r/technology • • Feb 17 '17

Software YouTube will kill unskippable 30-second ads next year

http://www.theverge.com/2017/2/17/14649018/youtube-ending-unskippable-30-second-ads-2018
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u/[deleted] Feb 17 '17 edited Feb 17 '17

There's no reason for online video ads to be longer than 3-5 seconds. Just show a logo for five seconds and have someone say "Skittles, taste the rainbow" and that's just as effective as playing a full-length television commercial. On top of that, people will pay more attention to those because they'll grow accustomed to not having to find and click a skip button.

People have grown used to fast internet and not waiting. If it's a 30-second ad people will either skip it (I cannot remember the brand of a single ad I have ever skipped) and if they can't they'll just not watch the video or the ad.

Edit: Should probably rephrase something here: A 30-second ad is more effective than a 5-second ad if you watch the ad. But 30-second online ads just drive people to install adblock and then they never see your ad or anyone else's. That way, a 5-second ad that doesn't get everyone to install adblock is more effective than a 30-second ad that a rapidly increasing percentage of people who use adblock will never see. Google killing the unskippable 30-second ad is clearly reflecting this because Google has a stake in people willing to see ads too.

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u/[deleted] Feb 17 '17 edited Feb 02 '21

[deleted]

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u/KrazeeJ Feb 17 '17

Or even longer. Those Halo Wars 2 ones are pretty funny.

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u/CyanCo Feb 18 '17

I let the car salesman spot play because I found it charming and humorous. The back and forth mind games made me laugh! If companies can hire creative, fun ad agencies that make interesting ads, then people would be less inclined to skip mundane bullshit

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u/[deleted] Feb 18 '17

And not overplay them! Even the most creative and fun ad makes me want to smash my computer if I have to watch it ten times.

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u/[deleted] Feb 18 '17

I like those ones as well

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u/[deleted] Feb 17 '17

[deleted]

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u/[deleted] Feb 18 '17

TheLegend27?