YouTube is live at Upfronts 2023, sharing even more ways for advertisers to tap into the creators and content viewers love on every screen.

Live from Lincoln Center Theater, we returned to the Upfronts to celebrate creators like Airrack, AllyiahsFace and MrBeast, share news about YouTube’s partnership with the NFL, highlight amazing brands like Hershey, and unpack world-changing shifts in video.

Major shifts in creation and consumption

Now that we have the power of a production studio in the palm of our hands, the universe of creators is growing every day. Today, creating is about participating in a cultural moment, and making the most of every kind of video format. From 15-second Shorts to 15-hour live streams, more creators are coming to YouTube than ever before—which means more fans coming to watch, which drives more engagement for advertisers.

We also see major shifts in how people experience content. YouTube is where people engage with Shorts in a big way, and of course, more viewers are tuning into YouTube on the biggest screen in their home. In the latest Nielsen Gauge Report, YouTube viewership increased last month, making YouTube the No. 1 most-watched streaming service for TV in America—again. The leader in streaming watch time, YouTube (including YouTube TV), reached over 150 million people on connected TVs in the United States.

Across every screen, genre, and format of video, in a world where they can watch anything, the world watches YouTube.

Introducing new ways to reach CTV viewers

More and more advertisers are eager to respond to these shifts in viewership, and reach the largest streaming audience. So we’re excited to share two announcements in YouTube’s streaming offering.

First, we’re bringing 30 second non-skips to YouTube Select ... Instead of seeing two :15 ads consecutively, they'll see one :30 ad.

First, we’re bringing 30 second non-skips to YouTube Select on CTV. We know that running longer-form creative on the big screen aligns with your objectives, and allows for richer storytelling. YouTube Select is now landing over 70% of impressions on the TV screen2, so we’re making it easier for you to use existing assets in front of the most-streamed content. This format also seamlessly fits into what viewers already expect and experience on the big screen. Instead of seeing two :15 ads consecutively, they'll see one :30 ad.

Next, we’re bringing new Pause experiences to CTV, so you can drive awareness or action by owning that unique interactive moment when people pause a video. This is seamless for viewers and allows them to learn more about your brand.

YouTube is where the fans are

YouTube is the new home of NFL Sunday Ticket. Tonight on stage at Brandcast, Roger Goodell, Commissioner of the National Football League, and Deestroying joined forces to share the highlights of football culture on YouTube—and how brands can get in the game.

As part of our NFL partnership, there’s even more original programming, like Game Day All Access, where you can listen in as mic’d up players bring you onto the sidelines during the game. And we’re launching a new original Shorts series on the NFL’s YouTube channel after the football season kicks off this year: “NFL Creator of the Week.”

Soon, advertisers can reach football fans across YouTube’s entire array of NFL content, whether they’re viewing live games on YouTube TV and Primetime Channels, or watching highlights, post-game commentary, and other related content across YouTube.

Sony Electronics used Google AI to seamlessly add relevant voice over into their products ads, and saw a 25% lift in ad recall.

Your marketing and creative, multiplied by Google AI

The world is experiencing the next major platform shift with AI. Google is ready for this moment—and in fact, it’s powered by our technology and innovations. Today, people’s viewing habits may be complex, but reaching them on YouTube isn’t. AI can help you find the best mix of formats to hit your campaign goals from reach to action.

Google AI can also meaningfully help scale and multiply one of the most critical drivers of ROI: your creativity. Sony Electronics used Google AI to seamlessly add relevant voice over into their products ads, and saw a 25% lift in ad recall.

This is one of the many examples of what’s possible with Google AI right now. From endless iterations of your ads to videos trimmed or flipped for the right formats, Google AI helps businesses market at the speed of consumers. And this is really just the beginning. Google AI is accelerating creativity, and the possibilities will extend beyond anything we can imagine today.

YouTube delivers superior returns

With the power of Google AI, YouTube works. And you see it in the returns. One brand that’s found sweet success on YouTube? Hershey. According to Nielsen MMM results, YouTube’s ROI has grown by 65%—making YouTube Hershey’s #1 ROI-driving media partner.

We’ve seen results like that at scale, so we asked our partners if they see the same. Nielsen, TransUnion and Ipsos MMA, confirm that on average, YouTube delivers higher ROI than TV and other online video.3

No place is better equipped to connect you with key audiences and drive the results you care about. The best of YouTube is yet to come—and we’re excited to get there, together.

