If you compare www.ICPlaces.com to its inception a few years ago, you will now notice dramatic changes as the site has been completely stuffed with information, videos and shows to entertain and educate its visitors. The World Wide Web has changed dramatically over the last six years and IC Places has changed with it. Whereas audio was the only real media advertising option at that time, video has become a dominate force, and even that has changed by becoming more crisp, clear and rapidly loading. What began as a single-city website (focused on Las Vegas) has blossomed into an information behemoth with tons of visitors, 350 city news and entertainments websites and a virtual keyhole into hundreds of communities.
This week, the Company released news announcing the execution of business strategies to continually monetize the unique website via a signed agreement with Temor Media, an industry-leading online video advertising network. Per the agreement, Temor Media will deliver 6 million monthly interactive in-stream ads over the IC Places network of websites.
The next generation of video ads not only provide the viewer with a plethora of choices to expand upon, but is critical to the IC Places web traffic control as the entire platform is contained within the IC Places website. As explained in the recent press release, “…utilizing Tremor Media’s vChoice ad format, an auto maker could present a short teaser video of a featured model before an IC Places show, followed by several video choices such as 1) explore the entertainment system and view a demo of the DVD player; 2) watch a Consumer Reports video comparing this model to others in the same class; 3) watch a video on safe driving tips; and 4) search the inventory and pricing of local dealers in the user’s area.”
IC Places is much more than a “Yellow Pages” sort of directory that provides basic information about select categories within a city. It is an interactive fountain of information that provides viewers detailed accounts of not only what they came there to find, such as a movie show time at a particular theatre, but provokes ideas of other possibilities due to its immense amount of content. While some may consider advertising taboo, it seems to be a natural fit with the overall ambiance of IC Places that is a unique blend of a life-long community member, a concierge, phone book, Google, Siskel & Ebert and Chris Berman as the ads serve to not only generate revenue for the Company, but also better educate or entertain its visitors.
The video ads, powered by Tremor Media’s Acudeo® technology, are slated to begin running with IC Places hit shows, including The Instant Movie Review, Instant DVD Review, Cooking for Bachelors, 1st Look and IC Sports. IC Places will be able to maximize ROI through advertisers that can now go beyond traditional pre-roll by presenting the viewer with options to view additional video content such as multiple TV ads, product reviews, tutorials, or long-form branded content within the video player as part of the pre-roll experience. The new platform covers all the bases as IC Places will remain in complete control of the advertising library.
With less than ten million shares in the float and only approximately 15 million outstanding shares, this fully-reporting pinksheet company may soon be generating more noise in the investment community. Investors and non-investors alike can learn more about the Company and its unique website that is growing daily by visiting www.icplaces.com
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