Last chance to save on Digiday Publishing Summit passes is February 9
2012 will go down as the year global sporting events blew open the door for online video, making clear to advertisers in all categories that original Web video not only has an audience, but also potential beyond a pre-roll spot, according to Chris Pfaff, CEO of Chris Pfaff Tech Media and host of the Digiday Video Awards on November 13.
The much-maligned NBC effort to broadcast and stream the 2012 London Olympics racked up a record 159.3 million online video streams, blowing past online viewership of the Beijing Olympics in its first five days. Meanwhile, ESPN elected to livestream every match of the UEFA Euro 2012 tournament, a first for soccer fans worldwide.
Historically, online video channels have had trouble rising above niche status. But these events gave major advertisers the opportunity to create online video they knew undoubtedly reach a mass audience. Pfaff cited two winners in the online sports arena.
Nike created an interactive Web video, “My Time is Now,” that ran in-stream during the UEFA World Cup and linked to an original series. The video allowed viewers to find Easter eggs by dragging the mouse over various players, revealing quotes and Twitter handles. Fans that found the egg for Spanish soccer manager Pep Guardiola, were given an introduction to The Chance, an original series about young soccer players competing for a spot at Nike Academy.
Proctor and Gamble— “Proud Sponsor of Moms”—used its television spot “Best Job,” during broadcasts and online to springboard into the original series, “Raising an Olympian.” The series looked at the mothers behind the athletes competing for a variety of countries. Below, American runner Lolo Jones and her mother describe their hardscrabble beginning.
Think your online video can go toe-to-toe with the rest of the industry? Enter the Digiday Video Awards. Past winners include Mattel, Puma, Alloy Digital and Doremus.
More in Awards
UBS, New York Times Advertising, Uber Advertising and The Wall Street Journal are Digiday Media Awards Europe finalists
This year, the organizations modernizing European media are pioneering interactive formats that drive engagement and impact, while premium contexts build trust and authority. Digiday Media Awards Europe finalists are also pairing innovation with sustainability, thoughtful design and seamless omnichannel storytelling to enhance user experience across touchpoints. In the Best Use of Interactive Content category, UBS […]
Canva, Bloomberg Media Studios and Vidmob are among winners of the 2025 Digiday AI Awards
This year’s winners of the Digiday AI Awards demonstrate how artificial intelligence is reshaping industries through accessibility, accountability and innovation. From making complex tools available to broader audiences, to establishing ethical standards and transparency, these organizations are defining what responsible AI looks like in practice. The work of the winners shows that AI is driving […]
Vermillio, Time and Critical Mass are Digiday AI Awards finalists
Across the media, marketing and advertising industries, organizations continue to embrace innovative uses of artificial intelligence — setting new standards for creative and ethical use of AI. The finalists for the 2025 Digiday AI Awards are demonstrating tangible success through their AI efforts, from empowerment and accessibility to global reach and inclusivity. For instance, in […]