News Interactive Launches Ad-Supported Video

News Interactive, the digital arm of News Corp’s Australian news division, has added ad-supported, on-demand video content on its News.com.au site.

The video, syndicated from New York-based online content creator ROO, will include daily clips in four categories — news, entertainment, games, and the offbeat “The Other Side.” The content is a combination of News Interactive’s own video, including News Corp.-owned Sky News, and a selection from ROO’s library of licensed and original video clips, such as content from AP and Reuters.

Users can find videos within a channel’s sub-categories, or via a keyword search of the video library on the News.com.au site.

“The partnership with ROO allows us to provide a top online video offering with high quality video presentation and unmatched content volume. This gives us enormous potential to expand our audience and provide exciting new opportunities for advertisers,” said Nic Jones, News Interactive’s managing director, in a statement.

Ad opportunities consist of :15 and :30 in-stream spots served before and after video clips, accompanied by a synchronized banner ad unit on the site. ROO sells advertising on behalf of many of its affiliate partner sites, but News Interactive will handle ad sales in this implementation.

“Advertisers are rethinking their consumer marketing strategies in the face of personalized, evolving media,” Jones said. “Online video advertising will provide them with a new way to engage consumers.”

The mix of local and international content will be displayed in ROO’s video player, which uses either Windows Media or RealPlayer, and will allow users to expand the content to full screen viewing. News Interactive will manage the video content internally.