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Yesterday, we asked you if pay-for-engagement was the next big thing in online video advertising. The response was decidedly split, with 31% projecting "epic fail" and a combined 46% suggesting it will at least become relatively popular, if not replace the page view entirely:

Today, Google announced AdSense for Video, featuring both banner and text overlay ads that are contextual (targeted to the content of the video) and can be clicked to play an ad. Consumers most likely prefer these ads – they are less intrusive than ads that roll before a video starts (pre-roll ads), after it ends (post-roll), or *gulp* somewhere in the middle (in-stream). On the other hand, advertisers don't get the same reach, since only a fraction of video viewers will click to watch the ad.

Given all these factors, today's poll asks:

Which online video ad format will ultimately be the most prevalent?
• Pre-Roll
• Post-Roll
• In-Stream
• Overlay
• Something Else
View Results

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User comment: By: AR

I think while determining what ad format works the best we also need to keep into account what the context of the actual video (following/during the ad) is. Short user gen videos are probably better served with short pre or post roll ads (if we can't get rid of them altogether) Longer non user generated videos such as TV shows can work with pre, in stream and post rolls as its still shorter hence better than regular TV. News, cooking, exercise, diy videos and other such videos could work very well with overlay ads (provided they are contextual to the video).

User comment: By: Uri Schonfeld

Do you think it is too complicated to leave it up to the user? Make it configurable?

User comment: By: Dave Rowley

One reason that pre-roll ads are popular is because they can be merged with the content and then delivered to and played in devices/playback environments that don't have the instrumentation required to display clickable overlay or banner ads. You have to take into account consumption beyond the browser.

User comment: By: HaloZero

I think consumers like overlay ads but I think inline video ads might become more popular with the advertisings agency because I think people are used to commercials between videos and inline ads are more likely to be watched than overlay. Plus you can't adblock overlay ads (I might be misunderstanding what an overlay ad is).

User comment: By: greasyguide

I know everyone wants to make money buy you have to put your customer first. I think overlay like they have now on Youtube is 100% perfect. It doesn't piss me off at all.