I think byennie mentioned using a different ad format - possibly leaving more of the screen to CS content and not having the banner being so obtrusive. I'll admit, I am not a fan of the video appearing every time I click on a new thread page, give a tp, or post a comment; and would probably prefer a small ad at the top that you can scroll past; but we did not what we were getting ourselves into when CS became independent of CB.
Despite the ads, I will say that the site works so much better than it used to. It was a slog doing anything in the last couple years there with SBNation.
Edit: byennie just responded above me. I'm guessing he knows a little more than I do
Hehe I suppose I do =). Thanks for the supportive words. I definitely feel dirty every time I add one of these things, but FWIW my priorities are something like:
1) Spend enough time and money to make the site reliable and fast, within reason. Don't break stuff.
2) Don't lose money -- thus the ads -- so this can continue indefinitely
3) Make the ads less annoying based on feedback
4) Make gradual improvements, especially anything that might increase our reach (thus the modest additions around social integration)
All that said, I dunno if I can take another Kobe crash video (and not just on this site)...