Every December, streaming watch-time spikes massively. But for many publishers, most of that traffic slips by unmonetized. For publishers, this is the perfect moment to turn high engagement into high revenue. But with changing video trends, rising ad-blocker use, and shifting audience habits, capturing holiday attention takes more than luck. This guide explores the essential tools, strategies, and monetization models that publishers can use to make the most of this festive peak.
What Are the Key Video Monetization Models for Publishers?
Publishers can leverage various monetization models to generate revenue from video content:
- Ad-Supported Video on Demand (AVOD): Incorporates advertisements within video content, allowing free access to viewers while generating revenue through ad impressions.
- Subscription Video on Demand (SVOD): Offers exclusive content to subscribers for a recurring fee, ensuring consistent revenue streams.
- Transactional Video on Demand (TVOD): Enables viewers to pay for individual pieces of content, such as movies or special reports, providing flexibility in content access.
- Hybrid Models: Combines elements of AVOD, SVOD, and TVOD to cater to diverse audience preferences and maximize revenue potential.
What Are the Leading Video Monetization Platforms for Publishers?
Several platforms have emerged as leaders in video monetization, offering versatile tools tailored for publishers:
1. JWP Connatix
Formed through the merger of JW Player and Connatix, JWP Connatix provides a comprehensive video infrastructure and monetization solution. The platform offers AI-driven tools like Deep Contextual for contextual targeting, supporting both content enhancement and advertising. With a client base that includes 80% of the top 25 comScore US publishers, JWP Connatix is well-positioned to help publishers navigate the complexities of video monetization during the holiday season.
2. Dacast
Dacast specializes in live streaming and offers comprehensive monetization options, including pay-per-view and subscription models. This flexibility allows publishers to tailor their monetization strategies to their specific audience and content type, making it a valuable tool during the holiday season when live events and exclusive content are in high demand.
3. Brightcove
Brightcove provides enterprise-level video hosting and monetization solutions, with advanced analytics to optimize revenue strategies. The platform’s scalability and robust features make it suitable for publishers looking to manage large volumes of video content and maximize revenue through various monetization models.
These platforms are excellent for superior content delivery and management. You can then add a seamless monetization layer that runs on top of the existing video infrastructure to amplify ad yield, optimize demand sources, and maximize revenue from every impression with solutions like Mediawrkz. This partnership model allows publishers to leverage the best-in-class tools for both content delivery and financial performance, ensuring they get the most out of their video strategy.
Can affiliate marketing increase revenue for publishers from video content?
Yes. You can integrate product recommendations directly into video content. For example, a video showcasing holiday gift ideas can include affiliate links, earning commissions on any purchases made through them. This works well during the holiday season, when audiences are actively shopping.
Is sponsored content an effective strategy during the holidays?
Absolutely. Brands are particularly active during the holidays and often seek partnerships for festive-themed content. Collaborating on sponsored videos allows publishers to monetize without relying solely on standard ads while delivering content that aligns with viewer interests.
How can licensing or syndication generate additional income?
Publishers can license video content to other media outlets or syndicate it across platforms. This is especially useful for evergreen holiday content, such as festive tutorials or end-of-year recaps, which can generate recurring revenue each season.
Why is short-form video important for publishers in 2025?
Short-form videos on platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels have surged in popularity. Publishers who adapt content to this format can reach a larger audience and maintain higher engagement, creating more opportunities for monetization through ads or partnerships.
How does AI-driven personalization help revenue?
AI can recommend content tailored to individual viewers, increasing engagement and watch time. Higher engagement often translates into higher ad revenue, better subscription retention, and increased effectiveness of sponsored content.
Why should publishers consider Connected TV (CTV)?
The growth of smart TVs and OTT platforms opens new avenues for reaching viewers. Incorporating video content into CTV services can generate additional revenue through ads, subscriptions, or partnerships, especially during high-viewership periods like the holidays.
How Can Publishers Prepare Specifically for the Holiday Season?
To capitalize on the holiday season, publishers should:
- Optimize content for all devices: Holiday viewing often happens on smart TVs in living rooms, on tablets while traveling, or on desktop during research or gifting moments. Poor load times or broken UI on any of these surfaces directly impacts watch-through and revenue.
- Create seasonal content: Content like gift guides, “best of 2025” recaps, festive DIYs, or holiday deal roundups tends to perform better because people are actively searching with purchase or planning intent — not just for entertainment.
- Use dynamic pricing: Adjust pricing strategies for subscriptions or pay-per-view content to reflect holiday demand. Use limited-time bundles, early-access unlocks, or festive discounts to drive urgency. Even small pricing tweaks during this window convert far better than at any other time of year.
- Enhance marketing efforts: Holiday content won’t perform on its own. This is where paid boosts, email campaigns, homepage placements, and brand cross-promotions make a noticeable revenue difference — because traffic and buyer intent are already elevated.
How can publishers use technology to ensure their video ads attract the highest-paying bids?
Beyond the core hosting and player platforms, maximizing ad revenue during the high-demand holiday season requires specialized programmatic technology that guarantees competitive bidding and high fill rates.
This is where solutions focused purely on ad yield become essential. VidAmp, for instance, focuses on publisher-side video yield. Its purpose is to overcome technical hurdles like latency and sequential bidding by facilitating advanced processes such as automated demand management to ensure the publisher’s inventory attracts the highest possible bid from premium advertisers, ultimately maximizing video ad revenue at scale.
During the holiday season, every hour counts
A publisher adjusting pricing for a popular TVOD title, releasing a short-form gift guide video, or testing a new affiliate link sees immediate feedback. The insights gained over these few weeks often inform the approach for the entire next year, making the holiday period not just a revenue moment, but also a practical testing ground for new strategies.
