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Local.com integrates local business video content

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Local.com Corporation has integrated local video ads throughout the Local.com site. This is the first phase of a longer term strategy by Local.com to capture share in the emerging local video market.

The current implementation incorporates geo-targeted video ads from Jivox, an online video advertising service for local businesses. Local.com plans to aggregate geo-targeted video ads from other providers, before ultimately selling video ad units to its growing base of direct Local.com advertisers.

Originally posted on November 20, 2008 @ 12:49 pm

NBA team launches social network with KickApps

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KickApps announced that the New Orleans Hornets have launched a social network for fans of the team powered by KickApps. The website is a destination for the supporters to gather online with other fans to share their passion for the Hornets and NBA basketball, create, share and discover fan submitted photos, videos and blogs, and interact exclusively with official club content.

Using social media, the Hornets capitalize on an opportunity to increase their connection with fans by extending the Hornets experience beyond the basketball court. The new website features its own social network with video and photo sharing functionality, forums, and the ability for members to take video and photos from the site to other social networks, blogs and websites using Hornets branded video and photo widgets.

To tip-off participation and activity on the site, the Hornets are holding a competition for fans to name the social network. Fans simply join the network and leave a comment with their proposed name and why they chose it. Additionally, the team has uploaded behind the scenes videos of the Honeybee cheerleaders and press conferences, with additional unique programming planned.

The New Orleans Hornets joins the Phoenix Suns’ Emmy Award winning PlanetOrange.net, New York Knicks, Phoenix Mercury, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, New York Rangers and Arena Football League, as teams that have embraced the KickApps Platform.

Originally posted on November 19, 2008 @ 7:14 am

VideoEgg extends engagement-based solution to mobile

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VideoEgg has introduced AdFrames for mobile, a performance-based ad offering that enables advertisers to distribute invitation-based, expandable video or rich media ads to iPhone users. Nikon and Ubisoft Canada are among the first brands to leverage AdFrames’ mobile distribution as a measurable way to reach highly engaged consumers.

VideoEgg will offer mobile distribution across both applications and web pages on the iPhone, and over time extend to other mobile platforms and devices. The mobile distribution channel is offered as part of VideoEgg’s comprehensive ad platform and will be included as a standard option on all large campaigns. The pricing model is based on cost per engagement (CPE), which delivers accountability and unmatched insight into ad effectiveness. Rich media ads are served for free and advertisers pay only when a user engages, providing a risk-free method to distributing highly targeted brand content.

With AdFrames for mobile, publishers can now partner with VideoEgg to effectively monetize content across this medium. Launch partners from top application developers and platforms including SGN, Jirbo, FlipSide5, Optime Software and Mobclix will deliver advertisers wide reach across 35 percent of the top 20 most popular free iPhone applications such as GasBag, Hangman, Scribble, iGolf, TouchHockey, Tic Tac Free and MarbleMash.

To see how VideoEgg is changing brand marketing online, check out the demos at http://www.videoegg.com/iphone.

To see AdFrames for mobile in action, check out the video at: http://www.vimeo.com/2271428.

Originally posted on November 18, 2008 @ 5:03 pm

Amy Poehler and friends launch new digital series for young girls

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ON Networks announced the release of the first episode of Smart Girls at the Party, the original digital TV series that aims to help young girls find confidence in their own aspirations and talents. The series was created by and stars actor/writer Amy Poehler and friend Meredith Walker, former senior producer for Nickelodeon’s Nick News, and former head of talent for Saturday Night Live. Amy Miles, recording artist and performer and host of PBS children’s show LOMAX: Hound of Music, stars as the series’ regular musical act.

Smart Girls at the Party celebrates young girls who bring hope and change to the world by being themselves. In each episode, Amy Poehler interviews a girl with a unique talent, community interest or point of view. The conversation ranges from the serious to the light-hearted. Girls offer spirited truths, proving that you don’t have to be famous to be interesting or to make a difference in the world.

The inaugural season of Smart Girls at the Party will include eight short episodes released weekly plus a bonus interview episode with Amy Poehler, Meredith Walker and Amy Miles. The episodes are available exclusively through ON Networks at www.smartgirlsattheparty.com and its syndication partners, including iTunes, Adobe Media Player, and a set of targeted web, digital TV and mobile providers.

Here’s the first video:

Originally posted on November 19, 2008 @ 11:07 am

Gamescampus.com, MLB Advanced Media to launch free online baseball game

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Game publisher GamesCampus has signed an online interactive licensing agreement with MLB Advanced Media (MLBAM), the interactive media and Internet company of Major League Baseball, granting it the right to incorporate official Major League Baseball league and club marks and logos, MLB ballpark images and more in its upcoming micro-transaction based online baseball game, MLB Dugout Heroes. It will be a free PC-based baseball game, expected to be available in North America for the 2009 baseball season.

The multi-year agreement gives GamesCampus the rights to all current and historical Major League teams, ballparks, All-Star teams and jewel events such as the home run derby. GamesCampus will also have rights to the official 2009 Major League Baseball regular season game schedule, enabling fans to simulate real seasons through actual game and series matchups.

Fans can expect a casual online baseball experience with a three–dimensional, cartoon-rendered graphic style and easy to pick up and play mouse-only controls. The game will offer four different modes of play for fans to choose from: tutorial, practice, single player and multi-player. Fans will be able to experience the fun of strategically managing a Major League Baseball club by forming a team, fostering its players and making all of the base-running, batting and pitching decisions – providing true interaction with on-the-field baseball play. With realistic character motions and unique verbal exchanges occurring between pitchers, batters, and color commentary, MLB Dugout Heroes will offer a truly unique and engrossing baseball game play experience – free of charge.

Originally posted on November 18, 2008 @ 12:58 am