Integrations & Data Sources

Integrations & Data Sources

This section contains all documentation for connecting data sources to Watching That and querying your data through external platforms.

How data flows into Watching That

Watching That ingests data through four primary methods, which can be used independently or in combination depending on the data source:

Method

What It Does

Examples

Method

What It Does

Examples

Log Files

Batch ingestion of event-level data from ad servers and SSPs. The primary feed for most deployments.

FreeWheel v4 logs, GAM Data Transfer files, SpringServe log level data

API Connections

Interface with system APIs for metadata enrichment (resolving IDs to friendly names), powering Validation Monitors (configuration checking), and pulling reporting data from SSPs and demand partners.

FreeWheel MRM API, GAM API, Index Exchange, Magnite, GAM AdX

Email / CSV Import

Automated ingestion of scheduled reports delivered as email attachments, or manual CSV file uploads. Used for SSP and demand partner rollup data.

SSP daily revenue reports, demand partner performance summaries

Collector

Real-time event tracking via pixels deployed in ad responses, browser plugins on video players, or custom code pushing data to the Collector endpoint.

Ad server pixels, Brightcove/JW Player plugins, server-side proxy implementations

Each data source in Watching That may use one or more of these methods. The sections below are organised by technology type — find your vendor and everything you need is in one place.


Data sources by technology type

Ad Servers

Primary event data via log files, API connections for enrichment and Validation Monitors, and optional pixel deployment for real-time tracking.

SSPs & Demand Partners

Performance data from SSP and demand partner platforms via Reporting API integrations or Email / CSV import. Currently supported via Reporting API: Index Exchange, Magnite, and Google Ad Manager Ad Exchange (AdX). More connections being added via both methods.

Video Players

Real-time event tracking via pre-built browser plugins that wrap the Collector API.

AI & LLM Platforms

Query your Watching That data using natural language from AI assistants via the MCP Server.

Platform Tools & References

Shared infrastructure documentation: Collector API spec, Email / CSV Data Import reference, plugin configuration, MCP Server reference, and custom integration guides.