YuMe to Power LG Electronics' Global Smart TV Ad Platform

YuMe to Power LG Electronics’ Global Smart TV Ad Platform, First Video Advertising Platform for Internet-Connected TVs; Announces Charter Advertiser Toyota; YuMe’s Operating System for TV 2.0 Enables Advertisers to Reach Consumers through LG Smart TVs, Blu-ray DiscTM Players, and Smart TV Upgraders

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. — Heralding a first for the advertising industry, YuMe today announced the availability of YuMe’s video advertising solution for Internet Connected TVs, the Embedded software development kit (SDK). LG Electronics (KSE: 066570) is launching the first availability of YuMe’s advertising technology and services to support LG’s industry-leading Smart TV platform. The U.S. arm of global car manufacturer Toyota, Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., is the charter advertiser for this first video advertising solution for Internet Connected TVs.

The Embedded SDK powers the new LG advertising platform and is the only video advertising technology to be built into TVs, Blu-ray Disc™ players, and connected devices, providing an end-to-end solution for developers, advertisers, and consumer electronics (CE) manufacturers. The LG advertising platform leverages the power of YuMe’s cross-platform advertising technology to offer brands the ability to reach consumers with targeted, relevant video advertising on LG’s connected devices, including Smart TVs, Smart TV Upgraders, and Blu-ray Disc™ players. The LG-YuMe agreement will immediately offer brands the ability to advertise both in the LG Smart TV navigation experience as well as in applications with pre-roll and navigation experience ads. Additionally, LG will use YuMe’s ACE for Publishers to serve ads delivered within the Smart TV navigation experience.

“We are thrilled to work with LG on this first ever ad platform embedded in TVs. Over the past several years we have offered in-player, in-app, and now in-TV ad solutions,” said Jayant Kadambi, CEO, YuMe, Inc. “Even as consumer attention fractures, we offer brands a way to seamlessly reach consumers at every stage of interaction with the TV, and across all platforms and devices; and as the interactive TV market grows we expect to be the leader in delivering relevant advertising to consumers.”

“We selected YuMe because we were seeking an ad serving and monetization provider for the LG advertising platform with a solution that gives both developers and advertisers around the globe access to our broad set of devices,” said Young-jae Seo, Vice President, Smart TV team of LG Electronics. “YuMe’s advanced technology is flexible enough to work across our diverse range of chip sets for various connected devices, making it the right solution.”

“Toyota customers are watching video online, on their mobile phones and on TV, and we are excited to be able to reach this previously unreachable audience on smart TVs,” said Dionne Colvin, national marketing media manager, Toyota. “At Toyota, we pride ourselves on our innovative approach to advertising, and as media consumption habits change, we see a real opportunity to further engage consumers through YuMe and LG.”

YuMe’s Operating System for TV 2.0

The Embedded SDK joins YuMe’s extensive set of web and mobile SDKs–in addition to its platform SaaS solutions–and positions the company as the operating system for the next generation of TV, TV 2.0. The Embedded SDK provides CE companies and OEMs with the ability to embed software in their technology stack that will support video advertising out of the box. Since it is built into the firmware of the TV, advertisers and publishers are able to offer a more integrated, interactive advertising experience for consumers. The SDK provides an abstraction layer for quick porting and seamlessly addresses the diversity of chip sets. It also handles all the details of integrating with YuMe’s ACE for Publishers and Connected Audience Network, enabling OEMs and CE manufacturers to finally participate in the advertising value chain of television.