Digitalsmiths/Durham, NC, a Web development and hosting firm founded in 1998, has launched VideoSense, a contextual video ad matching technology that will analyze video content to help advertisers run targeted ads.
VideoSense is based on a video indexing platform Digitalsmiths developed to index TV shows and feature films that utilizes image recognition and speech-to-text technology. “We index everything you can think of that happened within the content of a show,” said Ben Weinberger, Digitalsmiths co-founder/CEO.
Now Digitalsmiths will be able analyze the audio and visual elements of videos and the information can be used to serve ads. “With VideoSense, we take data from the video and feed it to the ad network and they can make a decision about which ad is most appropriate for the video and they serve an ad.”
The data may be supplied to an ad network, but it will be generated by a content owner, who is Digitalsmiths’ customer because the technology enables content owners to generate more ad revenue.
VideoSense will provide text data for video content, similar to the information that has been available about traditional Web content through Google’s AdSense.
As an example of how VideoSense works, Weinberger said a video about how to prepare a Thanksgiving meal might include an ad for Perdue turkeys. It could also include an ad for Kmart for home decoration products. “The ads will change as the video plays based on the content in the video,” he said.
Digitalsmith has just generated $6 million in financing to support VideoSense and launched a beta program in which major content owners, TV and film studios are participating in, according to Weinberger. The beta program will run up to six months for each participant, “depending on how much content we want to push,” he said.
Companies can contact Digitalsmiths to sign up for the beta program.
Where The Buffalo Roam Signs Director Geordie Stephens For Spots and Branded Content
Production company Where The Buffalo Roam (WTBR) has signed director Geordie Stephens for U.S. representation spanning commercials and branded content. Stephens is known for his subtle performance-driven comedic style, emphasizing art direction, production design, and cinematography. Previously represented by Tool of North America, Bullitt and FANCY, Stephens has a commercial portfolio which includes such global brands as Mini Cooper, HP, Toyota, Bud Light, and Burger King. A former agency creative, Stephens transitioned to the director’s chair following a lengthy career on the agency side as a creative at Butler, Shine & Stern and CP+B Miami, among other shops.
PJ Koll, WTBR co-founder and executive producer, said of Stephens, “His expertise and talent perfectly complement our creative strengths, enhancing our ability to deliver at the highest level. We feel incredibly fortunate to have him join the herd.”
“When I met Tim [WTBR exec producer Pries] and PJ, we immediately hit it off,” added Stephens. “They’re super sharp, funny, and good people who have assembled a very interesting mix of talent with different skills. As a director, I’m always looking for simple human truths that everyone can relate to in a humorous and smart way. The Buffalo team specializes in the small wink, so they get my sense of humor and will give me the platform to keep pushing great work forward.”
During his advertising career, Stephens spearheaded campaigns for IKEA, Truth, Virgin Atlantic, Burger King, Sprite, and Volkswagen. His work also won top prizes at the Cannes Lions and Clios and has been honored by numerous One Show and AICP awards.
Raised in an artistic community in California’s Marin County by his writer-mother and... Read More