[BUG] [iOS] Video playback fails to start after preroll ads – black screen or second ad not playing

[jakubjuraszek]

Describe the bug
When playing VOD content with preroll ads (using Google IMA), playback occasionally fails to start after the preroll finishes. In some cases, the video screen turns black, and if two ads are scheduled, the second one often doesn't begin at all. The issue is observed frequently, though not consistently 100% of the time.

To Reproduce
Use the Example application as a starting point and use the provided player configuration.

Steps to reproduce the behavior:

Configure the player with a VOD file and the provided ad schedule (Google IMA).

Set autostart: true and preload: true in the config.

Observe playback on iOS device (physical or simulator).

Try replaying or restarting playback several times.

Eventually, the video will remain black after a preroll, or the second ad will fail to start if two are scheduled.

Expected behavior
After the preroll ad(s) complete, the main video should begin playing automatically without black screens or freezes.

Screenshots / Visual evidence
Issue is not consistently reproducible with every attempt, but occurs frequently enough (especially on iOS physical devices) to be a critical bug.

Device(s) affected

Any iOS, example:

iPhone 14 Pro (physical)

iPhone 15 (physical)

iOS Simulators (various)

OS: iOS 17.x

RN Version: 0.73

JWP RN Plugin: 1.0.3 and 1.1.1 (both affected)

JWPlayer Config:

{ license: 'LICENSE', pipEnabled: false, preload: true, autostart: true, backgroundAudioEnabled: true, playerInModal: false, hideUIGroups: [ 'settings_menu', 'quality_submenu', 'audiotracks_submenu', 'playback_submenu', ], playlist: [ { file: 'ANY VOD URL' } ], advertising: { client: 'googima', schedule: 'https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?iu=/21775744923/external/vmap_ad_samples&sz=640x480&cust_params=sample_ar%3Dpreonlybumper&ciu_szs=300x250&gdfp_req=1&ad_rule=1&output=vmap&unviewed_position_start=1&env=vp&impl=s&correlator=' } }

Additional context

The issue occurs frequently but not on every single run.

Seems limited to iOS — Android devices do not show this behavior.

Happens with both skippable and non-skippable ads.

This may be a bug in the JWP iOS SDK or a config-related issue. We would appreciate confirmation and a recommended fix or workaround if it's related to configuration.

[Jmilham21]

Hey @jakubjuraszek, is this with legacy configs? Are you able to capture any native logs when you see this happen? I believe it is possible, but I haven't been able to reproduce it yet.

[jakubjuraszek]

@Jmilham21 Thank you for quick reply. We tried both configs, same result. Tried 1.0.3 and 1.1.1 version. Tried to upgrade / downgrade JWP iOS SDK and Google IMA iOS SDK. Still the same.
Logs which could help:

[LOG TYPE]: Error
[METHOD]: request:didFailWithError:
[withMessage]: Ad Request <HyBidAdRequest: 0x6000032a4140> failed with error: HyBid - No fill

[LOG TYPE]: Error
[METHOD]: request:didFailWithError:
[withMessage]: Ad Request <HyBidAdRequest: 0x6000032cf5c0> failed with error: HyBid - No fill

[JWPlayerKit/JWPlayerViewController.swift, 1223]: JWPlayerKit Ad Error [402]: VAST media file loading reached a timeout of 8 seconds.
'onPlayerAdError', { error: 'VAST media file loading reached a timeout of 8 seconds.', target: 7379 }

Important: On a physical device, I very often had reproduction issues on both VOD and live stream. On the emulator, I almost never have reproduction issues with VOD. However, on any test live stream, the issue happens almost every time.

The VAST tag I use for testing (and where I can reproduce the problem) is a test VAST tag from Google IMA. It works fine on other players.