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Of course ads are coming to Chromecast, but not from the usual suspect

Published Feb 12th, 2014 10:46AM EST
Chromecast Ads
Image: Google Inc.

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Brightcove on Wednesday announced it will offer developers a way for easily inserting ads in their iOS or Android apps that will have Chromecast support. The announcement follows the recent Google Cast SDK release, which will allow more developers to include Chromecast support in their existing and future applications.

Brightcove Once will let developers “quickly deploy and monetize feature-rich video on Chromecast, including personalized video ads.” Brightcove Once is apparently a “high-end delivery alternative” for ads that don’t require “client-side code, SDKs or plugins.”

The geo-targeted ads that can be integrated into the video stream without buffering will offer a “television-like” experience, Brightcove says in its press release, although that may not necessarily be what Chromecast buyers may be looking for. The company says it can offer developers various features including analytics, interactive video ads and a way of preventing fast-forwarding during ads playback.

Google’s popular digital content consumption dongle has been one of the best-sold devices of the company, with many developers anxiously waiting to bring their content to the Chromecast. Interestingly, Google is yet to include any kind of ads in the Chromecast, even though most of the company’s revenue is generated by online ads.

The full press release follows below.

Brightcove Once Empowers Google Chromecast Publishers to Monetize Video Content with Personalized Advertising

Developers using the open Chromecast SDK can create a smooth advertising experience with Once

BOSTON – February 12, 2014 – Brightcove (NASDAQ: BCOV), a leading global provider of cloud services for video, today announced that content providers developing apps for Google Chromecast can now use Brightcove Once to quickly deploy and monetize feature-rich video on Chromecast, including personalized video ads. Coming on the heels of Google’s recent announcement that it has unlocked its Chromecast software development kit (SDK), Brightcove Once now enables publishers to deliver personalized advertising in streams delivered to Chromecast viewers.

“Chromecast has quickly become one of the top three selling electronics devices on Amazon and offers some of the most popular online entertainment options, including Netflix, YouTube, Hulu Plus and Google Play movies and music, with new apps coming on board at a rapid pace,” said AJ McGowan, Brightcove’s chief technology officer. “Broadcasters and content owners that want to quickly take advantage of Chromecast can now leverage Brightcove Once to deliver premium video content streams that include targeted advertising.”

Google Chromecast is a $35 dongle users can plug directly into any HDTV to stream their favorite movies, TV shows, YouTube clips, music and much more, via Wi-Fi, using their smartphone, tablet or laptop as a remote control. Brightcove Once is a cloud-based ad insertion and video stitching service that reduces or eliminates the need for platform-specific ad technology, making it possible to reliably deliver live or on-demand video with customized programming and targeted advertising to a wide range of devices.

Brightcove Once offers Chromecast publishers a high-end delivery alternative to quickly bring content to market without client-side code, SDKs or plugins. Brightcove Once facilitates the automatic transfer of metadata back to the user’s Apple or Android-based Chromecast app to allow for the seamless delivery of applicable, geo-targeted ads that integrate into the video stream without buffering. As a result, Chromecast publishers can deliver a seamless, television-like experience, complete with personalized ads stitched directly into the video stream. Using Brightcove Once, publishers can also easily reach a wide range of mobile and connected devices in addition to Chromecast without additional investment.

Additionally, with Brightcove Once UX, Chromecast publishers can incorporate interactive video ads, insert ad overlays in video streams, hide controls to prevent fast-forwarding through ads and more. Brightcove Once also captures detailed analytics so publishers can assess content and ad performance in real time.

About Brightcove

Brightcove Inc. (NASDAQ: BCOV), a leading global provider of cloud services for video, offers a family of products that revolutionize the way organizations deliver video experiences. The company’s products include Video Cloud, the market-leading online video platform, Zencoder, a leading cloud-based media processing service and HTML5 video player technology provider and Once, a cloud-based ad insertion and video stitching service. Brightcove has more than 6,300 customers in over 70 countries that rely on Brightcove cloud content services to build and operate video experiences across PCs, smartphones, tablets and connected TVs. For more information, visithttp://www.brightcove.com.

Chris Smith Senior Writer

Chris Smith has been covering consumer electronics ever since the iPhone revolutionized the industry in 2008. When he’s not writing about the most recent tech news for BGR, he brings his entertainment expertise to Marvel’s Cinematic Universe and other blockbuster franchises.

Outside of work, you’ll catch him streaming almost every new movie and TV show release as soon as it's available.