Quiznos attempts to tap into the Internet's love for all things feline and create a viral buzz with its latest campaign, above. We know that online video hits typically break out to become watercooler topics of conversation through humor — witness Old Spice's latest viral smash — but this spot appears to be trying too hard. Disagree? Post a comment!

In the latest in a flurry of new developments including its new mobile product, YouTube this week launched Leanback, which you can check out here.

The navigational tool for teeing up and watching YouTube videos on TV helps position the Google-owned video hub as an alternative to regular TV programming. Indeed, it makes the user akin to a network programmer, designing a customized channel on the fly without worrying about searching for the next video to watch.

Intended to enhance first-generation Google TV devices, the new interface is designed to make YouTube's clip-based system "effortless," meaning smarter about aggregating a user's video "likes" and subscriptions (including YouTube video rentals), as YouTube explains on its blog.Continue reading...

Directors Ridley Scott and Kevin Macdonald, with the help of sponsor LG Electronics, are helping YouTube with a history-making experiment: Life in a Day, an effort to capture 24 hours of moments, big and small, captured on video on July 24th. Everyone is invited to capture and upload video to a special YouTube channel on that day.

As YouTube's blog notes, "You can film the ordinary — a sunrise, the commute to work, a neighborhood soccer match — or the extraordinary — a baby's first steps, your reaction to the passing of a loved one, or even a marriage."

LG Electronics is supporting the project as "a key part of its longstanding Life's Good campaign and to support the creation of quality online content that can be shared and enjoyed by all."Continue reading...

In an exclusive interview answering YouTube fans' questions, Shakira talks about her song being chosen as the official World Cup song instead of a tune by an African artist.

YouTube also fixed a flaw that let hackers create pop-up messages (including the false report that Canadian singer Justin Bieber had died) on videos to redirect them to adult sites.

Bieber's Twitter and website poll on which country he should tour next was also sabotaged by Web pranksters 4Chan to skew votes to send him to North Korea. Yesterday also saw Wikipedia and iTunes attacked by hackers, who appeared to choose the Fourth of July holiday in the U.S. to wreak havoc online.

TechCrunchTV has joined the online video mega-club. Producing and streaming original video programming seems to be a de rigueur move for smart brands in the digital space, as evidenced by recent other media brands including The New York Times, Reuters and The Wall Street Journal.

TechCrunchTV, which can be viewed at techcrunch.tv, is launching with six web shows, one daily and five weekly, featuring popular tech bloggers Sarah Lacy, MG Sielger, Jason Kincaid and TC founder Michael Arrington. With 40 minutes of daily live programming, is a 24/7 TCTV likely?Continue reading...

Firefly Video is the latest entrant in the online video ad network game – and their expertise is engagement ads.

The company's style of engagement ads appear as standard rectangles with a ‘turned up’ corner pop-up. Click on the pop-up and nearly a whole page of video with interactive elements, maps, and more video moves center page – all for the consumer’s entertainment and engagement.

The draw for advertisers is they can reuse TV commercials already created from a million dollar investments. Firefly Video has been developing the private beta site with 25 ad partners, including Mercedes-Benz.Continue reading...