Format Dispute to Blame for Lack of Ads on Susan Boyle Videos

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 23, 2009 - 9:07am.

London - A dispute between U.K. broadcaster ITV and YouTube (NASD: GOOG) over ad formats is to blame for why the estimated more than 100 million views of Susan Boyle's performance on "Britain's Got Talent" have not yet earned a single ad dollar, the Times Online reports.

While YouTube typically serves banner ads and some overlay ads on top of videos, ITV reportedly wants a pre-roll ad before the videos.

"We don't want to be part of YouTube's standard terms and conditions, because content like Susan Boyle is unique," Ben McOwen Wilson, the director of online for ITV, told Times Online.

"I think both sides are being hard-nosed and commercial about it."

The two companies have been in talks for several weeks. A spokesperson for YouTube told the Times Online that the decision not to serve ads alongside the popular videos was ITV's alone.

Related Links:
http://snipurl.com/gk479 (Times Online)

http://snipurl.com/gk42l (NewTeeVee)

http://snipurl.com/gk45h (DMW previous coverage)