In theses times of economic uncertainty celebrity endorsements, for some, may be very hard to come by, and frankly fiscally irresponsible. But fear not my cash strapped friends, well known online personality iJustine, aka the Internet, is here to help. iJustine is willing to schill your products for you, and do it for FREE! iJustine and Overlay.TV have partnered together to create the first free online celebrity endorsement tool, and it's not just for the business minded. Users who just want to share their opinions or review consumer products can also use iJustine as their celebrity mouthpiece, because after all everything sounds better when it come from someone famous! And it's ridiculously easy. Just go to ijustine.overlay.tv and ... wait! I'll let iJusitne tell you herself:

Here's an example of what your iJustine endorsement or review could look like:

advertising · celebrity · consumers · endorsement · iJustine · internet · Product Placement · products · review

Overlay.TV announced yesterday that we have opened our API to developers and video producers on our new Labs website. What does this mean exactly? Well it means that developers and video producers can create applications, widgets and other customized features that will enhance the interactivity of their online video. This new site features an SDK download, registration for a developer key, tutorials and much more. You will also find examples of projects we have developed, including our Jonas Brothers Vocal Booth and Kidz Bop Karaoke as well as a forum for the community to encourage discussion and ideas. Read the full press release here.

Coverage of our release:

CNET: Overlay.tv gets an API, labs sandbox

TechNews.AM: Overlay.tv gets an API, labs sandbox

mashget: Overlay.tv gets an API, labs sandbox

MSNBC: Overlay.TV Opens Its API to Developers and Video Producers

Beet.TV: Overlay.tv Provides API for Developers

Stay tuned! Many new features have been added to Overlay.TV that will posted here soon, including our new iJustine website and our YouTube Uploader.

No tags

The OverView, and Amber, comes to you this week from sunny Florida. In this episode: Rick Rolling the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, The Criterion Collection online, a lesson on how to "Elf Yourself," Overlay.TV and Kidzbop, and what's going on at Blip.TV. This will the last episode of the year, so look forward to more Amber and The OverView in 2009. Happy Holidays!

No tags

If my memory serves me correctly, this time of year used to mean slowing down, long lunches to celebrate the year, and taking games into school. Well this has been one crazy great year at Overlay.TV, and as we approach the holidays we have no intention of slowing down!

All we seem to read about is how bad things are getting. Well let me re-iterate "things are what you make 'em." Over here we are seeing acceleration across all areas of our business, but there is one main area of change. Rather than chasing new dollars for campaigns and promotions, we are increasingly working to maximize the returns on the limited dollars that already exist.

Overlay.TV's business sits at the intersection of video, advertising and eCommerce, and I believe most people would agree that these are pretty large areas. Our second round a financing gives us the fire power to scale into our partnerships and form new one's along the way. Engagement metrics from initiatives like the Jonas Brothers Sing Along have been, quite frankly, off the charts, but more of that in the New Year.

So with that at the end of a great Q4, I want to say thank you to an amazing team, to investors that believe in us, and to you, the community that help us build a company. Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas.

And thanks for all the great coverage we received today:

Overlay.tv raises $4.6m in backing

Overlay.TV gets boost to push overlay technology in video

Video Ad Provider Overlay.TV Raises $3.8 Million Second Round

Overlay.tv Gets Another $4.6 Million

Tech Capital doubles bets on Overlay.TV and PostRank

Overlay.TV closes 2nd round financing with $4.6 Million

Overlay.TV Closes Second Round Financing

Ottawa-based Overlay.tv closes 4.6 million in second round financing

Overlay.tv secures some more cash, second financing round nets $4.7M

Video Ad Provider Overlay.TV Raises $3.8 Million Second Round

Overlay.TV Secures $4.6 Million Funding

Overlay.TV scores second round of financing

Overlay.TV Lands $3.7 Million for Interactive Video Platform

· advertising · financing · Jonas Brothers · Overlay.TV · PR Release

We are pleased to announce today that Overlay.TV has secured a second round of financing for $4.6 million. This means that the gang here at Overlay.TV will be able to continue creating and developing cool new interactive tools for video, while still providing our users with a quality platform, as well as giving us the resources to expand into the premium content market. Thanks to our investors from Celtic House Venture Partners, Tech Capital Partners and EdgeStone Capital Partners. Read the full press release here.

