Hulu will soon begin placing on-screen ad images when programming is put on hold.
Dubbed “pause ads,” Hulu, beginning in the second quarter, will insert “non-intrusive” images of Coke and Charmin products on select test screens after a user has paused programming for at least three seconds. The image disappears when viewing commences.
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“Our research found that consumers generally preferred ads that were subtle … and that extensive audio and video [spots] when pausing was considered disruptive,” Jeremy Hefland, VP, head of advertising platforms, wrote in a Jan. 31 blog post.
Hulu, which currently runs ads on its $5.99 subscription plan, is looking to increase margins from its 25 million subscribers. The platform co-owned by Disney, Fox, Comcast and WarnerMedia continues to generate hundreds of millions of dollars in equity losses for its corporate partners.
Hefland said the pause ad takes advantage of the “natural behavior” exhibited by viewers streaming TV. He said the ads consists of two elements: a creative image supported by contextually “relevant” messaging along with a background gradient to distinguish the ad from the content scene.
“The research so far has shown a positive response from viewers,” he wrote.