Thomas Eccel observed that YouTube Shorts is expanding. Horizontal 16:9 video ads are now showing within Shorts on desktop, allowing advertisers to tap into Shorts inventory without needing vertical creatives.
What this means for advertisers:
- Run existing horizontal video ads in Shorts inventory (desktop only).
- No need to repurpose or reformat into 9:16.
- Easier campaign scaling with minimal creative changes.
These horizontal ads appear with black bars or filler space, which may impact visual appeal. But if your goal is reach and efficiency, this update unlocks new potential without extra production effort.
