Google Adwords had announced that they will be adding click-to-play video ads to the currently available text, Flash and image ad formats supported by the Google content network.

These video ads will compete for placement on sites in the Google content network with other text, Flash and image ads. You can choose to bid on a CPC or CPM basis and these ads will be supported by both site- and keyword-targeted campaigns. You also have the ability to geo-target your video ads internationally, nationally, or locally.

When a page loads, only a static image will be visible; the video will not start playing until the user initiates it. He or she will be able to advance the video, pause it, adjust the volume or click through to the advertiser’s site. So these ads will not be intrusive as they seem to be.

Hooray to a new era of contextual video ads by Google Adwords.