In-Program Ads on NBC's Law & Order SVU Tonight

Just saw a first, at least for me...and it was surprising. A brief animated banner ad for the movie "American Gangster" including text/with a simple B&W graphic like the one above moved across the bottom of the screen. It appeared smack dab in the middle of two sections of programming and was interruptive as hell. Impossible to skip that ad.

Now the networks/channels have been running promotions for their own programming for some time. And YouTube now carries its AdWords at the bottom of videos, but this is major step in prime time network advertising.

Let me think about it overnight, and I'll add some more impressions in the AM. Gnite.

Here's the view from broad daylight. They're annoying as hell...but they did get my attention and since the buzz for the movie is good it did help remind me when, specifically, American Gangster was opening.

Why The Digitized "The Last Supper" by Van Gogh Advertising is Sacrilege

First take a look at the post below and at the digitized painting site (blow up the mysterious knife holding hand indicated above). http://www.haltadefinizione.com/en/

Then consider this:

1. Only 300,000 people can view the painting in Milan to protect it from further decay.
2. On the internet millions can now view the painting in much greater detail than in person while soothing music plays. It's a true multimedia experience. And...a brand new way to view art.
3. The internet version of "The Last Supper" is interactive...it's fun to enlarge specific areas of the painting (such Christ's head) or pan from side to side.
4. The success of this should result in more large scale digitized paintings on the net ("The Mona Lisa", Monet's various "Water Lilies," Seurat's grand canvas "Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte" and so on....).
5. So how do you use this in advertising?
6. Well..not the way it's currently done in the remarkably unholy "The Last Supper"
7. Google AdWords link to a.) "Da Vinci Prostatectomy." b.) A link to find paintings on eBay c.) and, finally, an AdWord that makes sense "Milan Last Supper" for Milan tours
8. And...at the bottom a banner ad for Sprungle Swiss chocolate! Like popcorn for viewing the site?
9. Wrong!, Wrong! Robots matching ads to sites...that's the unholy, sacrilegious result here which will work against the sponsors rather than for them. But the site's makers should have their eye on all this and demand changes.
10. Yes...there's a poster of the painting...better.
11. But where is advertising asking for donations to preserve the painting, or for Milan hotels to stay in when you visit to see the masterpiece...or even an Armani corporate ad highlighting a preservation donation
12. That's what's needed here. For the future this is a huge opportunity for museums to highlight major moneymaking exhibitions, to sell posters and books, and travel to these locations. That's the way to monetize digital art.

The Last Supper by Leonardo DaVinci on the Internet Viewable At 16 Billion Pixels

Learn much more from the offical site here. Check it out.

http://www.haltadefinizione.com/en/

Another amazing internet achievement. WIth the massive digitization of books from the major worldwide libraries (Oxford, Harvard, etc) surprised Google missed this. Think they'll be on the trail soon? What can you find in this picture nobody has seen before.

More later.

Lindsey Rumored To Enter "Don't Die Lindsey" Treatment Program

The ad below ran three weeks ago for a New Jersey addiction treatment center which offers the Prometa Protocols for alcohol, cocaine and methampetamine. What a strange ad story this is.



Today, Star Magazine "moles claimed that Lindsay is under the care of Matthew Torrington, M.D., medical director of the PROMETA Center, an outpatient clinic in Santa Monica specializing in treating alcohol, cocaine and metamphetamine (crystal meth) addictions that is at the forefront of a major controversy within the medical community."

“In my clinical experience, I have found the treatment to be very, very effective and an incredible aid to people who are suffering,” Dr. Torrington tells the weekly tab, “but the lack of accepted clinical testing, say some critics, raises many troubling questions about the PROMETA program.”

“At this time, there is no peer-reviewed research that has been done on the treatment,” David Kan, M.D., a substance-abuse expert at the VA Medical Center in San Francisco, spills to Star. “There is also no evidence to suggest it is productive.”

