VideoClix.TV creepy video ads go live, starting with Revision3 shows

Last year VideoClix.TV demoed an early version of its creepy, yet intelligent video advertising technology in an episode of Revision3's Diggnation, the popular podcast starring Digg.com's Kevin Rose and co-host Alex Albrecht. The technology, which inserts clickable advertising in every element of the video, gives users a way to be linked up to online retailers for any product or service that's seen in videos. It also lets users click on things not for sale to see any related information from elsewhere on the Web--a handy service that's usually ended up with horribly annoying results when applied to text ads (see IntelliTXT).

Today the company announced it will be put into use in all of Revision3's programming--starting with the latest episode of Diggnation filmed last week in Amsterdam. Other Revision3 shows will follow, including Tekzilla, The Totally Rad Show, and Internet Superstar. In its first version, users were required to download the video and play it back in Apple's QuickTime player to get the technology to work. However, in the latest model, the self-contained Flash player now includes small overlays that pop-up from the right side of the player and link off-site. There's also an entire list of embedded objects users can browse. Clicking any of them will skip ahead to the part of the show.

What the technology brings to the table is an alternative to the pre, post, and video overlay models of advertising usually seen in Web video. Services such as Asterpix have been moving toward such a model, linking to information or reference sites over advertising alone. Personally I find it much more useful and fun to use than current iterations of overlay ads, although I'm sure video purists will be turned off by how much product placement can be intentionally packed into videos without them even realizing it.

You can test out the new technology with the latest episode of Diggnation here. You can also check out the earlier iteration of the technology from a show filmed in 2007.

VideoClix.TV ads show up as small overlays on the side of the video. Seen here is clicking on Alex Albrecht's red laptop, which links up to the product page on Best Buy. Creeped out yet?

(Credit: CNET Networks)