Trinity Mirror’s regional digital director Chris Bunyan was made redundant in August, when the news publisher split the role in two. Now he’s becoming managing director of Localstars, a local video advertising service.
The company lets small local businesses create their own short web video ads using off-the-shelf library footage. The ads are served to local newspaper and directory sites via a Localstars “network” of partnerships with Trinity Mirror (LSE: TNI), Johnston Press, NWN Media, Bullivant and Thomson Local.
Bunyan replaces MD George Dann, who becomes ceo.
Localstars claims businesses have created 10,000 video ads, making £5 million revenue for its network members. It says its network comprises over 2,000 sites.
For such big numbers, the company has been pretty under-the-radar, and we’d be interested to see how many advertisers really go for that stock video material, plus how many news site readers really click local video ads.
The company founded in 2008 and is privately funded.