Judging by the amount of reader inquiries we’ve received, it seems word has spread about the very cool, first-ever video ad that appears in some copies of this week’s Entertainment Weekly. The six-page ad insert — for CBS and Pepsi Max — features a wafer-thin, 2.25-inch video player loaded with 40 minutes of full-color video, including clips of CBS shows like The Big Bang Theory, How I Met Your Mother, Two and a Half Men, NCIS: Los Angeles, and The Good Wife.
Only a limited number of EW subscribers will find the video ad in their mailbox, but you can still see what all the fuss is about in this video, in which CBS honcho George Schweitzer demos the ad:
The tiny video player, created by Americhip, Inc., is the first to be bound into a traditional magazine. Powered by a cell phone-type lithium battery, it plays for about an hour before needing to be recharged via its USB port.
Comments (1-15) of 22 Add your comment
Great… more lithium batteries that will end up in landfills.
Exactly what worries me about this technology…
You beat me to it. I guess it’s neat in a futuristic way, but the first question that popped into my head was “Why?” What a colossal waste.
Could this be why my issue of EW didn’t make it to my mailbox?
As someone who has been a loyal subscriber for several years (and is renewed thru AHEM 2011) I’m pretty disappointed that I didn’t get it. Fail.
Just keep rubbing it in… most of us subscribers did not get this!
Very interesting and neat but seems so limited and misguided on more levels…hm.
Ditto here. I guess the fact that I’ve been a subscriber for 4+ years doesn’t make me cool enough to get a video ad in MY magazine. Thanks a lot, EW.
What gives! I thought this was for NY and LA? I work in the online video industry and was soooo excited to see this. UGH.
I am a longtime Entertainment Weekly subscriber in Los Angeles. No video ad received. Guess I’ll ask my neighbors if they got their copy… If not, then I’ll know this was all just hub bub…
Goshdarnit, I didn’t get one. FYI for battery concerns- this uses a rechargeable battery, though obviously it’s not practical in this case. Even the first Priuses built had a lot of waste and a big carbon footprint. Tech needs time to develop, then become eco-friendly.
If someone placed their copy of EW with the video on ebay I would pay $500 or more for it.
Perhaps $1000
Don’t get all bent outta shape peeps – I got the video ad and IT DIDN”T EVEN WORK!! Oh well, if you want my issue and can figure out how to view it, it’s yours! A whole lotta fuss about nothing…
I’ll send you a self-addressed stamped envelope and the issue’s cover price if the offer’s still good…
It’s sad that most of us did not get it. I was kinda looking forward to it.
I just read that the video ads were hacked, and like 35 thousand of them had an Easter Egg inside with some kind of book promo. Here’s the YouTube video with it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfV2hoRmmHg
I am a subscriber in Los Angeles and didn’t receive the magazine with this special advertisement but instead had a maybelline insert. What gives EW?! I was looking forward to this!