Amazon preps video ad launch

Amazon is laying the ground to launch video advertising that could see ads for movies, games and products served to customers in search results. 

Amazon-Logo-2013_304
Amazon could serve ads for movies, games and products to customers in search results.

Amazon has signed a deal with technology provider FreeWheel that will see the e-tailer integrate ads. 

Video game or movie trailers, for example, could include a “shop now” button that if clicked will see the viewer taken directly to the item on Amazon’s site. 

Lisa Utzschneider, vice president of global advertising sales for Amazon’s Media Group division, says: “Our customers love video. We’re excited to be connecting customers and advertisers through our video content, in ways that help customers discover and learn about great, relevant products.”

No launch date was provided and Amazon or FreeWheel could not be reached before this article was published.

Amazon Media Group is a relatively small division of the e-commerce giant selling ads on its sites and insight to brands. E-marketer estimated last year Amazon’s ad revenue would be about $800m (£491m) in 2013.

Earlier this week, it emerged Amazon’s UK sales slowed in 2013. Accounts filed by Amazon in the US showed that the company’s UK sales were $7.29bn (£4.47bn) in 2013, an increase of 12.6 per cent year on year. However, that is a slowdown from 2012, when revenues grew by 21.1 per cent.

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