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FACEBOOK is working on a new, targeted advertising system. Using the system, advertisers will be able to target users based on favorite activities, musical preferences, and other personal information revealed in a user profile. The new ads will appear in a user’s “news feed,” which keeps them up-to-date on the activity of their Facebook friends Continue Reading →

YOUTUBE will unveil a new advertising model today. Semi-transparent overlays will appear on the bottom of videos a few seconds after each clip begins. Viewers will be able to close the overlay, click it to launch an advertisement, or wait for it to fade away. YouTube tested formats with 200 advertisers, and found this approach Continue Reading →

ADOBE will add support for the H.264 standard to its Flash video player. An announcement is expected today, with a beta version of the upgraded software available for download immediately. Flash is installed on 98% of computers, and is favored by YouTube and other video-sharing sites. The move should help boost the quality of Internet Continue Reading →

Click to view today’s MediaBytes video. BUILDING B has received $17.5 million in funding for its next-generation set-top box. The company plans to release a box that merges content available on broadcast television with the niche content available on the web. It is remaining tight-lipped about its plans, but has hinted at using wireless to Continue Reading →

In honor of the Music Publishers joining the lawsuit against YouTube for copyright infringement, my last article focused on music rights. Specifically, what rights you need if you want to avoid getting sued by overzealous stakeholders. Thank you all for your comments, here and via email. The most surprising thing about the discourse this week Continue Reading →

GOOGLE is teaming up with MEDIA RIGHTS CAPITAL to distribute free ad-supported video content. MRC talent will produce short videos that contain paid product placement and advertising. The content will then be spread across the web via the Google AdSense network. The two companies will split all advertising revenue. SPRINT unveiled its WiMax plans. The Continue Reading →

THE NTIA has contracted IBM to provide $120 million worth of services for the “Digital-to-Analog Converter Box Coupon Program.” Services will include consumer education, coupon distribution, and financial processing for coupons. The contract begins immediately, and will expire in September 2009. FOX INTERACTIVE MEDIA will begin managing websites for 160 Fox-affiliated stations. The sites will Continue Reading →

YAHOO is seeing positive results from its new SmartAds, which were introduced to travel-industry advertisers last month. SmartAds utilize consumer data to personalize ads on the fly, changing design and content to fit a specific user’s preference. In a test of the technology, Yahoo found that consumers clicked on SmartAds up to three times more Continue Reading →

TIVO‘s STOP/WATCH service announced the top commercials for the June ratings period. According to TiVo data, the ten most-watched commercials all ran during the May 29th season finale of “House” on Fox. The commercials ranged from a 9.4 rating to a 12.1 rating, when all views were accounted for. However, the episode itself received a Continue Reading →

GOOGLE will shutdown the paid portion of its Google Video service on August 15. The service has offered paid downloads for the past 19 months, but will now shift its focus to ad-supported video. When the service shuts down on Wednesday, purchased downloads will completely stop working, leaving consumers with worthless, unplayable DRM-ed files. TV Continue Reading →