> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.upstackdata.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Blended Cost per Video Play: Ad Efficiency Metric

> Track your cost per video play initiation across Meta, Google, and TikTok. Measure video ad efficiency and optimize autoplay cost performance.

<Tip>
  How much you spend on average for each video play initiation across all channels.
</Tip>

## Formula

<Info>
  **Blended Cost per Video Play** = **Blended Spend** ÷ **Blended Video Plays**
</Info>

### Formula Components

| Metric                                                                                              | Definition                                        |
| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------- |
| [**Blended Spend**](/reference/metrics/advertising/blended/blended-spend/blended-spend)             | Total ad spend across all platforms               |
| [**Blended Video Plays**](/reference/metrics/advertising/blended/blended-video/blended-video-plays) | Total video play initiations across all platforms |

| Metadata        |                                                                                                     |
| --------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Type**        | Currency                                                                                            |
| **Data Source** | [Meta Ads](/sources/facebook-ads), [Google Ads](/sources/google-ads), [TikTok Ads](/sources/tiktok) |
| **Aggregation** | Ratio                                                                                               |

***

## Example

Your campaigns spent **\$15,000** and generated **500,000 video plays** this month:

| Channel     | Spend        | Video Plays | Cost per Play |
| ----------- | ------------ | ----------- | ------------- |
| Meta Ads    | \$8,000      | 320,000     | \$0.025       |
| TikTok Ads  | \$5,000      | 150,000     | \$0.033       |
| Google Ads  | \$2,000      | 30,000      | \$0.067       |
| **Blended** | **\$15,000** | **500,000** | **\$0.030**   |

***

## How It Works

Blended Cost per Video Play aggregates your total ad spend and video play initiations across all connected platforms, then calculates the average cost per play. Unlike video views (which may require watch duration), video plays count each time a video starts—including autoplay.

***

## When to Use

| Scenario                    | Action                                                                        |
| --------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Evaluating play efficiency  | Compare cost per play across campaigns to find cost-effective video creatives |
| Budget allocation           | Shift budget toward channels with lower cost per play                         |
| Autoplay optimization       | Measure how efficiently your ads trigger video starts                         |
| Cross-platform benchmarking | Compare play costs across Meta, Google, and TikTok                            |

***

## Related Metrics

| Metric                                                                                          | Relationship                                  |
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------- |
| [Blended Spend](/reference/metrics/advertising/blended/blended-spend/blended-spend)             | Numerator in cost per play calculation        |
| [Blended Video Plays](/reference/metrics/advertising/blended/blended-video/blended-video-plays) | Denominator in cost per play calculation      |
| [Blended CPV](/reference/metrics/advertising/blended/blended-video/blended-cpv)                 | Cost per video view (requires watch duration) |

[See all Blended Video metrics →](/reference/metrics/advertising/blended/blended-video)