Photoshop Contest "The Inner David ": Making Art Safe for Children

So expurgated...so modern. Ah g'nite.

Photoshop Contest "Fig Art": Making Art Safe For The Children

I just love these as little baubles to amuse ourselves with at the end of the day. Enjoy. See what a terrific piece of software and an internet contest can do.

Why Did Google Recently Purchase Three Social Software Companies: Dodgeball, Jaiku & Zingku?

My previous post reviewed Google's recent acquisitions of three social software companies and briefly profiled each one. Read it below. Here, as promised, is a more detailed discussion of the rationale for purchasing these companies.

Dodgeball, Jaiku, and Zingku are all, in one way or another cellphone-IM communications. It's a market that's still quite open in the US.

To understand the potential market size you need to look at Europe. Texting in the UK (the market we're most familiar with) is the basis of all cell communications for 18-26 year olds in the university market. Part of this is that prepaid minutes are much more popular over there than in the US and that you can send 20 texts in the U.K. for the price of a minute's conversation.

Young Europeans text everything, complex plans, where to meet, news, even long conversations. On average probably 10-20 texts per day. And unlike here in the US, they're always on Instant Messenger.

So if text becomes less expensive in America and Google has all the cool text-related sites they're looking at a potentially huge market. In the emerging age of iphone (or if a Googlephone exists?), These will be great places to sell video or visual AdWord-like-objects that become SOCIALLY relevant in an immediate manner.

Plus...these sites will also get radical upgrades which will also make them even more desirable for the European market.

We've been using Dodgeball at Jugular, and I'll explain how it might all work in the next entry (thanks to Katie, our Jugular intern for her smart research and insight).

Google Acquires Dodgeball, Jaiku and Zingku.

What's all this about now as Google continues their rampage through new acquisitions to build their dominance of new markets. Here are three small, related companies Google recently acquired and promises to collaborate with by providing engineering muscle.

Dodgeball allows cell phone users to know when their registered friends (and friends friends) are in the area via cellphone and online service.

Jaiku is a Finland-based pseudo-blog where people post AIM-away like message updates. Posts can be made online or via cell.

Zingku bills itself as a "supercharged mobile text and picture messaging service to easily send images, posts, flyers and polls."

These are very cool companies--all designed, in different ways, to further Google's expansion of its cellphone and IM communications both here in the US and in Europe. Much, much more on these companies, especially Dodgeball, and where Google appears to be going on coming up here in The New Advertising in the next few days.

Targeted Video Ads on Google: A Better Approach from Blinkx?

Blinkx is a small British video search company.

The company released a tool Wednesday that lets online publishers place targeted text ads in any video embedded on a Web site based on the actual content of the video. That's a lot different (and may be a lot better?) than the Google approach you'll find above. Google figures out what ads to pair with a video based strictly on the video's title and any keywords attached to the clip.

Blinkx software "listens to" and "watches" the video, then inserts text overlay ads based on the spoken words and to some extent, the images in the clip. That technology depends on algorithms developed by a longstanding Google competitor, search engine Autonomy.

Here's an example of how Blinkx's contextual advertising might work: Imagine a teenager doing a podcast about a new digital camera. Blinkx software might create a text ad for the camera at the bottom of the video player, even if the clip isn't labeled with the digital camera brand.

Blinkx Chief Executive Suranga Chandratillake says the software can also recognize written words and even a small library of faces. That means that automatic ad targeting isn't limited to the relatively small amount of video content generated by media companies and savvy bloggers who carefully label all of their content with text tags, he says.

Advertisers will be able to insert targeted ads into the massive number of amateur videos on the Internet, many of which often weren't intended to generate revenue and so carry no content-related tags. Will they have to obtain rights to do this...we'll see?

AdSense With YouTube Working Example

It finally works...see it above. Notice the tie-ins to other stories on the page. I'd be a lot happier, though, if the player could be smaller.

