Process and apparatus for advertising component placement

A method for preparing video material for distribution, comprising:

• receiving video material from a plurality of video sources;
• receiving digital advertising components;
• converting the video material from said video sources into one or more operating formats suitable for receiving placement of a digital advertising component;
• electronically placing the digital advertising component into the video material in an operating format such that the digital advertising component becomes integrated into said video material format;
• and
• outputting said video material for distribution.

A method of preparing digital video material from a plurality of video material sources for distribution, comprising:

• preparing video material by processing the video material to identify suitable placement zones for receiving digital advertising components;
• generating a market for one or more placement zones;
• and
• placing a digital advertising component in a particular placement zone responsive to a request from an advertiser for a particular digital advertising component to be placed in that placement zone.

A method of preparing video material for distribution, comprising:

• preparing video material by processing the video material to identify suitable placement zones for receiving digital advertising components;
• valuing individual placement zones and/or pluralities of placement zones and providing information on said valuations to advertisers;
• and
• receiving a selection of placement zone(s) responsive to provision of said valuations.

A method of advertising in digital video material, comprising:

• obtaining consent from a plurality of sources of video material to place digital advertising components in video material from said sources;
• receiving and aggregating video material from a plurality of sources;
• preparing video material for placement of digital advertising components, including identifying and marking suitable placement zones;
• receiving from an advertiser a selection from among available placement zones for a particular advertising component;
• placing said particular advertising component in the relevant placement zone responsive to said selection;
• and
• outputting the video material with the digital advertising component placed within it.

A method of preparing digital video material for distribution, comprising:

• providing a repository of video material;
• preparing individual video material items within said repository of video material for receiving placement of a digital advertising component by defining one or more placement zones suitable for receiving such a digital advertising component;
• providing a mechanism for selection of a placement zone in video material for a particular digital advertising component by an advertiser;
• placing a digital advertising component responsive to a selection of an advertiser;
• and
• charging at least said advertiser based on said selection.

A method of processing video material for advertising component placement, the method comprising:

• scanning video material suitable for advertising component placement to detect a placement zone of a minimum predetermined area and in view for a minimum predetermined period of time;
• inserting a place-holder in the placement zone;
• and
• saving the video material with the place-holder to storage means.

A method of operating a computer for processing video material for advertising component placement, the method comprising:

• providing a video material processor for scanning video material suitable for advertising component placement to detect a placement zone of a minimum predetermined area and in view for a minimum predetermined period of time;
• causing the video material processor to insert a place-holder in the placement-zone;
• and
• saving in storage means the video material with the place-holder.

A method of inserting an advertising component in video material, the method comprising:

• selecting video material suitable for insertion of an advertising component;
• and
• inserting an advertising component into a place-holder within the selected video material,
• wherein the place-holder marks an area of the selected video material which is predetermined as suitable for the insertion of an advertising component.

A method of operating a computer for inserting an advertising component in a video material, the method comprising:

• selecting video material suitable for insertion of an advertising component;
• and
• receiving at a video material processor instructions to insert an advertising component into a place-holder within the selected video material,
• wherein the place-holder marks an area of the selected video material which is predetermined as suitable for the insertion of an advertising component.

A computer apparatus comprising:

• an ingest module operable to interface at least one video material source and to receive digital video material from said source;
• a grooming module operable to analyze ingested video material to identify and mark one or more placement zones in said video material which is suitable for receiving a digital advertising component;
• a placement module capable of placing a digital advertising component into a marked placement zone within said video material;
• and
• an export module interfacing one or more video material distributors and capable of exporting video material with digital advertising components placed therein for distribution in a distribution format.

A method of providing video material with one or more integrated advertising components, comprising:

• receiving digital video material and a digital advertising component for placement therein;
• preparing the video material by determining a placement zone for said advertising component within said video material and associating said advertising component with the placement zone;
• and
• sending the prepared video material and the associated advertising component to a remote combining module operable to combine the prepared video material and the advertising component by integrating said advertising component into said placement zone before distribution of said video material.

A method of providing video material with one or more integrated advertising components, comprising:

• receiving prepared digital video material, said prepared digital video material comprising video material in an operating format and having defined within it at least one placement zone for receiving a digital advertising component;
• receiving a digital advertising component with an indication associating it with a particular placement zone in prepared digital video material;
• combining the prepared digital video material with the digital advertising component by integrating said advertising component into the particular placement zone within said video material;
• and
• outputting said video material for distribution.