Thanks to the magic of CGI, your brand could soon be edited into a streaming platform’s original programming.
Product placement was among the most-talked-about trends in presentations at the Interactive Advertising Bureau’s NewFronts this week. Similar to Upfronts for the TV industry, the event offers streaming and social media platforms a chance to pitch brands on their latest advertising offerings.
NewFronts featured a range of announcements around content and advertising. This included options for brands and retailers, including new options to bring visibility to products, and bringing shopping directly into the content.
Here’s a look at the ecommerce and creator-focused announcements from the weeklong event:
Amazon
Product placement in post? It’s coming to Amazon. The tech company’s NewFronts presentation included an intro to a Virtual Product Placement (VPP) open beta program that will enable products to be added via CGI to Prime Video and Amazon Freevee shows. Added to designated shots, the products will be added after filming is complete. Elsewhere, billboards and signs will be able to display different messages.
Amazon said VPP is already available on Amazon original shows like Reacher, Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, the Bosch franchise, Making the Cut, and Leverage: Redemption.
Amazon shared the example of a still from Bosch where M&Ms were added to a bowl.
“Virtual Product Placement is a game changer,” said Henrik Bastin, CEO of Fabel Entertainment and executive producer of Bosch: Legacy, in a statement shared by Amazon. “It creates the ability to film your series without thinking about all that is required with traditional placements during production. Instead, you can sit with the final cut and see where a product could be seamlessly and naturally integrated into the storytelling.”
In testing, a CPG brand reported a 6.9% increase in brand favorability and a 14.7% increase in purchase intent for their campaign, per Amazon.
fuboTV
The sports-focused streaming platform has additional targeting capabilities for brands. Dubbed “Follow the Audience,” this feature uses first-party data to create customized audience segments, which can in turn be used to target viewers. For instance, this could be used to reach football fans with specific ads, even if they aren’t watching football content.
“Not only can we target contextually and demographically, but we can also identify audiences based on viewership behavior and preferences to tailor campaigns to specific fans, no matter what type of content they’re watching,” said Diana Horowitz, SVP of advertising sales at fuboTV, in a statement.
Meta
The Facebook and Instagram parent put a focus on creators with its new offerings. It announced a change to payouts for Reels content on Facebook that will mean more money for some creators (Others will receive less). Additionally, it is creating a new initiative called Challenges on Facebook that is designed to incentivize content creation. It is also rolling out additional insight tools for Reels Play creators.
Peacock
NBCUniversal’s streaming service had a pair of new ad offerings to unfurl.
A new feature called a Frame Ad will feature a brand message in a border around a show that is playing on the platform. This could include interactive elements that make the ad shoppable. For brands, NBCUniversal also pointed out that it has access to first-party data and a partnership with quick commerce service Gopuff.
Product placement within a show is the focus of a second tool called the Peacock In-Scene Ad. Currently in exploratory mode, this will offer a custom solution for brands to identify the right moments in shows to deliver personalized messaging for a viewer. Then, Peacock will integrate a brand’s product into the show in post-production.
“The majority of Peacock customers are opting for our ad-supported experience and we remain focused on collaborating with our brand partners to develop innovative, personalized ad experiences that continue to enhance the customer experience,” said John Jelley, Peacock Senior VP of product and user experience, in a statement.
Roku
Social media is getting more shoppable. Roku offered a look at how streaming services are adding the ability to browse and buy products, too. The platform now has original content. With that comes advertising. Roku said it will be adding a new program for retailers that pairs shoppable ads with its Roku Pay. This is designed to allow products to be sold directly from ads.
Additionally, Roku is partnering with Microsoft to explore how TV advertising, both linear and streaming, impacts search.
Snap
The celebrity endorsement just got easier. The Snap x Cameo Advertiser Program offers brands that advertise on Snapchat access to the 45,000 actors, athletes, musicians, reality stars and influencers in Cameo’s talent pool for custom video ads. Brands also get access to ideation and editing services, as well as other benefits. Already, Mattress Firm, 37Games, Kraft, and Molson Coors have used the program.
TikTok
TikTok’s latest advertising product is allowing brands to appear next to the platform’s most popular videos.
Called TikTok Pulse, the contextual service is offering space for brands among the top 4% of videos. They will appear in the For You Feed, the algorithm-powered feature that curates and recommends TikToks specific to a user’s interests. Initially, this capability is being offered in 12 categories, including beauty, fashion, cooking and gaming. To ensure brands appear next to content they deem appropriate, TikTok is also applying an inventory filter and making third party tools available for suitability and viewability verification.
Alongside providing access for brands, TikTok is also testing a revenue share for creators. Initially, those with more than 100,000 followers will be eligible.
Twitch
On Amazon-owned Twitch, a new program called For Twitch, With Twitch is set to curate creator-driven content for brands. Another feature called Co-Op Drops offers brands a chance to integrate themselves into in-game rewards offered during video game livestreams.
Alongside a host of new content partnerships and plenty of chatter about Elon Musk’s impending takeover, Twitter announced a pilot program that is focused on highlights of big global events. Advertisers will be able to promote and run pre-roll on live event pages where the highlights will be shown. This will make content appear in a user’s timeline, as well as place it prominently in the Explore tab, Twitter said.
