A programmable and universal video serving platform enabling brand safe digital ads to be inserted into linear television cable and broadcast programming feeds. A linear programming feed includes a cue message that indicates a spot for ad insertion into the programming feed. Detection of the cue message triggers the generation of a VAST protocol ad request from the video serving platform to a digital ad server, the request including programmable fields that are configured to obtain data to generate standard and custom VAST tag information, including audience impression information and distribution platform information as needed. The digital ad server delivers a VAST response back to the video serving platform identifying a digital ad for insertion, and the video serving platform enables playout of the selected digital ad during the designated insertion spot into the programming feed. This process can be implemented for national cable and broadcast network advertising such that VAST-driven ads can be placed to run on the entire footprint of the cable or broadcast network, or just in a particular geographic market.