I recently spotted both Yahoo and Bing showing sponsored video ads right in their search results and it appears as though Google is doing the same, according to Digiday.

These ads are only in a limited test right now, but it likely seen as a way to get video ads before more searchers outside of their standard method of YouTube.

Google would not comment on any current plans to introduce search video ads, but the company said it has played with the format in the past. “We’ve experimented with a number of different video search formats over the years but don’t have anything specific we’re launching right now,” the company said.

While we have seen Google’s advertisements grow richer and more interesting over the years, placing sponsored video ads in the search results is quite a step up.

It isn’t known if they will operate in the same way as the ones in Yahoo and Bing results are displayed.  Those ads have a thumbnail with a “play” icon over top, then they expand and push down the search results underneath to begin playing.a

Another video ad placement that definitely could be an option if/when Google expands this is a move where sponsored videos are placed within Google Video search results that show up in the Google search results.

We haven’t seen any screenshots of the new formats yet.  They are apparently in beta testing, so you will need to reach out to your Google AdWords rep to gain access to it.

Bing and Yahoo began showing video ads in their results earlier this month, when I spotted sponsored video ads in both their search results.