Dive summary:
- A new ad unit from Minteye seeks to improve user experience by allowing viewers to skip pre-roll video ads in exchange for interacting with an image that complements the ad.
- AOL has partnered with Minteye to bring the ad unit to its video inventory, but hasn't yet used the unit for a brand campaign.
- The ad unit works by popping up a scrubber tool when the viewer starts watching a video; the user can swipe the scrubber tool to stop the pre-roll video ad before being taken to a related photo that they must click through to exit.
From the article:
"AOL has partnered with Minteye to use its technology for its video inventory. Here's how the unit works: As a brand's pre-roll video begins playing, a scrubber tool pops up with instructions to "slide to fit and skip the ad." The user slides the scrubber to the right, bringing into focus an image from the advertiser, then clicks to skip the ad (see it in action here)."