Source: Nielsen's Streaming Platform Ratings, Live+7, YouTube inclusive of YouTube TV and YouTube Main, December, Total Day Reach with a 1 minute viewing qualifier

Source: YouTube internal data, US, December 2022

Source: Nielsen: Compass ROI Benchmarks for US including all available results for two years from January 2020 - March 2022. TransUnion: commissioned MMM meta-analysis for the US including all available results for two years from January 2020 - December 2021. Ipsos MMA: MMM results for US including all available results for 2022

Written by Anne Marie Nelson-Bogle, Vice President, YouTube Ads Marketing

The airline returns to Roland-Garros 2023 for the 11th consecutive year as the Official Airline and Premium Partner of the iconic Paris tournament.

Emirates is back in action as the Official Airline and Premium Partner of Roland-Garros 2023 for the eleventh consecutive year.  A long-standing partner of Roland-Garros since 2013, the airline recently renewed its commitment as Premium Partner of the Grand Slam until 2027. The premier clay court event is set to take place from 28 May until 11 June 2023 at Stade Roland-Garros. 

Boutros Boutros, Divisional Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications, Marketing and Brand at Emirates, said: "We are delighted to be back on the clay courts for our eleventh consecutive year. Roland-Garros is one of the most prestigious tournaments in the world of tennis and Emirates is very proud of our long-standing association with the event, with the sport, and with France. As a global airline, we are committed to supporting world-class events that bring people together and showcase excellence, and Roland-Garros does just that. We look forward to another exciting year on the courts and to bringing fans from all corners of the world closer to the action."

Connecting with tennis fans worldwide  

Emirates will connect with tennis fans this year through a series of exciting "fly better" initiatives, including: an interactive game within the Roland-Garros app, offering fans a chance to win Roland-Garros tickets and La Griffe Roland-Garros gifts; and world-class hospitality.

Partners with Roland-Garros since 2013

Emirates’ longstanding partnership with Roland-Garros started in 2013. The airline became a Premium Partner of the Grand Slam in 2018 and the airline enjoys significant presence throughout the tournament, including branding on the Philippe-Chatrier centre court, Suzanne-Lenglen court and Simonne-Mathieu court.

Emirates is also the presenting partner of the Trophée des Légendes, which takes place from 6 June   to 11 June 2023.  The airline has partnered with a local organisation to offer children with mobility challenges a chance to meet world renowned tennis legends, watch the matches, and an exclusive behind the scenes tour of the stadium.

Emirates is the Official Airline and Premier Partner of the ATP World Tour. The airline’s tennis portfolio includes some of the highest profile events in the world, including three of the four Grand Slams, and 60 other tournaments across the year.

The airline’s extensive sponsorship portfolio also includes other top global sports such as tennis, golf, horse racing and sailing. 

Serving France with 35 weekly flights

Emirates has been serving France for more than 30 years. The airline currently serves the country with 21 weekly flights to Paris, 7 weekly flights to Lyon, and 7 weekly flights to Nice, with the iconic A380 returning to the city on 1 June 2023.   The airline’s extensive network of 140 destinations offers French customers access to an array of onward connections to Asia, the Indian Ocean, the Middle East, Africa and Australasia.

Emirates is also the Official Main Sponsor of Olympic Lyonnaise (OL); Worldwide Partner of Rugby World Cup 2023 in France (taking place in September this year); and a proud sponsor of UAE Team Emirates, supporting some of the biggest cycling tours such as Tour De France.

Unmatched travel experiences

Emirates is renowned for its exceptional services and luxurious amenities. The airline operates the world’s largest fleet of wide-body Boeing 777 and Airbus A380 aircraft, offering spacious cabins and iconic inflight features such as its A380 Shower Spa and Onboard Lounge, and its ice inflight entertainment system available in all seats across its fleet, which has topped "best in sky" awards for 17 consecutive years.

INMA reveals 40 Global Media Awards first-place winners, Bergens Tidende takes top prize

The International News Media Association (INMA) announced 40 first-place recipients in its 2023 Global Media Awards competition, with Bergens Tidende’s “Journey Around the World” taking the global “Best in Show.”

During the awards ceremony at New York´s Harvard Club, 40 first-place winners were unveiled across 20 categories aimed at surfacing innovation and best practices in news brands, optimising the use of media features, subscriptions, advertising, data and insights, product, and newsroom innovation.

The INMA Global Media Awards competition announcement was supported by the Google News Initiative.

Winning the coveted “Best in Show” was Schibsted-owned Bergens Tidende in Norway for “Journey Around the World,” an inventive storytelling format enabling users to travel around the world visually. Judges said that this campaign was a world-class execution of an epic journey featuring total immersion in an adventure.

The INMA competition, which has been rewarding media excellence since 1937, evaluates news media companies across two segments: national brands and regional brands.

