Why was my YouTube or Google TV masthead disapproved?
Direct answerA masthead has to meet ordinary Google Ads policies, the YouTube and Discover creative rules, and a shorter format list that bans election and political assets and most gambling. The masthead format requirements, reviewed October 19, 2026, cover the ad at the top of the YouTube homepage and the first slot of the Google TV home carousel. Google TV adds its own picture, video, and product limits.
Every masthead
A YouTube masthead is what people see at the top of the YouTube homepage. A Google TV masthead is the first slot of the feature carousel when someone turns the TV on or comes back to the home screen. The first block of rules applies to both. The quality and electronics rules below apply only to Google TV.
On every masthead, Google does not allow:
- Assets related to elections or politics.
- Assets that depict or reference gambling, including offline gambling, online gambling, online non-casino games, and social casino games.
The gambling exceptions are narrow:
- Sports betting, if it meets the Gambling and games policy.
- Daily Fantasy Sports targeting Canada and the United States, if it meets that same policy.
Those exceptions do not replace the gambling rules. They say a sportsbook or a DFS ad can be considered for a masthead only when it already qualifies there. Election verification that lets an ad run under US political ads or EU political ads does not clear this masthead ban.
Exaggerated claims, distressing imagery, and the election exemption from the extra YouTube layer live on YouTube and Discover ad requirements. The masthead still has to meet that page, and then this one.
Google TV only
| Asset | What Google requires |
|---|---|
| Image | No pixelation. PNG or 72 dpi. 16:9. |
| Video | No pixelation. At least 1080p. 16:9. |
| Consumer electronics | Televisions, smartphones, tablets, and soundbars are not allowed. Other electronics can be, including headphones, gaming consoles, laptops and desktops, wearables, imaging gear, routers and thermostats, and large appliances such as air conditioners, washers, and dryers. |
Google says the allowed electronics list is “including but not limited to” those examples. A product that is not named is not automatically banned, and a television is not saved by sitting next to an allowed headphone. Blur and illegible type on other placements are image quality. Length and tracking pixels are video ad requirements.
Google says these format requirements can be more restrictive than other surfaces, so a disapproved masthead asset may continue to run on Google’s other owned and operated properties. If you disagree with the decision, or you have fixed the asset, appeal from the Google Ads account. This page does not print a 7-day suspension warning.
Sources
Reviewed October 19, 2026. Policies change. This is not legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
Election ads can run on YouTube. Why not on the masthead?
Verified election ads are exempt from the extra YouTube and Discover creative-quality page. The masthead format page is stricter: assets related to elections or politics are not allowed on the masthead.
Can a sportsbook run a masthead?
Assets that depict or reference gambling are not allowed, including offline gambling, online gambling, online non-casino games, and social casino games. Google’s exceptions are sports betting that meets the Gambling and games policy, and Daily Fantasy Sports targeting Canada and the United States that meet that same policy.
The file was disapproved as a masthead and still runs in-stream. Is the account broken?
Google says masthead requirements can be more restrictive than other surfaces. A disapproved masthead asset may continue to run on Google’s other owned and operated properties.
Check the homepage placement separately
LaunchGuarding can scan the creative and the landing page for claims and category risk before a masthead is reserved.