It also announced a plan aimed at introducing a time-based advertising model and designed to deliver ads at regular intervals, thus making them less intrusive. This approach would help brands to maximise their advertising investments by immersing the brand message in the consumer's video experience, Microsoft said.
Launched today in beta form in the UK, the video offering includes a new version of Microsoft’s free video-on-demand channel, MSN Video, as well as a video inline player integrating video across the MSN network and video-sharing capabilities in Windows Live Messenger and Spaces.
Three ad formats are available: a pre-roll video ad, which plays before the user-selected content in the same video screen; a large 300mm by 240mm advert displayed to the side of the pre-roll video ad as it plays back; and a small 300mm by 60mm ad displayed below the main video player.
Chris Ward, commercial director of Microsoft digital advertising solutions, said that online video now offered a "perfect opportunity" to advertisers.
Microsoft currently claims 12 million unique users per month for MSN Video.
Launched today in beta form in the UK, the video offering includes a new version of Microsoft’s free video-on-demand channel, MSN Video, as well as a video inline player integrating video across the MSN network and video-sharing capabilities in Windows Live Messenger and Spaces.
Three ad formats are available: a pre-roll video ad, which plays before the user-selected content in the same video screen; a large 300mm by 240mm advert displayed to the side of the pre-roll video ad as it plays back; and a small 300mm by 60mm ad displayed below the main video player.
Chris Ward, commercial director of Microsoft digital advertising solutions, said that online video now offered a "perfect opportunity" to advertisers.
Microsoft currently claims 12 million unique users per month for MSN Video.
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