.
Rollover expands	A banner may expand to as large as 468 x 240 after a user moves their cursor over it, and should automatically close when the cursor moves off the banner.
Click Expands:	A banner may expand to as large as 468 x 240 after a user clicks on it, and can stay expanded until the user clicks a clearly labelled "close" button.
Audio/Video:	A banner may play audio and/or video content after a user clicks on it, and should display a visible "stop" or "pause" button once the audio/video begins.

RICH MEDIA SKYSCRAPERS and MPU

File Size:	Up to 20k initial load. Up to three additional loads of up to 35k each may be initiated after a user moves their cursor over or clicks on the skyscraper.
Audio/Video:	A skyscraper may play audio and/or video content after a user clicks on it, and should display a visible "stop" or "pause" button once the audio/video begins.

POP-UP #1

Definition:	Pop-ups automatically launch in a new browser window when a Web page is loaded.
Rich Media File Size:	As with Standard Ads, these pop-ups should be 20k maximum file size.
Audio/Video:	A pop-up may play audio and/or video content after a user clicks on it, and should display a visible "stop" or "pause" button once the audio/video begins.
Frequency capping:	Ads will be Frequency Capped to 1 view per user per hour

TRANSITIONAL ADS

Definition:	Transitional Ads (also called "interstitials") appear in the main browser window between two Web pages.
Dimensions:	336 x 280 pixels.
Rich Media File Size:	20k maximum file size.
Play Time:	Transitional ad pages will automatically forward users after 7 seconds
Label:	Transitional ad pages will be labelled as an ad/sponsorship sponsorship, and will include a "skip ad" link.
Frequency capping:	Ads will be Frequency Capped to 1 view per user per hour

FALSE FROM COVER (tangozebra)

Definition:	A shockwave movie which contracts and dissolves 'into' the skyscraper space
File Size:	Standard Skyscraper creative: all resources are required as separate individual files (.fla, font, .swf etc): 120 x 600, 15k maximum file size Logo as a vector graphic: 400 x 400 max, 5k maximum file size
Play Time	The FFC will play for a maximum of 5 seconds
Frequency capping:	Ads will be Frequency Capped to 1 view per user per hour

OTHER DHTML

Definition:	Any creative made using DHTML that operates outside of an existing ad position
File Size:
Audio/Video:	May play audio and/or video content after a user clicks on it, and should display a visible "stop" or "pause" button once the audio/video begins.
Play Time:	The ad will play for a maximum of 5 seconds. They should then shrink into an existing ad position or disappear, NOT play on a loop
Frequency capping:	Ads will be served through DFP, and Frequency Capped to 1 view per user per hour

Creative type: Standard

STANDARD SERVING	Image creative in .gif or .jpg format. Full Clickthrough URL
THIRD PARTY SERVING	Image Redirect tag; Clickthrough Redirect tag; All creatives to be used for publisher approval
REQUIRED	3 working days prior to start date

Creative type: Flash

STANDARD SERVING	**vnunet.com will provide a Click-Command generated by Dart – this MUST be embedded in the SwF** Macromedia Flash SwF file Default GIF image file The encapsulating HTML and JavaScript 'sniffer code' that checks a user’s plug-ins and displays the default GIF banner ad if the relevant Flash Player is not detected
THIRD PARTY SERVING	**if the creative is not a DART internal redirect vnunet.com will provide a Click-Command generated by our Dart system – this MUST be embedded in the SwF to allow our system to count clicks** Redirect ad tag All creatives to be used for publisher approval
REQUIRED	5 working days for testing

Creative type: HTML or Image Maps

STANDARD SERVING	HTML code and all images for upload to the DART ad server.
THIRD PARTY SERVING	**if not a DART internal redirect vnunet.com will provide a Click-Command generated by our Dart system – this MUST be embedded in the HTML click through to allow our system to count clicks ** Redirect tags All creatives to be used for publisher approval
REQUIRED	5 working days for testing

Creative type: Java

STANDARD SERVING	**Java creatives taken and assessed on a case by case basis. vnunet.com will provide a Click-Command generated by Dart – this MUST be embedded in the Java creative to record clicks ** Full code to request the Java creative including relevant plug-in and system checks to ensure users only receive the ad if their machine is Java enabled.
THIRD PARTY SERVING	As standard serving All creatives to be used for publisher approval
REQUIRED	5 working days for testing

Creative type: HTML/JavaScript

STANDARD SERVING	HTML and JavaScript code and all images for upload to the DART ad server.
THIRD PARTY SERVING	**if not a DART internal redirect vnunet.com will provide a Click-Command generated by our Dart system – this MUST be embedded in the HTML click through to allow our system to count clicks ** Redirect tags All creatives to be used for publisher approval
REQUIRED	5 working days for testing

Creative type: DHTML 

STANDARD SERVING	DHTML code and all images for upload to the DART ad server.
THIRD PARTY SERVING	**if not a DART internal redirect vnunet.com will provide a Click-Command generated by our Dart system – this MUST be embedded in the DHTML to allow our system to count clicks ** Redirect tags All creatives to be used for publisher approval
REQUIRED	5 working days for testing