Did Google Change Display URL Policy?

BP's ads Going Straight to Youtube

[PayMePerClick]

A simple search for "oil spill" brings up BP's paid search ads from their crisis management campaign. The display URL shows the BP.com domain, but the ad sends you to to YouTube. Is this allowed now?

[netmeg]

Maybe they got a special dispensation.

(I'll resist the temptation to say they greased a few palms)

[PayMePerClick]

Just wondering if any company that causes a national disaster can apply for Adwords leniency. I guess they do deserve a break.

[netmeg]

It may not be the national disaster aspect as much as the $10,000/day spend aspect at play here.

[dvduval]

I wonder if this same tactic is going to be used during the US elections. This certainly sets a precedent of allowing corporations to buy public opinion, yes?

[dertyfern]

Ad click is going straight to bp.com here in UK at this time.

[bwnbwn]

ad click is going to youtube page so the url policy has changed.

[p5gal5]

Is it relevant that they have their own official/corporate "channel" on youtube? (rather than just a random video)

[Super_Chunk]

Ad click is going straight to bp.com here in UK at this time.

Same for me on Google UK, so I tried Google US through a proxy and it links to youtube.

[Fern]

I wonder if BP put a cap on its Adwords spend. If the whole world decided to click on those ads each day...lol

[rogerd]

>>if BP put a cap on its Adwords spend

If they did, it probably would stop only a small fraction of the spending anyway.

[netmeg]

ork ork ork.

[rustybrick]

Google told me this was both human and computer error and will be fixed soon.

[UK_Web_Guy]

a little off topic so sorry, but is anyone else seeing the "Displayingˇads right now?" tool saying NO to all keywords?

I have thousands of keywords in my campaigns and all saying NO, but all are running fine - presume it's some sort of system glitch with that tool?