Bloomberg:
Television programs such as “The Simpsons” and “CSI” are for the first time commanding higher advertising rates at Web sites including Hulu.com and TV.com than on prime-time TV.
Understated in the article is the value of targeted web advertising. There’s more to it than a captive audience and passionate fans. Hulu, for example, can use a given user’s demographic data to tailor the ads served. That kind of customization has no real analog outside the online world.
Better yet, Hulu lets its users, in effect, choose their own advertising. Like an ad? Give it a thumbs up, and you’ll see more like it. Never want to see a certain ad again? Give it a thumbs down, and you never will. It’s a better experience for viewers, and advertisers can spend their dollars on people who want to see their ads. Everyone wins.