Three companies won multiple first-place awards: Bennett, Coleman & Co., Schibsted across its brands in Norway, and Stampen Media. Four companies garnered two first places: Advance Local, Amedia, Jagran Prakashan, and Relevo from Vocento.

The 2023 Global Media Awards competition attracted 775 entries from 239 market-leading news media brands in 40 countries. Participants included newspaper media, magazine media, digital media, television media, and radio media.

An international jury of 54 media executives from 19 countries selected 198 finalists earlier this year.

Judges also selected the best in six world regions from the finalists:

Best in Africa: Media24 Group for “Adspace24 – Swipe Cards and Catalogue”

Best in Asia/Pacific: The Straits Times for “World Cup: A ‘Hat-Trick’ Special”

Best in Europe: Bergens Tidende in Norway for “Journey Around the World”

Best in Latin America: Editora Globo for “Um Só Planeta”

Best in North America: The Wall Street Journal for “The Future of Everything Festival”

Best in South Asia: Bennett, Coleman, and Co. for “The Times of a Better India”

In the spirit of innovation, INMA judges decided to give out a special award based on overall excellence across multiple categories. A “Special Jury Distinction” was awarded to Aftenposten, Bergens Tidende, Schibsted, and VG for their use of technology paired with outstanding multi-media narratives and excellent journalism.

“We were honoured to be able to celebrate these huge accomplishments in person for the first time in four years,” said Earl J. Wilkinson, executive director and CEO of INMA. “The brilliance of this 2023 class really shined a light on the creativity and innovation taking root in the news media industry. We’re incredibly proud of all the entrants, and especially of this year’s winners.”

Click here to view the winners.

With the Transform Awards MEA having been celebrated in the Middle East and Africa region for the past decade, Transform is delighted to once again reveal its list of winners.

As always, Transform’s winners reflect the transformative power of brand strategy and design and the awards recognise best practice in corporate, product and global brand development work.

Along with being awarded a remarkable four Golds, two Silvers and three Bronzes, Charles Zuber and Brand Lounge capped off a lucrative evening by being awarded the prestigious ‘Grand prix’. The branding project for the watch and jewelry atelier blew judges away, who were particularly impressed by its “daring” nature and ability to connect with its target audience, unquestionably making it the star performer on the night.

Also having a successful evening at the luxurious, five-star Raffles Dubai hotel, Right Grain and Gene Branding picked up golds in ‘Best naming strategy’ and ‘Best visual identity from the food and beverage sector’, before being announced as the ‘Best overall visual identity’ winner. The project, which sought to give the new grab-and-go bakery a strong identity, caught judges’ eyes for being “original, beautiful and wonderfully executed”.

Another big winner, capping off a memorable night in Dubai, was Nakheel and Ochre, whose efforts won them three Golds, two Silvers and three Bronzes. All entries were assessed by Transform’s esteemed panel of judges, who this year hailed from the likes of Sky News Arabia, PepsiCo and Etihad Airways. The judges carefully scoured each and every project before concluding their respective merits.  

Andrew Thomas, publishing editor of Transform magazine and founder of the Transform Awards, says, “For the past 10 years, the Transform Awards has benchmarked the best of brand strategy, creativity and design in the Middle East and Africa region. I would like to thank everyone who has supported the Transform Awards, whose work over that time has made it such an emphatic success. Tonight’s ceremony truly demonstrated the transformative power of brand strategy and design, and we look forward to carrying on these celebrations over the next decade.”  

Transform would also like to thank our sponsor Principle Global and our supporting partner PRCA MENA, whose terrific support helped make this evening possible.

The winners were announced at the lavish Raffles Dubai hotel.

The results of the 2023 Transform Awards MEA have been revealed! We are pleased to announce BOND's outstanding achievement of winning two Gold and two Silver awards.

The Transform Awards recognize the finest and honour excellence in brand strategy and design across the Middle East and Africa region. 

BOND’s Gold awards were for “Best Implementation of a Brand Development Project” and “Best Development of a New Brand Within an Existing Brand Portfolio” for their work with Dubai Holding and Tickit.  

These awards recognise exceptional execution of organisational developments or rebranding initiatives, acknowledging the strategic implementation that ensures a new identity has a maximum impact on the target audience. Tickit introduces an innovative loyalty programme, setting new standards as the first of its kind, dedicated to offering members in the UAE convenient and immediate rewards across a multitude of leading destinations, captivating attractions, and beloved brands. 

In collaboration with Dubai Holding, BOND undertook not just the creation of the brand but also its complete implementation, including the launch campaign. The objective was to encourage individuals to make their own connections and find a compelling reason to align with the brand. 

