Comments on: ZunaVision Is Trying To Monetize Online Video By Making It Unwatchable

By: Barth

Barth — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 17:47:33 +0000

That’s great news…. at least for me.

By: Asfaq.com - ConversationAgent.com: Monetizing Video Online

Asfaq.com - ConversationAgent.com: Monetizing Video Online — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 11:35:37 +0000

[...] for one don’t think it’s going to be the ZunaVision route, I agree with Robin at TechCrunch. Even when tastefully done, how do we keep trying the same [...]

By: kate jackson

kate jackson — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 01:54:23 +0000

That was not bad.,

By: Evan Stone

Evan Stone — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 22:45:50 +0000

Robin, like many other commenters here, I disagree with your assessment of ZunaVision. More specifically, I disagree with a follow-up reply you made to a comment — ” I fear what amateurs, who produce their own user-generated videos, will do with the technology (it won’t look as subtle). ”

I was one of those who heard about this early on and signed up for a test drive. I found it quite easy to make very convincing video, as evidenced by the following video:

http://www.yout...h?v=vp4K0_0buOo

By: MJG

MJG — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 23:40:48 +0000

If ZunaVision makes it to become the pop-up ads in online videos it will be really successful

By: vidiSEO

vidiSEO — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 17:22:24 +0000

I couldn’t help but wonder what popular viral videos might look like with this technology applied:

http://vidiseo....background-ads/

Enjoy!

By: Pommy_BMW

Pommy_BMW — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 16:22:39 +0000

proved through*

By: Pommy_BMW

Pommy_BMW — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 16:19:45 +0000

First things first. I don’t see any reason why u call the effort unwatchable? I believe their effort is worth praises and is commendable.
Secondly, with due respect to your profession of advisor for startups and a blogger, I would like to say that perhaps you have not understood the concept this company is working on. A marketer by profession let me explain what concept these young brains have worked upon. It is called “Subliminal Advertising” in which a consumer is exposed to ads and brand logos in such a manner that they actually don’t realize that they are watching a brand name in the background and yet the name gets registered in their brains. So cluttering the videos with ads is just out of question! U would have not even noticed the Pepsi logo in their video had u not known the purpose of watching that video. But still the red and blue logo of Pepsi gets registered in the subconscious level. (And you might deny this fact, but it has been proven by researches and numerous studies on this concept of advertising)
This concept in itself is such a wonderful one that I believe any brilliant brain ( in this case David Cheriton ) knew where he’s putting his money and sees a bright future for this startup! Obviously he’s not a dumb guy.(have you forgotten about the success story of Sergey Brin and Larry Page). You might be criticizing the idea at this point, but accept it or not, this is a wonderful, great idea. And perfectly deserves another funding from me or any sponsor as well. Thanks for writing this article. Had you not written it, I would have not come out to defend this startup with so much conviction and tenet.
Hats off to Zunavision.

By: Neno Brown

Neno Brown — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 17:54:43 +0000

I think ad insertions defeats the very idea of an ad, in that your suppose to notice them.

By: See all the product placement in this video? — ZuluZulu

See all the product placement in this video? — ZuluZulu — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 17:06:00 +0000

[...] overlays and interstitial, but this is different – its overlays yes, but overlays in disguise. Techcrunch explains: “an algorithm first analyzes the video, subsequently alters different aspects of embedded [...]

By: JTS

JTS — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 16:50:18 +0000

Could this actively sell anything that isn’t already a cliché brand? It seems to me the reason this works is because I already know Home Depot and its logo. If you were to attempt to advertise some new product to me, I think you would need more than a subliminal logo passing by.

So, perhaps great for the big brands, but not so great for start-ups.

By: tom

tom — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 16:39:54 +0000

You’ve got it right Robin. This will be heavily abused to produce the most spammy vids possible.

By: wrat_brain

wrat_brain — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 15:49:16 +0000

No way Brands are going to approve their image use in context/relationship to Content they haven’t pre-approved.

Something as simple as having a FORD logo appear while a TOYOTA is in frame would never “pass,” never mind more obvious examples.

No one is going to monetize UGC video with this product.

Never.

The other comments re Technology not being the answer are more on the money than anyone would like to think. It’s the brands and agencies who can (and might) make this industry actually advance and stabilize, the technology is just a tool kit, not a magic wand.

By: SteveO

SteveO — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 15:45:57 +0000

I only looked at this post because of the headline for those complaining it’s irresponsible. Anyway, great product, won’t work on UGC because brands don’t want to be paired with boring, poorly produced crap = 99.999% of UGC content.

But with mid-range stuff it’s a good “afterthought” way for advertisers to try to monetize say a viral video that’s going supernova, if used sparingly. It’s just like the artificial overlays used in live sports isn’t it?

In the wild, I agree it won’t always be tastefully or as well implemented as the demo vid, but should we ban all pop ups because of the same argument…oh wait, yes we probably should

By: Smart Babes Are Sexy Blog

Smart Babes Are Sexy Blog — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 13:37:42 +0000

I am not sure I buy your argument.

This is like arguing against HTML because some people will make ugly websites, or against the pen and paper because some people will write awful poetry.

Yes, but when it people use HTML well, and when people put pen to paper well, and when people use this tool well, I think it will be a great advance.

Anjali Sen

By: Smart Babes Are Sexy Blog

Smart Babes Are Sexy Blog — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 13:34:42 +0000

I am not sure what happened. Leena Rao did not write the comment above, I did.

Anjali Sen

By: Jazzy

Jazzy — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 11:36:39 +0000

Fair enough, i respect your single mindedness. However, i look forward to coming back and posting here when these guys make an absolute killing on it, and rubbing it in your face. Take care mate!

By: Robin Wauters

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 11:01:49 +0000

I love being disagreed with (particularly with arguments), but I’m not changing my opinion over this, I think the idea stinks.

By: Jazzy

Jazzy — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 10:11:47 +0000

Robin mate, generally I love the blog but I think you have been pretty unanimously shot down on this one. I think a new post answering all these critics would be a good shout. I’d be curious to hear your thoughts on having been so unanimously disagreed with.

By: Robin Wauters

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 08:47:58 +0000

very true

By: Robin Wauters

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 08:47:34 +0000

So you’re implying traditional media doesn’t do sensationalism in its articles and titles?

By: Robin Wauters

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 08:46:37 +0000

Stop looking for ghosts, it’s just my opinion.

By: Robin Wauters

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 08:44:04 +0000

Exactly.

By: Robin Wauters

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 08:42:03 +0000

I see your point, but as I said in a comment above, these embeds were done by ZunaVision, it will be interesting to see what the average Joe will do to the videos with the technology.

By: Robin Wauters

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 08:40:35 +0000

Well it’s not really their idea, although I agree the implementation of it is awesome and much better than Keystream. But I still think it will ruin most video watching experiences.