From shopping habits to content consumption preferences, the pandemic caused rapid shifts in behavior. Brands, marketers and tech providers have had to stay on their toes to keep up.
This year’s Digiday Video and TV Awards finalists leveraged first-party data, innovative partnerships and outside-the-box channel selection to reach their target audiences where they were.
To get noticed in a crowded, multi-channel landscape, these finalists had to make bold moves that, in the past, may have seemed shocking or even controversial. But these were the plays required to make a lasting impression in 2021, and the contenders on this year’s shortlist certainly didn’t shy away from them.
Google, for example, decided to partner with ViacomCBS to integrate its 2020 ‘Year In Search’ campaign into The Daily Show with Trevor Noah. To make the campaign’s inclusion feel like an organic part of the show rather than a forced brand integration, Google and ViacomCBS took a chance by letting the show’s comedian host choose the topics and provide the commentary that resonated most with him. The resulting social engagement with the campaign showed the risk paid off and earned it a spot on the shortlist for Best Multi-Platform Video Campaign.
Beauty and skincare brand EOS also made bets in this vein, resulting in a finalist position for Best Use of TikTok. After TikiTok influencer Carly Joy organically made a viral video asserting the brand’s shaving cream as the best for shaving intimate areas and declaring viewers to “bless your f*ing cooch” and use it, the company jumped on the viral moment. In just three days, EOS created the limited-edition Bless Your F*ing Cooch line of shave creams. Partnering with Carly Joy and other TikTok creators helped spread the word about the product while also breaking taboos and normalizing a touchy conversation that clearly resonated with young audiences.
And finally, there are finalists like Atmosphere, an audio-optional streaming platform designed for businesses with high dwell times, like bars and restaurants, that helped partners reach audiences reemerging from their homes. After months of lockdowns and restrictions, Atmosphere helped companies like DraftKings reach target audiences as they returned to public venues. Leveraging the data Atmosphere has available about the viewers of its screens, DraftKings was able to target regionally, contextually and behaviorally without needing to spend big dollars on a linear TV campaign, landing it a spot on the shortlist for Best Connected TV Platform.
Stay tuned to find out who the judges will select as this year’s winners. In the meantime, check out the complete list of finalists below.
Best Ad
Known
MogoSME
Velocity, ViacomCBS
ViacomCBS
ViacomCBS
Best Ad Tech Innovation
Genero
KCSA
Magnite
Sharethrough
Smart Adserver
TripleLift
Best Advertiser in TV or Video
360i
BIC
LiveXLive
MogoSME
Best Brand Film – Series
AMC Networks
Barkley
Convey Communications
LADbible Group
Roku
VICE Media Group
Best Brand Film – Single
AMC Networks
Dotdash
Haymarket Automotive Studio
LADbible Group
Passion Point Collective
SimplePractice
Best Brand Studio
Roku
Tastemade
Best Connected TV Platform
Atmosphere
Crenshaw Communications
Digital Remedy
Foxxum GmbH
Premion
Publica
Best Digital Video Monetization Program
Crenshaw Communications
Maestro Interactive
STN Video
VDO.AI
Best Digital Video Platform
Atmosphere
Ellen Digital Network
JW Player
Minute Media
Verizon Media
video intelligence AG
Best Distribution Strategy
Insider
pocket.watch
VGTV
Best Facebook Watch Show
Insider
SCMP
SCMP
Best FAST Channel – NEW
Tastemade
Best FAST Service – NEW
BECK Media & Marketing
KCSA
rlaxx TV
Best Live Moment
Essence China
G4
LiveXLive
Milk & Honey PR
NVE Experience Agency
ViacomCBS
Best Multi-Platform Video Campaign
5WPR
Freeform
ITV
LADbible Group
ViacomCBS
ViacomCBS
Best Original Programming – NEW
Essence China
LiveXLive
SCMP
SCMP
Tastemade
Verizon Media
Best Production Strategy
SCMP
SCMP
VGTV
Best Snapchat Discover Publisher
PinkNews
ViacomCBS
WAVE.tv
Best Snapchat Show
dentsu
Jungle Creations
PinkNews
Verizon Media
ViacomCBS
Best Social Video Campaign
D?MES
Medium Rare
Sunshine Sachs
Team Whistle
ViacomCBS
ViacomCBS
Best Streaming Service
Atmosphere
CBS Interactive
Crackle Plus
Discovery, Inc.
fuboTV
rlaxx TV
Best TV/Streaming Ad Sales Program or Product
Ampersand
Broadsheet Communications
Matter
MiQ
The Right Now | Public Relations
Vevo
Best Use of IGTV
Group Nine Media
ViacomCBS
Best Use of Instagram Reels – NEW
Freeform
Insider
Narcity Media
ViacomCBS
ViacomCBS
Best Use of Instagram Stories
ITV
ViacomCBS
ViacomCBS
Best Use of TikTok
Insider
JSA Strategies
N/A
The Right Now | Public Relations
ViacomCBS
ViacomCBS
Best Use of YouTube
Complex Networks
Essence China
ITV
Milk & Honey PR
SCMP
ViacomCBS
Digital Studio of the Year
Complex Networks
Jungle Creations
LADbible Group
pocket.watch
TV Executive of the Year
5WPR
Matter
Discovery, Inc.
Video Executive of the Year
Complex Networks
Crenshaw Communications
Matter
Roku
SCMP
SCMP
The post Google, ViacomCBS, EOS, Atmosphere and DraftKings among this year’s Digiday Video and TV Awards shortlist nominees appeared first on Digiday.