A request from a user to view a video content item may be received, the requesting user being associated with a set of preferences and a context. A group of similar users may be identified based the set of preferences or the context. A number of promotional video items corresponding to the video content item may be identified. A first subset of the number of promotional video items may be determined based on the set of preferences or the context of the user. A watch time difference may be determined for each promotional video item in the first subset. A second subset may be determined based on the watch time difference associated with each promotional video items. An activity rate associated with the promotional video items in the second subset is determined. A promotional video item of the second subset that satisfies a criterion is provided to the user.