How Venue Revenue Share Works in DOOH Networks

The CPM Revenue Waterfall

Advertising revenue in DOOH doesn't flow directly from advertiser to venue — it passes through several layers, each taking a fee for the services they provide. Here's what the waterfall looks like in a typical programmatic DOOH transaction:

1. Advertiser pays gross CPM
   The advertiser or their DSP pays the winning auction price — the gross CPM for that impression. For indoor venue inventory, this typically ranges from $5 to $50+ depending on venue type, market, and demand.
2. Demand partner fee
   Platforms like Vistar Media and Google Ad Manager take a percentage for aggregating demand, operating the exchange infrastructure, and providing the connection between DSPs and SSPs. This fee is deducted from the gross CPM before it reaches the network level.
3. Platform fee (YAXI TV)
   YAXI TV retains a percentage for operating the ad server, player application, CMS, network management, reporting infrastructure, and support. This is how YAXI TV generates revenue from the network it operates.
4. Venue revenue share
   After demand partner and platform fees, the remaining net CPM is allocated to the venue partner based on the agreed revenue share percentage. This is what the venue earns per thousand verified impressions from their screen.

As a practical illustration: if a $15 CPM gross impression flows through a 15% demand partner fee and a 25% platform fee, the net reaching the venue tier is approximately $9. If the venue's revenue share is 60% of net, the venue earns approximately $5.40 per thousand impressions. At 1,000 verified impressions per day, that's approximately $5.40/day or $162/month per screen.

These are illustrative numbers only — not guaranteed rates. Actual fees, CPMs, and revenue share percentages vary by arrangement.

What Determines Monthly Venue Earnings

Four primary factors determine how much a specific venue earns in a given month:

1. Total Verified Impressions

This is the most direct driver. More impressions = more revenue. Total impressions are determined by: how many hours per day screens are online and active, how many ad break slots are configured per hour, and what the fill rate is (what percentage of those slots receive a paying advertiser). A screen that is online 16 hours/day with 2 ad breaks per hour and 70% fill rate delivers roughly 22 impressions per hour × 16 hours × 30 days = ~10,560 impressions/month.

2. Market Advertiser Demand

Markets with more active DOOH advertisers generate higher CPMs (through competitive auctions) and higher fill rates (more bidders competing for slots). A screen in Los Angeles or Chicago typically earns more per impression than the same screen in a smaller market, because there is more advertiser competition for the inventory.

3. Venue Category

Certain venue categories attract higher-CPM demand because they deliver particularly relevant audiences to specific advertiser categories. Medical waiting rooms attract healthcare and insurance advertisers willing to pay premium CPMs. Fitness centers attract health, wellness, and nutrition advertisers. Venues in these categories often earn more per impression than comparable screens in a general restaurant environment.

4. Ad Fill Rate

Fill rate is the percentage of configured ad slots that receive a paying ad rather than house content. Fill rates vary with market demand, time of day, day of week, and the number of category blocks the venue has enabled. Venues that minimize unnecessary category blocks and keep floor prices at reasonable levels maximize their fill rate and, therefore, their total revenue.

Payment Process

YAXI TV calculates venue payouts from verified proof-of-play impression logs accumulated during the calendar month. At the end of the billing period, these logs are reconciled against ad decision records, revenue is calculated based on the reconciled impression count and applicable CPMs, and payouts are processed on the monthly schedule defined in the partner agreement.

Venues need an active payout account configured in their dashboard to receive payments. Payout minimums and methods are defined in the partner agreement — contact us for details if you're evaluating whether minimum thresholds are relevant for your expected impression volume.

Realistic Expectations

We don't publish revenue estimates because actual results vary too much by market, venue, and operational factors. What we can say clearly:

• A single screen in a low-traffic venue in a new market will generate modest revenue — likely supplemental income, not a primary revenue source.
• Screens in high-traffic venues in active markets (Los Angeles, Chicago, Metro Detroit, New York) with strong advertiser demand will generate meaningfully more.
• Revenue grows as: your market's advertiser demand increases, your fill rates improve, and your screen portfolio expands.
• The most accurate way to calibrate expectations is to set up your screens, get approved for monetization, and observe your actual fill rates and CPMs for 60–90 days.