Microsoft Increasing Investment in Xbox Live Ads

[Timothy Chang]

Microsoft Increasing Investment in Xbox Live Ads


Good levels of interaction with NUads means users can "expect more investment" in video advertising.

NUads, those interactive commercials for Xbox LIVE, has finished its first wave of advertising spots in the US, Canada and the United Kingdom. According to Microsoft, the "double-digit engagement results" have been positive for advertisers, and it looks like Xbox LIVE users can expect even more video ads on the paid service.

A press release issued from the company announced that 37% of viewers interacted with NUads, and 71% of those viewers voted in the polls for each advertisement. Several advertisers, including Subway and Toyota, bought into the initial group of interactive commercial spots, which were introduced in fall of 2012.

"These results show that NUads is a real breakthrough in TV advertising," said Ross Honey, general manager of Xbox LIVE Entertainment and Advertising. "You can expect more investment from us when it comes to this new ad format and video advertising in general."

The advertisers were certainly pleased with the results. Dionne Colvin, national media manager for Toyota Motor Sales USA, said that "the results exceeded our expectations". Kathleen Bell, director of Marketing for Subway Restaurants in Canada, offered similar praise, saying that "we're thrilled with the results of our first NUads experience".


Source: Microsoft News Center [http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/news/Press/2013/Jan13/01-07NuAdsPR.aspx]

Permalink

 

[Cyrus Hanley]

Glad I don't pay for that shit.

 

[luvd1]

Really. Really? Someone please remind me why I'm a gold member?

 

[Zeren]

Glad I don't pay for that shit.

Me too. Ads are getting more and more obtrusive.

 

[Bvenged]

So, when will Xbox Live Platinum come out offering Gold but ad-free for £45pa?

I hate adverts if they're for anything but games on my dashboard. My 3mbps broadband is no fan of the video advert tiles either. How do I disable that shit? I'm paying money here to be fucked over.

Go fuck yourself Microsoft, you money scrounging dirtbags.

 

[cahtush]

The wonderous glory of paying to see ads and using you own internet that is Xbox Live!
How do they even get away with this?

 

[Kroxile]

I'll keep on using PSN, thanks.

Its free, works every bit as well, and the ads are only there if you go looking for them.. and even then only sometimes.

 

[Johnny Wishbone]

How do they even get away with this?

Because there are millions of people out there stupid enough to pay for it or apathetic enough not to care about it. Just look a few posts above yours for one of those people....

 

[Genocidicles]

Well I certainly wont be paying for XBL again, that's for sure.

 

[loa]

Oh my god, the people in this video.
"New and exciting ways to connect with our customers", how about I show you "new and exciting ways" to connect with my dick.
As for microsfts "service", good job enabling them to do this, everyone who paid for xbox live.
Enjoy your "quality".

 

[pandorum]

Does that mean the more ads means no more paying for Xbox live? hopeful im hopeful. (probably totally off).

 

[Andy of Comix Inc]

The decision whether or not to renew my Xbox LIVE Gold this month just got much easier.

 

[Clive Howlitzer]

And people ask me why I don't own an Xbox.

 

[luvd1]

Now I feel better. Stuff you Microsoft and may you rot in a cesspit.

 

[BrotherRool]

This is bizzaro world where the free services are free and the paid for services are funded by advertising.

Also double digit interactivity?? You mean 11 people actually did it?! =D

Finally the tone of this is 'well done you played nice with our ads, as a reward we'll give you MORE ads!' Congratulations Xbox gamers, MS loves you

 

[redknightalex]

Who gives a fuck!?

A lot of people, particularly considering that many pay for Gold service and yet still get ads. Not even sure how Microsoft can justify such stupidity but they only made it worse now.

If I paid for an online service, I certainly don't want ads everywhere. Thankfully PSN has the right idea.

 

[The_Darkness]

On a related topic, I love the current dashboard. Tiny little area devoted to whatever game I've put into my console (which, I might add, is the only real use that I have for my console), MASSIVE area telling me to connect to Xbox Live. And if I connect? Ads all over the place, and that same space is now telling me to go Gold. And, from what I hear, that space becomes a permanent advert space if I do go Gold...

So... remind me who the Xbox Dashboard is designed for again? Me, the end-user, or the advertisers?

 

[Saulkar]

Just look a few posts above yours for one of those people....

Now he can look for one more below.

OT:I stopped paying for XBox Live 2 years ago or just before adds started appearing and have seen absolutely no reason to return... in fact every time the Escapist publishes a new article on the service I count another reason to avoid it like the plague.