When I go online for a video snack, the last thing I want to see is an ad. It’s the same mentality that drives me to shell out extra cash to Rogers each month for a PVR – it makes TV watching and skipping through ads that much more enjoyable.  

I don’t care if it’s a pre-roll (generally a 15 or 30 second ad clip that runs in advance of the content I actually want to see) or an overlay (an ad layer typically found at the bottom of the screen) – when it comes to watching Web content I want immediacy and I don’t want interruptions.

Now we all know that, despite my false sense of entitlement, content creators and especially content providers generally don’t post programming out of the goodness of their hearts. Monetization of content is by and large the motivating factor, and as any person in business realizes, this is simply how things work. But does online advertising always need to be intrusive to the viewer?

At the recent Yahoo! Canada (disclosure: Environics client) Summit Series event – Big Screen. Little Screen – I’ll admit I was both interested and a wee bit skeptical hearing one presenter’s claim of delivering “the next generation in online video, providing an interactive video platform which delivers a robust monetization solution for content providers and an effective non-intrusive media vehicles for advertisers.”

Boilerspeak aside, the company has essentially created an on demand Pop-up Video model for online advertising. I’m fascinated.  I’m smitten.  I’m a believer. 

Check out VideoClix.tv clickable video and simply scroll over and click on anything. WARNING: I believe the site alternates the demo selections – and at the time of this posting a cheesy bathing suit / bikini destination spot is currently front and center.  I suggest clicking into the TV icon at the far bottom right side for additional programming to get a better sense of the channel – and marketing – possibilities. My two favourites: a Home Depot “how to” video, and a clip from Entourage.

If VideoClix can sell it, I will come.