MSN video insights and ad revenue share FAQs for MSN Partners

A view is counted each time a user starts a video. The user does not need to be unique.

An engaged view is counted when a video start lasts 5 seconds or longer.

Consumed video refers to the total number of seconds a video was watched, also known as watch time. This metric is aggregated and reported by headline, brand, and publisher in the Content analytics dashboard.

• Embedded videos appear within articles.

• Watch videos are presented on the Watch page, a standalone scrolling video feed.

These are referred to as video consumption experiences, and your revenue is tracked separately for each.

You can find this breakdown in:

• The Earnings report tab in MSN Partner Hub (select from the ad revenue share type dropdown).

• Your monthly revenue statement, available on the 15th of the month following the activity period.

The statement includes:

• Summary tab

• Embedded video detailed tab

• Watch video detailed tab

You are paid based on consumed video—the number of seconds your video content was watched within each experience and market. Neither views nor engaged views directly influence revenue.

• Volume = Total consumed video (in seconds)

• Rate = Revenue per second consumed (RPSC), which varies by experience and market

• Earnings = Volume × Rate

Yes. Revenue rates vary by market and may fluctuate due to seasonality or optimizations to the video experience.

No. Video duration does not affect earnings. What matters is how long users actually watch the video (consumed seconds).

Example: 10 short videos vs. 1 long video. If both result in the same number of consumed seconds, the earnings will be the same—assuming they’re in the same market and experience.

We recommend 3 to 5 minutes. Use performance data from MSN Partner Hub to adjust your strategy.

Yes.

• Watch video is optimized for mobile and performs well on scrolling devices.

• Embedded video works best on desktop as a companion to written content.

To improve video performance:

• Focus on high-quality, relevant content

• Use strong titles, thumbnails, and descriptions

• Optimize tagging for discoverability

• Experiment with formats and lengths

• Monitor analytics and iterate based on performance

Example 1: When a user starts a video and watches it for 3 seconds [View = 1, Engaged view = 0, Consumed video= 3 seconds]

Example 2: When a user starts a video and watches it for 12 seconds [View = 1, Engaged view = 1, Consumed video= 12]

For awareness, each discrete view is not available in MSN Partner Hub. Rather, this information is aggregated by headline, by brand, and by publisher.

User engagement is one of several factors used to rank content in personalized feeds. Videos that perform poorly in engagement may be shown less often.

Yes. Videos added to articles via your feed can still be embedded and monetized under the current model.