Google’s Next Ad Frontier May Be Inside Videogames, Google looking to acquire Adscape

Nick and Kevin at the Wall Street Journal (sub required) have a lengthy article today about the possibility of Google acquiring Adscape, a company which places ads inside video games. Google noted that a deal could be reached as early as next week.

The authors note that, if completed, a deal with Adscape would form part of an ambitious
Google effort to broker advertising across many types of media globally. The Internet company, whose 2006 revenue is expected to top $10 billion on the strength of its online-ad sales, currently is testing systems for selling ads in newspapers and on radio, and has
said it plans to extend into television ads. People familiar with the matter say it is discussing a possible agreement with CBS Corp. that would include brokering TV and radio advertisements. Both CBS and Google have declined to comment on any talks.

Adscape Chairman Bernard Stolar said he "has spoken to every major player" about a possible acquisition of Adscape, but there currently is no such deal.