The Associated Press partnered with mobile video ad network Rhythm NewMedia to sell and serve ads within its applications for Apple?s iPhone and iPad.

Some campaigns that have run recently run across Rhythm?s mobile ad network include AT&T, Hampton Inn, Best Buy, Audi, Disney Parks, Skittles and Gain. In addition to the AP, the applications that use Rhythm?s SDK include the Food Network, CWTV, TMZ, E! Online, TLC, AMC, HGTV and the Discovery Channel.

?The AP and other publishers that integrate our SDK can have us both serve ads and sell ads as well,? said Ujjal Kohli, CEO of Rhythm NewMedia, Mountain View, CA. ?The AP has one of the most successful apps on the iPad, and it includes our SDK.

?Ads are served from Rhythm?s SDK into the AP?s iPhone and iPad apps, and we sell the ads on behalf of the Associated Press,? he said. ?They are pleased with both the serving piece and selling piece.

?The vast majority of mobile ads are banners, but what Rhythm NewMedia has brought to the party is TV-style mobile advertising running in front of actual TV-style content.?

Rhythm?s network of publisher partners provides entertainment, sports, news and gaming content, including videos from more than 150 popular TV shows.

Investors include The Carlyle Group, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Morgenthaler Ventures and Rembrandt Venture Partners.

AP got Rhythm
One of the top applications already using Rhythm?s iPad SDK is The Associated Press.

The AP said that it partnered with Rhythm to monetize the AP iPhone and iPad applications with Rhythm?s mobile ad SDK and impressive national sales team. 

Rhythm has expanded the capabilities of its mobile ad SDK to include picture-in-picture video browsing, interactive pre-roll video ads and support for Apple?s new mobile operating system, iOS 4.

Rhythm?s 4.0 SDK is the most comprehensive mobile ad SDK available in the market, including full-screen rich media ads, interactive pre-roll video ads, application launch ads, banner ads and a complete bundled video experience.

Consumers flipping through the photo section of an application see the full-age ads that are swipe-able like photos in the photo galleries.

All of Rhythm?s ad units work with a flexible HTML 5-enabled overlay that allows for hundreds of ?tap-to? options, including tap to Web, tap to Facebook, tap to buy, tap to video and tap to Twitter, in addition to fully animated graphics.

Rhythm has also opened up its video experience to all publishers and developers.

Bundled into the Rhythm SDK 4.0, this premium video experience includes picture-in-picture video browsing and interactive pre-roll video ads.

Rhythm claims that its SDK is the only one to currently include interactive pre-roll video ads.

Rhythm has offered its video technology to its entire ad network as a result of growing demand from both publishers and advertisers.

Comparable to Apple?s iAds, Rhythm?s latest SDK enables ad click-throughs within an application, so the user will not be forced to exit the application.

Rhythm?s SDK lets developers integrate ads into the most appropriate spots in their applications, including between game levels, photos, before videos or at application launch.

When iOS 4 becomes available for iPad in the fall, Rhythm will launch an update to its iPad SDK.

?We?re happy to be releasing our SDK for iOS 4, and it?s going out about the same time that iAd is launching,? Mr. Kohli said. ?Publishers can include the SDK in their iPhone apps to get our ad units, and also get another technical breakthrough, our browse-while-you-watch video experience, letting users choose the next thing to watch while their video is playing.

?We offer flexible HTML 5 overlays, which provide very extensive tap-to options and fully animated graphics,? he said. ?When you tap on an ad, you never leave the app, which is quite consistent with iAd in that regard, plus we have many ad units that iAd does not yet have such as our interactive video ads.

?We are a high-end complement to iAd for brand advertising, and we?re quite pleased with the timing.?