AIM Users Streamed Political Video Ads

In the finals days before voters go to the polls in US Presidential election, partisans are doing nearly everything possible to reach out to voters in so-called "swing states." No one is immune to their unrelenting efforts to sway public sentiment -- not even users of America Online.

For the past several ad cycles, AOL Instant Messenger users who volunteered their zip code are now receiving geo-targeted streaming video political ads as they chat.

An AOL spokesperson told BetaNews that the ads were spread across the political spectrum and represent both Democrats, Republicans and their aligned interest groups. "The Internet is obviously merging as a platform that politicians are using more effectively and more actively than they have in the past," said the spokesperson.

As first reported by BetaNews, AOL has debuted new 30-second live action video advertising units called AIM Buddy List Super Video. AOL has integrated controls that enable users to silence videos in an attempt to strike a balance between revenue generating promotions and the quality of the AIM user experience.