What's more annoying than a pop-up ad? Maybe a auto-play video.
You know the ones. You surf to a site and get blasted by a video advertisement that plays just because you opened the page.
Well now Facebook users should get ready to groan at the practice even more, as they are set to launch it into your newsfeed by Spring.
AdAge reports that Facebook hopes to attract big wads of ad dollars from TV advertisers ... according to several industry executives who have been briefed on the company's plans over the past few weeks.
"Facebook is still debating several product features, but has decided on this much to date, these executives said: By April at the latest, it will offer video advertisers the chance to target video ads to large numbers of Facebook users in their news feeds on both the desktop version of Facebook as well as on Facebook apps on mobile phones and tablets."
A possible "saving grace" may be that the ads will likely be limited to just 15 seconds...but, for many, even 5 seconds of unwanted ads is too much.
AdAge also reports, "In what's sure to be a controversial move, the visual component of the Facebook video ads will start playing automatically -- a dynamic known as "autoplay" -- according to two of the executives. Facebook is still debating whether to have the audio component of the ads activated automatically as well, one of these people said."
Another undecided component is who will see the ads? Will it be only those who have friended or "liked" a specific company? Or will it simply play to the millions of Facebook users?
Only time may tell.
"The assumption is that these would be widespread campaigns," one of the execs said. "They are looking to grab big chunks of money ... millions of dollars."
Story by our sister station WNWO reporter Norm Van Ness.
If Facebook starts pushing video ads that play automatically...would it be the "last straw" for you? Post your comments below or join the conversation on our Facebook page here.
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