Ad Age’s 4th Viral Video Awards: You’ll Laugh, You’ll Cry

source: written by Jon Chang on AlleyWatch

The first day of this year’s Ad Age Digital Conference concluded with the Fourth Annual Viral Video Awards, sponsored by Visible Measures and hosted by Andy Cohen of Bravo’s “Watch What Happens Live.”

“While the pipelines will change in the next four years, I can count on three things to stay the same,” said Advertising Ag editor Michael Learmonth, kicking off the ceremony. “People will have a choice of their content and ads, people will pass on what they think is awesome, and brands and agencies that tell the best stories will always win.”

He was followed by award ceremony’s sponsor. Brian Shin, Founder and CEO of Visible Measures. “Getting into the ad space is really competitive,” he told the audience. “Three years ago, it only took two hundred thousand views in a week to make the number ten spot. Now, a video needs two million views to break into the top ten.” He sited video advertisements made by Axe, Old Spice, and Samsung to illustrate the power of viral video. Who would’ve guessed that Samsung would be the hip brand making fun of Apple?

“We’re celebrating the power of creativity, content, and consumers,” he concluded.

And the winners are:

Viral Brand of the Year:  Samsung

Creative Agency of the Year: Wieden + Kennedy Portland

Best Viral Stunt:  TNT’s “A Dramatic Surprise on a Quiet Square” made by Duval Guillaume Modem

Best Embodiment of Brand Transparency:  McDonald’s “Our food. Your questions” made by Tribal DDB Toronto

Best Video for a Product You Can’t Buy:  Google’s “Google Glass” made by Google Creative Lab

Best Branded Physics Lesson:  Rovio’s “Angry Birds Space”

Best Viral Olympic Ambush:  Nike’s “Find your greatness” made by Wieden + Kennedy

Best Olympics Ad:  P&G’s “Proud Sponsor of Moms” made by Wieden + Kennedy

Best Use of a Global Celebrity:  H&M’s “David Beckham Bodywear, Directed by Guy Ritchie” made by Marc Atlan Design

Reader’s Choice: Best Tear Jerker:  Expedia’s “Find Your Understanding” by 180LA

Reader’s Choice – Biggest LOL:  Liquid Plumbr’s “Double Impact” made by DDB San Francisco

Most Watched Campaign:  Red Bull’s “Stratos”

For full coverage of tech events in New York, visit The Watch.