The 2018 Digiday CES Awards

By Sahil Patel • January 12, 2018 •

Keep up to date with Digiday’s annual coverage of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. More from the series →

Another CES is in the books — and as the organizers would say, it was the biggest one yet. Some companies and executives had a splendid week in Las Vegas, while others could have fared better. Here’s who won and lost at CES 2018.

The real CES impresarios:
MediaLink, as usual.

Thirstiest company:
Google. It was everywhere.

Best rumor:
Turner originally booked the Aria hotel’s wedding chapel — where it hosted meetings and presentations this week — because CES was supposed to be the official coming-out party for a merged AT&T and Time Warner.

Best photo:

You know you’re at #CES2018 when pic.twitter.com/paMZAmjqpb

— Ben Winkler (@bwinkl3r) January 9, 2018

Tastiest snack:
Grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup at Turner’s wedding chapel. Sometimes, it’s the simple things.

Most interesting activation:
Gannett/USA Today hosted advertising clients at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, where they also filmed some content in virtual reality. It was raining, and people still went.

Biggest blunder:
The lights going out at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Worst real-time marketing:

#CESblackout pic.twitter.com/JsR9VEun63

— Oreo Cookie (@Oreo) January 10, 2018

Best place to escape the smoke and madness:
Any suites inside the Vdara hotel.

Best party:
Spotify went full Vegas at Hakkasan.

Coolest performer:
Three-way tie between John Legend at Google’s party, Run the Jewels at Fusion Media Group’s party and Lauryn Hill at Pandora’s party.

Best sign of the times:
Turning in any direction and seeing a massive billboard with the words “Hey Google.”

Grossest example of why our industry is the worst:
The secret, invite-only mansion party referred to by one media executive as the “hookers and blow” party.

Most notably absent company:
Snapchat

Best quote:
“CES is good for business but bad for your soul.”

Worst panel:
The Federal Communications Commissions panel previewing 2018 with two commissioners, including chairman Ajit Pai, who was not in attendance.

Dumbest technology:
A robot that cuddles with you.

Worst organizer:
Every hotel that was woefully unprepared for just a sprinkle of rain.