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Cost Per View (CPV)

The cost an advertiser pays for a single video view.

Definition

Cost Per View (CPV) is the price you pay each time someone views your video ad. The definition of a "view" varies by platform — YouTube counts a view after 30 seconds (or the full ad if shorter), while other platforms may count shorter engagements.

Formula

CPV = Total Ad Spend / Number of Views

Why It Matters

CPV is the primary metric for video advertising campaigns, especially on YouTube and TikTok. Tracking CPV helps you understand the efficiency of your video content and compare performance across platforms.

Benchmarks

  • YouTube average CPV: $0.010–$0.030
  • TikTok average CPV: $0.005–$0.015
  • Facebook video ads: $0.01–$0.05

Examples

  • A brand awareness campaign on YouTube achieving $0.02 CPV with 500,000 views on a $10,000 budget
  • A TikTok campaign reaching $0.008 CPV using creator-style content

Common Mistakes

  • Comparing CPV across platforms without understanding different view definitions
  • Optimizing for views instead of downstream conversions