Red Lobster says it’s ‘here to stay’ with Flavor Flav-led campaign

The rapper-turned-reality-TV personality narrates new ad spots and an AR filter lets users virtually don his recognizable clock necklace.

By Peter Adams • June 11, 2024

Ocean Spray unveils ‘Just Add Cran’ campaign to fuel future creative

The effort introduces a new brand character, Johnny, the “straight-shooter cousin” of the iconic farmer duo featured in the marketer’s past creative. 

By Jessica Deyo • June 10, 2024

Advocacy group taps creators to call for gender equality in ad industry

Women in Advertising, Communications and Leadership’s new campaign asks women creators what representation in the industry means to them.

By Aaron Baar • June 6, 2024

WARC: Retail media’s meteoric growth to cool down in ‘25

As trade marketing budgets become “exhausted,” dominant players like Amazon are tightening their grip on the category.

By Peter Adams • June 6, 2024

CTV closes in on linear for consumer ad attention, report finds

While linear ads still outperform for viewer attention, ads on premium CTV apps have now bested the channel, according to DoubleVerify and TVision.

By Jessica Deyo • June 4, 2024

Honda leaps into dance with Steezy partnership

The automaker and dance app produced a video series of dance classes and performances for Honda’s first step into the competitive dance community.

By Sara Karlovitch • May 29, 2024

Gatorade revives iconic ‘Is It In You?’ tagline for largest-ever campaign

The return of the nostalgic tagline is supported by a spot narrated by Michael Jordan and custom filters on Instagram and Snapchat. 

By Jessica Deyo • May 29, 2024

Heinz Pickle Ketchup gets digital-heavy campaign for US rollout

The effort from agency Rethink includes street interviews with consumers to show what they expect it to taste like before trying the new condiment.

By Aaron Baar • May 28, 2024

Kiss rides the ‘ImPress Express’ to promote ease of press-on products

The beauty marketer’s latest campaign centers on an elevator concept that tasks guests to apply press-on lashes or nails within a 30-floor trip. 

By Jessica Deyo • May 23, 2024

Walmart ad sales pop as more brands buy into retail media

The big-box store could further extend its hot streak on the tails of its Vizio acquisition and a new streaming deal with Disney.

By Peter Adams • May 20, 2024

Samsung swipes at Apple over controversial ‘Crush!’ ad for iPad Pro

A spot pulled together in days shows a musician wandering through what appears to be the wreckage of Apple’s ad and plugs the Galaxy Tab S9.

By Peter Adams • Updated May 17, 2024

YouTube pitches advertisers on streaming dominance, unskippable video ads

The company’s Brandcast upfront featured a new take on branded QR codes and an expanded creator takeover program.

By Peter Adams • May 16, 2024

Netflix plans to in-house ad tech, adds measurement partners as ad tier surges

The streaming platform announced during its upfront that its ad-supported plan now has 40 million global monthly active users — up from 5 million a year ago.

By Chris Kelly • May 16, 2024

Amazon’s first upfront promises full-funnel advertising at scale for all

Proving it could deliver the same Hollywood wattage as its competitors, Amazon worked to separate itself from the pack by offering scale and results.

By Chris Kelly • May 15, 2024

Pepsi stakes claim as superior soft drink for grilling season with Bobby Flay

The “Grills Night Out” campaign spans in-store displays, digital content shorts and a partnership with Instacart for a giveaway running through May 19.

By Peter Adams • May 14, 2024

Welch’s Fruit Snacks debuts largest-ever campaign with Gordon Ramsay

The celebrity chef serves as Welch’s “CFO,” or chief fruit officer, and stars in the first TV commercial in the brand’s history to promote its clean ingredients.

By Jessica Deyo • May 14, 2024

Thomas’ revives breakfast with first brand character in 144-year history

Thom, billed as a “proper young man with a strong British accent,” is meant to remind consumers to savor breakfast amid the hectic morning shuffle.

By Jessica Deyo • May 13, 2024

Not crushing it: Apple’s new iPad Pro ad met with wave of backlash

Apple has issued an apology for the “Crush” spot and scrapped plans to run the ad on TV, saying the video “missed the mark.”

By Peter Adams • Updated May 10, 2024

Legacy media makes new bets on CTV and retail media convergence

Disney’s new partnership with Walmart Connect and Amazon’s latest streaming TV ad formats demonstrate how the growing channels can work together.

By Chris Kelly • May 8, 2024

Digital’s media-buying bonanza wrestles with an industry at crossroads

Cookie deprecation and a potential TikTok ban cast this year’s NewFronts in a different light while attendees noticed fewer pitches centered on content.

By Peter Adams • May 6, 2024

TikTok makes bigger bet on publishers with ads tied to buzzy content, events

The threat of a U.S. ban hasn’t thrown cold water on the app’s NewFronts showcase, which is focused on contextual advertising.

By Peter Adams • May 2, 2024

Amazon’s Prime Video ads rollout gains traction ahead of upfronts debut

Advertising remained on a tear in Q1, with executives touting encouraging early results from a change that has been controversial with users.

By Peter Adams • May 1, 2024

Why video is key to Roblox’s evolving advertising strategy

The wide rollout of immersive video ads is accompanied by measurement partnerships that underpin the platform’s growing advertising ambitions.

By Chris Kelly • May 1, 2024

Inside Google’s CTV pitch: A lot of AI and a push to avoid privacy stumbles

At the NewFronts, the tech giant emphasized that streaming can be the basis for a better ecosystem without the baggage of third-party cookies.

By Peter Adams • April 30, 2024

Warner Bros. Discovery unveils first-party data platform to unify video

OMG, RPA and Wayfair are early partners for the company’s new Data-Driven Video offering, with IPG Mediabrands to begin testing in Q3.

By Aaron Baar • April 29, 2024