The India Today Group has announced the launch of India Today in the UK market from May 31.

This is a follow-up to the launch of the Group's Hindi news channel, Aaj Tak, in the UK market. Previously operating as a hybrid channel, Aaj Tak and India Today served UK audiences with unique content. 

With the launch of India Today, the English news channel will now be available as a free-to-air service, broadcasting in standard definition (SD) and accessible on Sky Channel No. 523.  This will position it alongside other prominent English news channels, including Sky News, BBC News, GB News and Talk TV. 

Meanwhile, Aaj Tak will continue to be available on Sky Channel number 710, providing uninterrupted access to Hindi content for viewers. The India Today Group, renowned for its comprehensive news coverage and commitment to delivering high-quality content, is thrilled to bring its linear presence to the UK audience. 

With its launch in the UK, India Today aims to captivate audiences with its insightful reporting, engaging programmes, and unwavering commitment to journalistic excellence. The channel's introduction is a testament to the India Today Group's dedication to delivering informative and relevant content to viewers worldwide. 

The BBC News channel has confirmed details of new programmes, which began to air this week.

The reactive and fast-paced BBC News Now with Lucy Hockings (1630 IST/1200 BST to 1930 IST/1500 BST) will cover several stories throughout the programme, using Lucy’s versatile and accessible style in an immersive format designed to move seamlessly from stories to story.

The best of the BBC’s forensic analysis and journalism will be at the heart of Verified Live with Matthew Amroliwala (1930 IST/1500 BST to 2230 IST/ 1800 BST). Verified Live will delve into the key stories behind the headlines and work closely with BBC Verify, the BBC’s new verification hub and brand, which will use advanced editorial tools and techniques to investigate, source and verify information, video, and images.

The Daily Global with Yalda Hakim (2230 IST/1800 BST to 0030 IST/ 2000 BST) will be a deep-dive into some of the significant stories of the day, using Yalda’s trademark in-depth, news-making interviews combined with a unique global perspective.

The new programmes will join The Context with Christian Fraser (0030 IST/2000 BST to 0230 IST/ 2200BST) which relaunched with a new format last month. The programme is known for its conversational style, regular panellists and thorough analysis, discussion and debate.

Fellow chief presenter Maryam Moshiri will move across all programmes.

Paul Royall, Interim Executive Editor, BBC News channel says: “This is an exciting moment for the channel as we continue to shape our schedules. These new programmes will provide viewers with the trusted, impartial journalism they expect from us, but with new, innovative formats which will deliver the best viewing experience.”

Eleven leaders from across WPP have been recognised in the 2023 Empower Role Model Lists, designed to celebrate leaders who are championing inclusion for people of colour within global businesses.

The lists, compiled by INvolve and supported by YouTube, celebrate 100 Ethnic Minority Executives, 100 Ethnic Minority Future Leaders and 50 Advocate Role Models from across all industries for their commitment to DE&I in the workplace and to driving strategic change within their organisations.

Empower Top 100 Ethnic Minority Executive Role Models:

Dionne Aiken, CMO, Profiles Division, Kantar

Dorothy Burwell, Partner, FGS Global

Debbie Ellison, Global Chief Digital Officer, VMLY&R Commerce

Shelina Janmohamed, VP of Islamic Marketing, Ogilvy

Kirk McDonald, North America CEO, GroupM

Niken Wresniwiro, SVP Global Communications, WPP

Empower Top 100 Ethnic Minority Future Leaders:

Narmda Bhudia, Global Credit Risk Manager, GroupM

Andre Charles-Foster, Global Product Manager, GroupM Nexus

Amber Tomlinson, Product Director, GroupM

Empower Top 50 Advocate Executive Role Models:

Mark Read, CEO, WPP

Jennifer Remling, Chief People Officer, WPP

Mark Read, CEO of WPP, said: "Our priority at WPP is to continue to foster a culture where everyone feels valued, supported and inspired to create world-leading work for our clients. We believe that diversity and inclusivity are not only moral imperatives but also powerful business opportunities. I’m delighted that WPP leaders have once again been recognised in the Empower Role Model lists, highlighting their contributions to breaking down barriers for people of colour in our industry."

The recognition of role models comes against a backdrop of ongoing strategic work by WPP to address racial injustice both within the company and across the industry. In 2020, WPP made a series of commitments aimed at combatting racial injustice and supporting Black and minority ethnic talent. As part of these commitments, WPP pledged to invest $30m over three years to support anti-racism charities and inclusion programmes around the world.

