'Net Features : mobile video

Monetizing Video on Mobile Devices Could Start With a Single URL

Administrator — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 18:45:00 GMT

Today, more people are watching video on mobile devices than ever before, using tablets and smartphones of every type to view television programs, breaking news, live sporting event broadcasts and much more. The profusion of IP-enabled devices should give Web content publishers unprecedented monetization opportunities now that consumers can theoretically watch video anywhere, anytime online.

We also know that consumers are considerably more engaged when watching video on their mobile devices than they are on desktop and laptop computers. Still, most Web publishers haven't been able to take advantage of these new monetization opportunities because of the challenges associated with formatting content for all the different device types and operating systems, as well as the many obstacles associated with dynamic ad insertion online. Additionally, most Web publishers are unable to effectively leverage their content because they have to break down and store thousands of file types and formats, and they are also unable to efficiently insert ads anywhere in the video stream in real time and target individual users.

This means that the potential online video profit center was more often a cost center due to these barriers.

A Comprehensive Solution on a Single URL

Thanks to new technology, there is now a solution to the Internet video problem – one that enables publishers to upload video content one time, dynamically insert pre, mid and post roll targeted ads and optimize performance – all in real time as they deliver content to any Internet-connected device in the world on a single URL. This new solution, Unicorn Once, eliminates workflow challenges by making file type and format management unnecessary, and it gives publishers a way to insert ads in the video stream in real time, regardless of device type, and deliver ads targeted to individual users.

With a video content provided on a single URL, publishers can deliver a viewing experience on any device that is similar to the seamless experience users have come to expect from television broadcasts. It enables publishers to insert ads anywhere in the video stream from current inventory. A comprehensive solution can also provide real-time analytics that deliver performance details across platforms and business intelligence capabilities that can streamline ad operations. Capabilities can include real-time ad integration and ad targeting that takes only a fraction of a second rather than hours as well as the ability to insert mid-roll ads in long-form content to deliver relevant messages to individual viewers.

Unprecedented Monetization Opportunities

The ability to deliver video content on a single URL is a game-changer in the online video publishing sector, eliminating the expenses associated with video file management and enabling dynamic ad insertion and rapid, agile ad operations. Now web publishers can efficiently deliver content across platforms and operating systems and turn their valuable video content into unprecedented monetization opportunities through new ad insertion and management capabilities. A comprehensive solution delivered on a single URL can finally solve the Internet video problem.

About the Author: Bill Rinehart is Founder, Chairman and CEO of Unicorn Media Inc., the leading provider of Internet video solutions that enable companies to maximize IP video profitability. The company’s patented technology, Unicorn Once™, allows customers to ingest video content one time and deliver it to every Internet-connected device via a single URL. Content owners can monetize their content on any device by dynamically inserting targeted ads and analyzing content and ad performance in real-time on every platform, allowing for on-the-fly changes to maximize profitability.

Mobile Video to Surpass 693 Billion Minutes

Administrator — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 09:15:00 GMT

A new study predicts that nearly 700 billion minutes of mobile video will be watched by 2015. The In-Stat study shows significant growth in usage of mobile video, not only with smartphones but also with tablets.

Some of the research findings show that videos are currently being watched more frequently on smartphones than on tablets, but that gap is expected to decrease in the future. The findings also show that tablet users are more likely to pay more for and watch longer videos.

Both types of users are prone to watch videos in a non-mobile environment, like at home. However, the choice in what video is watched differs considerably between smartphones, tablets and notebooks/netbooks. Differences include content length, genre and content acquisition.

Therefore, content providers need to customize their offerings for the targeted platforms.

New Interactive Video Ad Formats for Mobile

Linc Wonham — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 17:30:00 GMT

Limelight Networks has introduced a service that enables interactive video ad units within applications running on iOS and Android platforms.

Called Limelight REACH Interactive, the service helps publishers, agencies and advertisers create tappable pre-roll and post-roll in-stream video ads, which open coordinated microsites. Playback of the video containing the ads is paused while consumers interact with the landing page.

These video ads are unskippable on the device, as video playback controls are disabled while the ads are playing.

Limelight REACH Interactive delivers in-depth analytics for both publishers and advertisers on video playback and user interaction. Publishers can measure drop-off rates for users who close the mobile app while watching the video as well as buffering events that negatively impact user experience, while advertisers gain insight on ad views and user engagement.

REACH Interactive captures the following behavior data, including:

When a user plays or stops video content

When the video ad within content started and ended

When a user tapped on video ad

When the user returned to video content from ad landing page

The amount of the video content that was played in 25-, 50-, 75- and 100-percent intervals

When a buffering event occurred

Visit Limelight Networks to view a demo of REACH Interactive.

Moosejaw Launches Mobile E-commerce Video

Linc Wonham — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 18:00:00 GMT

Outdoor gear and apparel retailer Moosejaw has always stayed ahead of the latest trends in e-commerce, making it one of the most highly regarded innovators on the Web. Definitely a company worth watching to gauge new ideas and technologies, Moosejaw’s latest move is no exception.

To expand its overall online video initiative, Moosejaw has partnered with two companies to implement e-commerce video onto its mobile retail site. Moosejaw has been working with Invodo to create unique video content for its top products and optimize the videos for additional syndication through social media sites like YouTube and Facebook. Now, by adding the Mobile Presence platform from Unbound Commerce, the Invodo-produced Moosejaw videos will be optimized for delivery to Moosejaw’s mobile sites, allowing customers shopping from their mobile devices to also experience the benefits of seeing the company’s products in action.

“Implementing video on our mobile site was a no-brainer, as our customers expect a great shopping experience in the palm of their hands,” says Eoin Comerford, SVP of marketing and technology at Moosejaw. “Combined with Unbound Commerce, Invodo’s complete video solution delivers what our customers want.”

Invodo is a full-service e-commerce video solutions provider that creates high-quality content at scale and develops leading technologies to implement and deliver online product video on retail sites and other points of consumer influence. Unbound Commerce provides a way for Moosejaw to deliver a great mobile user experience to their customers and to deliver sales results for their business.

Another online video solutions provider, SundaySky, recently released a study called the E-commerce Video Report in which it examined video usage by the top online retailers. The conclusion was essentially that while 2010 was about experimentation in video on the part of retailers and about consumers embracing videos on a large scale, 2011 is going to be when the most successful retailers start scaling their video programs and really begin to leverage their potential in new and creative ways.

“Moosejaw is a wonderfully innovative retailer. It’s no surprise that it is leading the charge in introducing the convenience of e-commerce video to its mobile customers,” says Keith Leitzke, chief marketing officer of Unbound Commerce. “Both mobile and video are major trends in retail so the convergence of the two will be tremendously powerful.”