Establish what prevented publication
Start with the approved video URL, the approved text version and the time the comment restriction was observed. Keep a capture of the visible restriction and state whether any comment was actually submitted. If the screen only shows that comments are unavailable, report that observation without guessing who changed the setting or why.
For YouTube's Off setting, the official help page states:
viewers can’t comment on the video.
Learn about comment settings
Separate three fields in the delivery record: copy prepared, destination approved and comment published. For the blocked item, the first two may be complete while the third remains unperformed. Leave the comment permalink empty and give the reason. A screenshot of a draft or an approval message is evidence for its own field, not evidence of publication.
This distinction belongs in the buyer's comment visibility acceptance sheet. The record should also name the person responsible for the next decision and the response date agreed with the buyer. Use one stated time zone for observation and follow-up dates.
Compare the three delivery options
The table below is a proposed operating format. Which option is available, and how the unperformed item is treated, depends on the agreement between the buyer and the agency.
| Option | Scope | Approval needed | Execution record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Record the item as blocked | Preserve the original assignment without adding a destination | Buyer acknowledges the exception and its treatment under the agreement | Original URL, observation time, restriction evidence and unperformed status |
| Propose a relevant alternative | Change the destination and possibly the wording or schedule | Buyer reviews the new destination, revised copy and any scope change before execution | Original blocked record linked to the proposal and the later decision |
| Hold pending direction | Keep the item open while no further execution is authorized | Buyer sets the next decision or review date | Pending status, decision owner, agreed follow-up date and any later checks |
Recording a blocked item gives the buyer a documented exception. It may suit a brief tied to a specific video. It does not itself settle whether the item counts toward contractual completion or what remedy applies. Keep that commercial decision separate from the factual execution status.
Proposing an alternative gives the buyer something concrete to assess. Include the candidate URL, the particular discussion it would answer, the relevant passage or context, and the proposed comment text. Explain what changes from the original assignment. A similar topic alone does not carry the earlier approval across to a different discussion.
Holding the item allows the buyer to decide without accepting a destination change. Its drawback is an open item that needs follow-up. Specify who will check back and when; do not invent a deadline or keep repeating attempts against the restriction. If a later check finds that comments are available, confirm whether the original approval still applies before proceeding.
Put the decision in the right order
Avoid beginning with “we found another video.” First establish what the buyer commissioned and which changes the agreement permits. Then use a short decision sequence:
- Check whether the approved destination is essential to the brief. If it is, present the blocked record and ask how the unperformed item should be handled.
- If alternatives are permitted, prepare a proposal with context, wording and schedule. Leave it unexecuted until the required approval is recorded.
- If the buyer needs time, agree on a hold status and follow-up date. Retain the original evidence so the next person can understand why the item is open.
- Record the buyer's selection and any agreed change to scope or treatment. After authorized execution, add the actual publication evidence as a separate event.
Use the same destination-and-text check described in YouTube comment approval timing when a proposed alternative becomes actionable. Earlier approval establishes what was accepted then; the new decision should identify what is accepted now.
Deliver an exception note the buyer can act on
For a hypothetical blocked item, a concise note could read: “The approved video showed comments disabled at the recorded check time. The approved copy is prepared; no comment was published. Attached are the original URL and restriction capture. Please select blocked treatment under our agreement, review of the attached alternative, or a hold with an agreed follow-up date.”
Attach the proposal only if one has been prepared. Do not imply that the buyer has already chosen it. If the buyer selects a new destination, retain both URLs and the approval trail; update the publication field only after a comment is actually published there.
Do not bypass comment restrictions or move to unsolicited messages; substitutions and remedies follow the agreed contract. A useful handoff leaves the buyer able to see what was prepared, what was unperformed and what decision remains theirs.
Want to see how AI engines describe your brand today?
Get a free growth audit