Branded Content Project launches OTT/CTV video product

Whether it's watching the evening news, getting up early for Saturday morning cartoons or cozying up with the family for a Friday night movie, settling in around the television is a long-held tradition in most households. But the way we consume programming is rapidly evolving from cable and satellite to over-the-top (OTT) streaming, creating a vast opportunity for advertisers to get their video messages across on broadcaster's owned and operated OTT platforms.

With the COVID-19 pandemic forcing more time spent at home, consumption through these platforms is at an all-time high. While traditional broadcast advertising for television stations is still their bread and butter, there is a growing opportunity to cash in on OTT and Connected TV (CTV) platform advertising. In fact, according to Borrell & Associates, advertisers are buying more OTT spots than any other medium since the onset of the pandemic, with content marketing coming in a close second.

The Branded Content Project has created an opportunity for local brands to engage with their target audience by delivering value first through unique information, insights, tips, and ideas that are seasonal and topical in the form of digital lifestyle content. Now, it's extending that opportunity to provide sponsored videos specifically for CTV and OTT formats.

“The exciting thing is that these are so much more than just ads. The :30 sponsored content spots are designed to run in CTV and OTT inventory allowing the sponsor to efficiently reach their engaged target audience,” said Jared Merves, Distributed Media Lab’s chief revenue officer. “The sponsoring brand is positioned as a highly credible authority while they engage with their target audience across screens and devices.”

The Branded Content Project has partnered with VIDEOBOLT.COM to create high quality, engaging 30-second videos that local media companies can affordably purchase and then sell to advertisers in their respective markets. The videos will be available as an add-on to Active Aging and Finances FYI, two of ten lifestyle series that can be found in an online storefront. The educational videos will work anywhere you sell video, whether that's OTT, CTV, on social channels, over the air in commercial inventory or inside a newscast.

“The content is of tremendous value for local stations as it provides real value to the consumer on the other end, frees up the newsroom to cover other stories and it positions the brand as a thought leader and someone who is caring for an audience that’s craving this type of information,” said VIDEOBOLT.COM Co-Founder Corey Saban.

Anyone who is selling digital marketing should be using this to help their clients efficiently deliver video across streaming devices. Broadcasters and publishers will get a deliverable that can be inserted right into their OTT platform or streaming inventory, generating revenue and filling time with high-quality, engaging content. VIDEOBOLT.COM will embed sponsor and station logos into the videos automatically, ensuring a seamless process for media companies of all sizes.

"What makes this unique is that it's a turnkey solution where you’re getting brand-safe content that has the local advertising element built right into it,” said VIDEOBOLT.COM CEO & Founder Brian Albert.

"One of the biggest opportunities we see at The Branded Content Project is the ability to add revenue through new distribution channels in addition to driving revenue through a new product offering that includes video production. We see this as a triple win for media companies: product, production, and placement," said Julia Campbell, general manager at The Branded Content Project.

Looking for more details?

The best part about this opportunity is it is ready now for anyone interested in getting started or adding video solutions to your content marketing strategy for streaming inventory and social platforms.

Need a few more details? Check out the quick 1-minute video explainer.

Get access to sizzles, samples, and examples by emailing julia@brandedcontentproject.com.

---

The Branded Content Project is designed through a strategic partnership between the Local Media Association, the Local Media Consortium, and the Facebook Journalism Project to help facilitate additional growth, engagement, and revenue success for more publishers of all shapes and sizes.