Hi SD,
I have noticed when I watch YouTube videos with ads, the ads seem to occur right at an exciting, humorous, or important point in the video. You never see an ad when nothing much is happening. Is this on purpose? Who decides where these ads are placed, and how is it decided? And there are often two ads back-to-back to make me wait just a little longer!
Has anyone else noticed this?
Thanks,
Dave
Midroll ads can be positioned by the person uploading/publishing the video (or you can leave the YouTube system to decide for you)
I’ve noticed a few channels put a graphic logo on screen for a second, and drop the ad right in the middle of that.
Edit: Of course, people making structured videos will sometimes plan them so that they can place an ad at a point where something interesting is about to happen, to keep you watching through the ad - if you click away, they lose the ad revenue.
There’s a screenshot of what the midroll ad placement screen looks like about halfway down this page: YouTube Changes Mid-Roll Ad Break Policy -
Thanks. That makes sense. But the advertisers would seem to lose out—who would want to click on something keeping them from their entertainment? I guess advertisers would want their ads at the beginning, unskippable.
There are ads on Youtube? Really??
I never see any; they must be another kind of ad killed by uBlock Origin. Hooray!
With the exception of “Limited offer, call now!” commercials, most ads are about brand and product recognition. You’re not expected to stop watching your video, but to remember that brand and product, consciously or subconsciously when shopping online or instore.
As for ad placement before the start of the video, in the 50’s and 60’s, it was common for TV shows to be sponsored entirely by one sponsor, who proudly proclaimed the show was brought to you by them. The original showings of I Love Lucy was sponsored by Phillip Morris and others and the well known heart and script writing opening was added when the show was sold to syndication.
In addition, the actors and actresses of TV shows would often be featured, in character, in commercials during the show.
Sponsored YouTubers will sometimes make their own blatant product promotion advertising within the video itself, in addition to the usual beginning and end. Fortunately, YouTube as strict guidelines stating that sponsored products and product reviews must be clearly disclosed: https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/154235?hl=en#zippy=%2Cdo-i-need-to-tell-youtube-if-a-video-has-a-paid-product-placement-endorsement-or-other-commercial-relationship%2Cwhat-do-we-mean-when-we-talk-about-paid-product-placements-sponsorships-endorsements%2Cwhere-not-to-include-paid-product-placements-sponsorships-endorsements