Google extends InVideo format to partner sites

After successfully using its InVideo advertising format on video-sharing site YouTube, Google now plans to extend it to its video partner sites.

The format will allow advertisers to run a single contextually-targeted video overlay campaign across a large network of sites. Internet TV platform, Brightcove, is supporting the trial service.

InVideo uses text and graphical overlay adverts which appear semi-transparent over the bottom 20% of the video window. This makes them less intrusive than pre-roll videos.

The service will allow media publishers to target tailored in-stream overlay messages from a network of advertisers using Google, as well as selling their own advertising.

The format allows Publishers and content providers to control which ads appear on which video, and when they play.

Google’s AdSense for video beta is currently available through Brightcove in a limited trial release with select customers.

Brightcove hopes to make the format generally availability to publishers later in 2008.

The current InVideo advertisements use the Flash format. The overlay has a nominal size of 480×70 pixels. Users click on the overlay to be taken to an external web page or to open an optional extended video advertising unit.