Selecting content formats based on predicted user interest

A computer-implemented method comprising:

• identifying one or more candidate content item format types for content items to be presented to users in association with video content;
• predicting a likelihood a particular user will abandon a current session if presented with a candidate content item based at least in part on the content item format type of the candidate content item;
• determining whether to present the candidate content item to the particular user based at least in part on the predicting;
• and
• presenting the candidate content item based at least in part on the determining.

A computer-implemented method comprising:

• determining a prediction of a user's interest in receiving an additional content item in association with a viewing of a video content item during a session;
• determining a format for the additional content item;
• determining a time to deliver the additional content item during the session;
• identifying one or more candidate content items that satisfy the format;
• and
• delivering one of the candidate content items in accordance with the delivery time.

A computer storage medium encoded with a computer program, the computer program comprising instructions that when executed by one or more computers cause the one or more computers to perform operations comprising:

• receiving a request to present additional content to a user in association with the user viewing a video content item during a session;
• identifying one or more candidate content formats;
• predicting a likelihood that the user will abandon the session for each candidate content format;
• selecting a format based at least in part on the predicting;
• determining when to present the additional content to the user;
• and
• presenting the additional content in accordance with the selected format.

A system comprising:

• a content presentation system for presenting content to users, the content presentation system including a session manager, a user behavior predictor, a content format selector, and a content timing selector;
• wherein the session manager is enabled to receive a request to present additional content to a user in association with the user viewing a video content item during a session, to identify one or more candidate content formats, and to present the additional content;
• wherein the user behavior predictor is enabled to predict a likelihood that the user will abandon the session for each candidate content format;
• wherein the content format selector is enabled to select a format based at least in part on the predicting;
• and
• wherein the content timing selector is enabled to determine when to present the additional content to the user.