The Guardian
topics
Close Box

News From Us:

Our latest report; our new video section; and jobs with paidContent.org and paidContent:UK


The Video Evidence: Why YouTube Is Concerned About Product Placement

imageOn Monday, we reported that YouTube was notifying some of its more popular content partners that it planned to start enforcing its policy of not allowing product integration into partner videos unless YouTube got a cut of the action. What is YouTube all exercised about? Some partners are placing products in their videos (and, of course, getting paid for it), while others are making the actual content the commercial. An example of each type, culled from videos from YouTube’s top-100 content partners, after the jump.


—Who: Marina Orlova, an easy-on-the-eyes philologist whose show Hot for Words explores the meaning of words. 
—Comment: In this episode, “Sleep With Me,” see that bottle of Neuro Sleep right next to Marina? That’s a paying sponsor whose other products (including Neurogasm) have also appeared in Marina’s videos. 

 


—Who: Indy Mogul, a Next New Networks show, for aspiring filmmakers. 
—Comment: The video is a recreation of a scene from Sweeney Todd—and, most importantly, is paid for by Paramount (the producer of the movie).

May 5, 2009 3:21 PM ET
Share

Posted In:

  • Rory Maher

    Marc, great point, and one NNN has done succesfully on YouTube.  The CPMs for this type of advertising tend to be much higher than typical pre-roll so both parties should want more and more of this online.  TV has been doing it for a while now (think Coke cups on the American Idol judging table or advertorials) so there is no reason this shouldn't be a success online - one that should continue to grow.

  • marc

    I don't know about Hot for Words, but YouTube got their cut of the Indy Mogul placement- which demonstrates what's great about the partner program- the partners can bring advertisers to the table too, often better ones that being sold now.

  • I'm not surprise if companies started doing this youtube advertisement.  In the first place, it is free when it comes to air time fee.  Too far from advertising cost that a company will spend if they will make their own video.

The Economics of Content | paidContent Newsletter

Know something we don’t?

Send Us a News Tip

All tips are anonymous and untraced.

Sponsors

Contributors