Signing up for AdSense with YouTube

It's not hard...but it's also not working on this site as I write this. There is a message on the Google instruction pages saying videos will be live later today 10/9/09. Hopefully, you'll see an actual working example when you check this out.

Here's what you need to do:

1. Agree to the fundamental terms of the program, including very ambiguous financials for the site owner
2. Sign into your AdSense account
3. Add the last four digits of your phone number and your zip code
4. Sign into or open a YouTube account
5. Press a button that links them
6. Choose a player size from small, medium and large sizes and player highlight colors
7. Select whether you want Google to choose the videos based on an analysis of your site's content, specify keywords, choose from a list of categories or specify ads from a list of about 40 small to medium sized advertisers (Ford Models!)
8 Press a button which automatically generates an HTML code and then add it to your website's HTML code (NOW...at the moment with no video ad visible, that's the part I'm concerned about...also, this may be the place where other AdSense users stumble).
9. Click on a button to save and then finish

Not bad...if it works....I'll keep you informed, but it's 11:46 here in New York and soon it's gnite, see what shows up in the AM and tackle any problems.

YouTube Videos on AdSense

This is the start of something huge. Google takes a giant step toward offering television advertising. So...straight from Google's release:


Posted by Christine Lee, Google Product Marketing Manager, Google AdSense Site 10/9/09

Nowadays, website publishers realize that getting people to visit your website is only half of the equation. Growing your audience is important, but keeping your audience engaged and staying on your site longer is just as important, if not more so. This is why we're excited to let you know about video units on Google AdSense. Video units enable AdSense publishers to display videos from several YouTube content partners. The video units are ad-supported, and the ads are relevant to both the video and the site content, as well as unobtrusive. AdSense publishers and YouTube content partners will receive a share of the ad revenue, so video units enable both groups to earn incremental revenue.

We're excited about video units because we see this as the first step in content distribution on AdSense and a great opportunity to foster the content ecosystem on the web. AdSense publishers can now enhance their sites with interesting videos, YouTube content partners benefit from a new distribution channel, advertisers have a new vehicle to distribute their messages to their target audiences, and people can tune in to interesting videos on sites they normally visit.

From The AdSense Blog

AdSense isn't just for ads anymore; it's also a place to get video content for your site -- and earn extra revenue at the same time.

We're excited about the launch of video units -- a new way to enrich your site with quality, relevant video content in an embedded, customizable player. Simply embed a snippet of code and have relevant YouTube partner content streamed to your site. You can choose categories of video to target to your site, select content from individual YouTube partners, or have video automatically targeted to your site content. Companion and text overlay ads are relevant and non-intrusive. To further blend the YouTube player into your site, you can also customize the color scheme and layout as well as choose from three different player sizes.

If you're looking to build "stickiness" with your visitors, show quality YouTube partner video on your site, and earn extra revenue along the way, and want to know more, then review our common questions about video units. You can also check out the video below to see how it works.

OK...as the The New Advertising weblog author, I'm off to sign up and let's see how it works on this site...hang on.

Arcade Fire at Randall's Island Review

Great, great show last night at Randall's Island. Check back. I'm going to expand this review during the course of the day.
Key impressions:

1. Amazing performance from Arcade Fire. Very easy to forget that they've only released two full-length CDs.
2. The performance was delivered with enormous conviction, enthusiasm and energy.
3. Arcade Fire is earnest to the extreme... if they weren't so good you might make fun of this....but not here.
4. It says pay attention this is important.
5. The instrumentation (French horns, clarinets, violins, bells, accordions, combined with traditional rock and roll instrumentation creates a unique sound. They sound different. That's old news. But their sound is even more unique live.
6. Savvy and sophisticated light show.
7. They need to mix Win Butler's voice up above the band. Very hard to understand the lyrics. And the lyrics are crucial.
8. Best new song: "Intervention." Butler delivered with remarkable insistence.
9. Best old song "Rebellion (Lies)." Shifted to an insistent haunting (even discordant) minor key which never resolved to major as you thought it would. Deep and dark. Blue Lighting. WIn Butler off the stage and stands right at front row as they reach out to touch him. He's huge and towers over them.