This includes WPP’s Racial Equity Programme which funds projects that help bring about change, and WPP’s Elevate, a United States sponsorship programme designed to support Black women in their career growth. Elevate has since been rolled out to 25 high-potential Black women in the UK and will be piloted in its evolved format, SUMMIT, a year-long sponsorship programme for people of colour in Brazil and South Africa this year.

WPP has also introduced diverse candidate slate policies in the UK, US and APAC, has roles specifically marketed and accessible to candidates from under-represented groups, and is nurturing early talent to build a diverse pipeline. In 2022, we appointed a new Global Chief Talent and Inclusion Officer, highlighting our commitment to sustained momentum.

Following the success of the United States pilot, WPP partnered with The One Club for Creativity to launch ONE School UK in 2022, a free 16-week online portfolio programme designed to open doors to a career in advertising for talented UK-based Black creatives.

To ensure progress is driven by accountability, WPP established a global Inclusion Council in 2020 which gives a voice to under-represented groups and advises on goals, identifies barriers and recommends new systems and, in 2021, introduced DE&I metrics linked to leaders’ compensation and quarterly reviews. For the third consecutive year, we have published our workforce diversity data for the US and UK in our Sustainability Report.

Rankings unveiled globally and by country and region for companies, individuals, and work.

Based on point totals for wins in The One Show 2023 announced last week during Creative Week in New York,  ‿ and us Dubai was crowned Middle East & Africa Agency of the Year in The One Show 2023 Global Creative Rankings.

The top 10 agencies in the region are as follows 

The One Show 2023 Middle East & Africa Agency Rankings

1. ‿ and us Dubai

2. Impact BBDO Dubai

3. Impact BBDO Beirut

4. Horizon FCB Dubai

5. Ogilvy Africa Nairobi

6. Saatchi & Saatchi MEA Dubai

7. Ogilvy South Africa Johannesburg (tie)

8. Publicis Middle East Dubai (tie)

9. Ogilvy South Africa Cape Town

10. Havas Middle East Dubai

In addition, Ali Rez, CCO, MENAP, Impact BBDO, was named the region’s top creative in The One Show 2023 Middle East & Africa Creative of the Year Rankings.

Using dropdown menus, the rankings can be viewed by Agency, Independent Agency, Brand-Side Agency, Brand, Non-Profit Client, Brand Parent Company, Production Company, Music & Sound Company, Agency Network, Agency Holding Company, Highest Ranked Work, Country, Region, and Creatives. Rankings can also be viewed globally, and by region and country.

The One Show 2023 Global Creative Rankings methodology

Rankings in each category are calculated by the company that garners the most points overall for winning entries based on One Show Pencils, Merits and Special Awards, allocated as follows: Gold Pencil 45 points, Silver 21, Bronze 9, Merit 3, Fusion, SDG and Green Pencil 90 each, Penta Pencil 150, Best of Discipline 90 and Best of Show 135.

If the same entry wins multiple awards within a discipline, the points for the highest award in that discipline is counted towards “of the Year” awards. Points are only awarded to agencies listed as Primary and Secondary on entries. If several agencies are listed under Primary and Secondary, the points are divided among them.

All One Show 2023 Gold, Silver, Bronze Pencil and Merit winners were announced last week during Creative Week in New York. A total of 20,166 pieces from 69 countries and regions were entered in The One Show 2023. Agencies, studios, brands, production companies and designers in 54 countries and regions were awarded 210 Gold Pencils, 200 Silver, 238 Bronze, and 1,172 Merits.

Awards shows produced by The One Club for Creativity each have their distinct focus. The One Show judges focus on creativity of ideas and quality of execution, while ADC Annual Awards juries maintain the show’s long-running concentration as the champion for craft, design and innovation.

The One Club for Creativity, producer of The One Show, ADC Annual Awards, ONE Asia Creative Awards, Type Directors Club competition, TDC Ascenders, Young Guns, and more, is the world’s foremost non-profit organization whose mission is to support and celebrate the global creative community. Revenue generated from entries to its global awards shows goes back into the industry to fund programming under the organization’s four pillars: Education, Inclusion & Diversity, Gender Equality, and Creative Development.

Nobody knows action like Arnold Schwarzenegger.

That’s why we’re excited to introduce Arnold as our new Chief Action Officer!

Watch the video HERE

So whether you want to catch Schwarzenegger's first-ever television role in FUBAR, Chris Hemsworth’s highly anticipated return in Extraction 2, a new season of The Witcher with Henry Cavill or Gal Gadot as an intrepid heroine in Heart of Stone, Arnold is working around the clock to bring you the most explosive series and films on earth!

Get ready for a hard-hitting roller coaster ride as Netflix cranks its action slate into the next gear.