JWP 8.38.4 introduces a new configuration option for video thumbnails, adds support for unencoded Google PPS segment values and the HLS #EXT-X-SESSION-DATA tag, and includes player performance improvements to optimize preview image requests.

New Features

• The player supports unencoded Google PPS (enablePPS) segment values in ad requests for compatibility with ad partners.
• The enableVideoThumbnails config option allows disabling motion thumbnails to display static posters.
• The player supports the HLS #EXT-X-SESSION-DATA tag, enabling access to SSAI session information in VOD playback.

Bug Fix

• The player optimizes preview image requests, preventing redundant file downloads.

Dynamic Ads are now available to help you customize ad experiences based on your goals and viewer expectations. This feature can be used both with ad schedules and Dynamic Strategy Rules, giving you greater flexibility to manage ad delivery.

New Feature

Dynamic Ads let you define ad rules directly from your JWP dashboard, balancing audience experience with monetization potential.

Key Benefits:

• Tailor the viewing experience with intuitive, non-technical ad rules
• Set ad rules based on customer goals
• Boost monetization through increased opportunities for ad fill and impressions
• Use preset rules to easily align your ad strategy with industry specifications

Dynamic Ads can be used when defining an ad schedule or creating an advertising library within Dynamic Strategy Rules.

Contact your JWPC representative to get started with Dynamic Ads.

You can now retrieve the placement_name and country_code metrics in your Dynamic Strategy Rules analytics.

New Feature

The placement_name metric supplements the existing placement_id metric, while the country_code metric provides additional granularity alongside the US_UK_OR_ROW metric. Both metrics can now be included when querying data through Data Sharing.

You can now retrieve the watched_duration_audible metric in your play session monthly analytics.

New Feature

The watched_duration_audible metric can now be added when querying data through Data Sharing. This metric represents the total duration of content watched with audio unmuted, in seconds.

Easily create and fine-tune captions and chapter points with our new interactive timeline.

New Feature

The dashboard’s tracks editor now features an enhanced timeline that lets you manually set or adjust the time codes and durations of captions and chapters. Zoom controls give you precise editing capabilities, whether you’re working on short clips or long-form content — helping you deliver more accurate, polished media experiences.

For more information, learn how to add closed captions and chapter markers. 

This release resolves an issue in version 4.23.0 that could cause an App Store submission rejection.

If you are on 4.23.0, do not submit that version to the App Store. Update directly to 4.23.1 to ensure compliance and stability.

iOS SDK 4.23.0 introduces support for raw VMAP XML ad schedules in JWAdsAdvertisingConfig and JWPlayerItem objects, enhances compatibility with Google IMA ads, updates the PrivacyInfo.xcprivacy file, raises the minimum supported iOS version, and includes bug fixes to improve playback behavior and stability.

New Features

• Support for raw VMAP XML schedules has been added to JWAdsAdvertisingConfig and JWPlayerItem objects.
• Autostart (vpa) and mute (vpmute) parameters are now appended to Google IMA ads.
• The PrivacyInfo.xcprivacy file has been modified to clarify that JWPC does not track user-specific data.
• The minimum supported iOS version has been raised to 15.0.

Bug Fixes

• Custom data (.userInfo) is now sent to custom Chromecast receivers.
• When displayInLandscape is true, content remains in fullscreen mode regardless of device orientation.
• Seamless playback continues after exiting Picture-in-Picture (PiP) mode.
• Viewers can seek within the DVR window during live streams.

Deprecation

• iOS 14 is no longer supported.

This release includes improved ad loading behavior on iOS and automatic preroll setup for Dynamic Ads.

New Features

• iOS respects background ad loading settings providing smoother playback without interruptions.
• Dynamic Ads automatically enables preroll support, ensuring compatibility across embed types.

Broadcast Live has expanded its accepted formats for static ingest points. 

New Features

Broadcast Live now supports RTP and RTP-FEC ingest formats, in addition to the existing SRT and RTMP formats. This update expands input protocol options when creating new ingest points.

Learn how to create a static ingest point using the dashboard or API. 

Android SDK 4.21.0 adds support for loading raw VMAP XML schedules in VampAdvertisingConfig and PlaylistItem objects, upgrades the OM SDK to version 1.4.12, and includes various bug fixes for improved stability and playback behavior.

New Features

• Support for raw VMAP XML schedules has been added to VampAdvertisingConfig and PlaylistItem objects.
• OM SDK has been upgraded to 1.4.12.

Bug Fixes

• OMID ad measurements are now successfully sent via the JWP Android SDK with the OM SDK 1.4.12 upgrade.
• (React-Native) related configurations now reload properly when the player is relaunched, ensuring consistent behavior across lifecycle events.
• Fullscreen dialogs are now correctly dismissed when an activity is destroyed, preventing window leaks and improving lifecycle handling.
• Improved surface lifecycle management prevents ExoPlayer crashes caused by prematurely released surfaces.
• IMA ads no longer reload when returning from the background.