No tags

This week on the The OverView: You Tube makes the leap into widescreen, Xbox teams up with Netflix, Bruce Lee enjoys a bit of ping-pong with his new Nokia phone, and Amber teaches us about aspect ratio. Remember that you can click on anything that Amber talks about if you would like to learn more.

The OverView

Yesterday I told you about our press release for The Jonas Brothers Overlay.TV Vocal Booth, and today we are front page news. The Ottawa Citizen ran a story today about our Vocal Booth, with a teaser right on the front page of the newspaper. You can find the article in the Business and Technology section of the print edition, or online in Ottawa Citizen's Entertainment section.

No tags

Last week I gave you the inside scoop on our latest partnership with the Disney owned Hollywood Records, before it went live to the media and general public. Well, today the official press release has gone out to all media outlets announcing the wide release of The Jonas Brothers Overlay.TV Vocal Booth. In our limited run, The Jonas Brothers Overlay.TV Vocal Booth could only be accessed through the Jonas Brothers official website, but now fans can also access it through their official MySpace and Facebook pages. That means loads more fans singing their hearts to "Lovebug," and trying to get the those JB boys to notice them. And trust me when I say these fans are getting creative. Here's just a few examples of the lengths fans will go to, including camping out at an Apple Store to get access to a webcam and potentially the Jonas Brothers!

APPLE STORE FUNNNN

SIDNEY SUPERSTAR

ESTER MARIA I XENIA - SPAIN

 SPONTANEOUS POETRY WITH MAGGIE AND ELLEN

I AM A ROCKSTAR!!!

Disney · Hollywood Records · Jonas Brothers · Overlay.TV · Press Release · Sing-Along · Vocal Booth

Remember when you were a kid and you were 'like, oh my God, totally in love with,' let's say Duran Duran, or for those a little younger, New Kids on the Block, and how much you thought your love for them was so real and profound it made your heart ache? How you would lay awake at night in your pink canopy bed imagining your unicorn-themed wedding to Simon Le Bon or Donnie Wahlberg, just before rolling over and giving their poster one last kiss goodnight? How when you heard any of their songs on the radio, you would go absolutely crazy with delight, and sing at the top of your lungs into your hairbrush, dancing around your room to your legions of imaginary fans? Anyone? No? You totally lie.

Anyway, fast forward to 2008 and the new kids on the block are now Jonas Brothers, and posters still exist, but do so in a virtual universe. Now, imagine that you could sing-along with the Jonas Brothers and the whole world could see it. Kinda like karaoke, but not so lame. Well, Overlay.TV, together with the Disney-owned label Hollywood Records, has made that a reality.

Fans of the Jonas Brothers can now go to their official website and get in The Jonas Brothers Overlay.TV Vocal Booth and sing-along with them to their latest hit 'Lovebug.' It's super simple too. Click on the "Create Your Own!" button to start recording your very own version of 'Lovebug' while you sing-along with the JB boys themselves at the same time. Tell your kids, your friend’s kids, kids at school, stranger’s kids, your nieces and nephews, anyone who you think is a die hard JB fan, or just someone who likes to show off their musical chops. It's loads of PG good fun and gets you that much closer to Nick, Joe and Kevin. Like OMG!!!!

· Disney · Hollywood Records · Jonas Brothers · Overlay.TV · Sing-Along · Vocal Booth

Amber gets a little catty this week on The OverView. Also in this episode: Obama preps online for his upcoming fireside chats, Space Invaders gets musical, Overlay.TV ♥s the Jonas Brothers, and what kind of video editing software is best for you.

The OverView