Set List (if I got anything wrong in all the excitement, please correct in comments and I'll change)

1. Black Mirror
2. Keep the Car Running
3. Neighborhood #2 (Laika)
4. No Cars Go
5. Haiti
6. I'm Sleeping in a Submarine
7. My Body is a Cage
8. Cold Wind
9. Intervention
10. Antichrist Television Blues
11. The Well and the Lighthouse
12. Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)
13. Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)
14. Rebellion (Lies)

Encore:
15. Headlights Look like Diamonds
16. Wake Up

Encore 2:
17. Kiss Off (Violent Femmes)

New Arcade Fire Video: Neon Bible

Debuts on their site today today to coincide with New York City appearance at Randall's Island tonight. I'll be there...more on that later.

Watch the first 30 secs then start again and roll over & constantly click. It's great.

http://www.beonlineb.com/click_around.html

What Should You Pay for Radiohead's "In Rainbows": $10 or $5?

If you want Radiohead's new direct download CD (see 10/1 entry below) you'll have to pick your price. What should it be?

Radiohead is letting fans determine the price they'll pay for their new album "In Rainbows." But...maybe devotees are paying too much. According to a poll by UK music magazine NME, the average fan says they'll pay $10 for the 10 song download. No surprise, this is the existing pricing model already developed by itunes.

Here's what making the average CD costs, according to the Almighty Institute of Music Retail (real name). At retail, the average price is usually $12-$16. To manufacture, distribute and sell in a bricks and mortar store costs about $6.40 per CD. Online distribution eliminates almost all these costs. That's why itunes is so tremendously profitable.

Radiohead has eliminated even more costs by dropping their label (EMI) so there's no need to share costs or profits. They may be able to distribute an album for as little as $3.40 (The Wall Street Journal 10/3/07). What's most important is that the band has eliminated distribution AND almost all marketing costs to date due to their viral strategy and tremendous "name your price" coverage on the internet and beyond.

Most everyone I've asked that likes Radiohead (but are not rabid fans) says they'll pay $5. Maybe not the $10 NME has found....but certainly a profitable venture. What will/would you pay...and why?

Photoshop Contest: Napoleon Reimagined

Sorry, I couldn't resist...this was just too absurd.
So much better than the Katie Couric photoshop controversy.
Enough...gnite.

http://www.worth1000.com/cache/contest/contestcache.asp?contest_id=16874

Photoshop Contest: Mona Lisa Biker

Or...you might prefer this Photoshopped Mona Lisa as a Harley chick.

For way more: http://www.worth1000.com/cache/contest/contestcache.asp?contest_id=16874

Photoshop Contest: Fabulous Mona Lisa Goth

Mona Lisa Goth

Thanks to our intern Katie for the link. Check it out...there's tons of Photoshopped famous paintings.

http://www.worth1000.com/cache/contest/contestcache.asp?contest_id=16874

Radiohead's New "In Rainbows" Marketing: Revolutionary or Monumentally Stupid?

Just another sign of the growing power of the internet.
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Radiohead is introducing a sales and distribution model that's either revolutionary or monumentally stupid. The band is self-releasing a brand new 10-track LP, "In Rainbows". It will only be available for the first two months as a digital download and only via the band's official website. Most important, forever iconoclasts, Radiohead has decided fans can pay whatever they want.

"It's up to you," appears on the checkout page after you click on a question mark next to the price. (There is, though, a $1.00 credit card transaction fee)

If you want something you can touch and feel (and have the big bucks), there's the "In Rainbows" discbox available on Dec. 3. It's about $80 and includes the digital download material and an extra album with eight new songs. The discbox will also include a double-vinyl record, photos, artwork and lyrics encased in a hardback book and slipcase.

The 10-track digital download can be accessed on Oct. 10. It can be preordered at http://www.inrainbows.com