Online Video Turns Up Heat

Though television may be losing viewers to online video, it has been holding on to advertisers. But with online-video outlets this week making their most organized push yet for ad dollars, that may be starting to change.

Early expectations are that TV networks will win an increase in total ad commitments for the fall season in the coming weeks of negotiations with advertisers known as the upfront. Yet, some big marketers, including General Motors Co. and Samsung Electronic Co.'s mobile arm, say they are planning to shift some of their TV budgets to the Web. "Online-video sites are becoming a legitimate alternative to cable and network TV options for reaching consumers," said Craig Atkinson, chief digital officer of PHD, a media-buying unit of Omnicom Group Inc. Even so, TV is expected to attract a little more money from advertisers than last year.


Online Video Turns Up Heat