What caused the sudden 30% decrease in video ad requests for PubMatic's OpenWrap OTT product yesterday?

Introduction

A sudden 30% decrease in video ad requests for PubMatic's OpenWrap OTT product is a critical issue that demands immediate attention and thorough analysis. This significant drop could have far-reaching implications for revenue, user experience, and partner relationships. I'll approach this problem systematically, focusing on identifying the root cause, validating hypotheses, and developing both short-term fixes and long-term strategies to prevent future occurrences.

Step 1

Clarifying Questions (3 minutes)

• Looking at the timing, I'm thinking this could be a recent change. When exactly did you first notice this 30% decrease?

Why it matters: Pinpointing the exact timeframe helps narrow down potential causes. Expected answer: "We noticed it yesterday morning." Impact on approach: A sudden drop suggests an acute issue rather than a gradual decline.

• Considering the nature of OTT, I'm curious about content distribution. Has there been any change in the types of content being streamed recently?

Why it matters: Content type can significantly affect ad request volumes. Expected answer: "No major changes in content distribution." Impact on approach: If content hasn't changed, we'll focus more on technical or user behavior issues.

• Given the specificity of the metric, I'm wondering about our measurement systems. Have there been any recent changes or updates to how we track video ad requests?

Why it matters: Ensures we're not dealing with a measurement error. Expected answer: "No recent changes to our tracking systems." Impact on approach: If confirmed, we can rule out measurement issues and focus on actual performance factors.

• Thinking about the OTT landscape, I'm considering external factors. Have any major streaming events or competitor actions occurred recently?

Why it matters: External events can dramatically impact user behavior and ad requests. Expected answer: "No significant external events that we're aware of." Impact on approach: If no external factors are identified, we'll focus more on internal issues.