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Coming to a video site near you: more ads

By Ed Oswald, BetaNews

February 21, 2008, 3:50 PM

Google announced Thursday that it will be beta testing a new AdSense program that would place ads in online video.

The company said that the new platform will extend across a variety of video sites, including Brightcove and Yume. Additionally, a number of social video sites including GodTube and others have signed onto the effort.

Google said it will match ads to content based on a number of "signals" within the videos and on the site which they are offered. They will be offered as an overlay, meaning that the video experience will not necessarily be interrupted, just slightly obscured by the ad on the bottom of the viewing window.

Users choose how much they want to interact with the ad, the company said.

"We have two major goals: to make it easier for publishers to monetize video online, and for advertisers to learn how to reach the video community," product manager Shamim Samadi and product marketing manager Ryan Hayward wrote in a blog post announcing the platform.

Certain criteria need to be met in order to participate in AdSense for video beta. Publishers need to serve a minimum of one million video streams per month, operate in the English language and be based in the United States, according to the beta call.

While most people will probably initially balk at the idea of ads within video, new opportunities for a less interrupted viewing experience have opened. Instead of ads preempting the desired stream, these same ads can now be viewed while the actual video plays, say analysts.

In any case, it doesn't appear in-video advertisements are the last stop for Google's ever-increasing online ad presence. "We'll keep testing various formats, iterate and expand, so keep an eye on us," Samadi and Hayward wrote.

Add a Comment (8 Comments)

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By yourcat

posted Feb 24, 2008 - 11:01 PM

who needs ads??? yeah, yeah, $$$$$$$$$$$$, but did someone say annoying already?

Score: 0

By horsecharles

edited Feb 22, 2008 - 4:07 PM

All those criticizing Google video ads are missing the point: there's 'nothing' wrong with 'overlay' video ads... it's the wave of the future; and should prompt the demise of regular(& annoying) video ads.

Adsense video overlay may also help 'fund innovative, high end, better content'.

Basically, this move by Google improves internet surfing enormously.

As well, content & money have to come from somewhere-- this world is not heaven, a giant socialist commune, or a liberal utopia.

Score: 0

By Jahmekan

posted Feb 22, 2008 - 12:48 PM

Do no harm, huh? Google, is becoming a monster. Google will take this as far as possible, until the next "youtube" is created.

Score: 0

By dvferret

posted Feb 22, 2008 - 10:58 AM

I'm fine if its only Google Video since I do not and will not use it.

Score: 0

By shy_one

posted Feb 21, 2008 - 11:01 PM

They will be offered as an overlay, meaning that the video experience will not necessarily be interrupted, just slightly obscured by the ad on the bottom of the viewing window.

Some sites already do this with the sites name or logo and can be a pain while trying to read subtitles.

The best way to have it would be to have the add in between the play button and the video playing area and a small area at the bottom of the screen when watching full screen.(hopefully text adds only flashing adds would be anoying)

Score: 0

By pridewalker

posted Feb 21, 2008 - 10:38 PM

Mental note...add Google video to the list of sites I will no longer visit.

The whole appeal of 'online video' for me is the fact that it's ad free. I've stopped using a number of video sites, simply becaused of the forced advertising that loads prior to the video I've selected.