Apple, Nike, BT Sport: The top 10 YouTube ads in August
The most popular ads on YouTube last month included Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson teaming up with Apple’s Siri and Nike exploring what goes into an athlete’s smile.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKLr34nesM8
1. iPhone 7 — The Rock x Siri Dominate the Day
Despite the new iPhone 8 and iPhone X models hitting stores imminently, the most popular YouTube ad for August was in fact for the iPhone 7.
The clip features American actor, producer and professional wrestler Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, who wastes no time showing off how many things he can get done in one day – with the help of Apple’s Siri, of course. This includes going to space, flying to Italy and still making it to set on time.
Creative agency: Media Arts Lab
2. Nike – Mo Farah: Smile
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWuwFPTN758
At the end of every winning race is a smiling athlete, tired but proud of their achievement. But how do athletes get to that point? That’s what Nike looked to investigate in its latest ad, which focuses on brand ambassador and Olympic medal winner Mo Farah.
The video shows the long distance runner going through his rigorous training regime, with not a single smile in sight. All the hard work pays off, of course – the ad finishes with an exhausted but wide-smiling Farah lying on the ground taking in his achievement.
Creative agency: Wieden+Kennedy
3. BT Sport – Being Dele
Another sports-related ad made it into the top three this month, as BT Sport looks to take on its main rival Sky by showing off the wide variety of sports on offer on its channels.
To get this message across, BT places England and Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Dele Alli at the heart of the ad by making him try out different sports, including boxing, rugby and cricket. Judging by the footage, however, he would be wise to stick to football.
Creative agency: AMV BBDO
4. Gocompare.com – Onwards and upwards
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_R3_wiFx84
The opera-singing rotund man with the questionable moustache is back on our screens, and this time he’s brought a troupe of dancers, violinists and choristers along with him.
In the ad, they proudly fly over Britain with the aim of helping “everyone everywhere save time and money”. How nice of them – but they really shouldn’t have.
5. Beats by Dre – Conor McGregor: Dedicated #AboveTheNoise
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRKeamyoTsQ
Apple’s Beats by Dre brand has also bagged itself a spot on this month’s list. The ad was certainly well-timed; it was brought out three days before UFC world champion Conor McGregor’s big fight against boxer Floyd Mayweather, which turned out to be the highest grossing event for both sports.
McGregor doesn’t throw a single punch in the ad, however. Instead, the video takes a more sentimental approach by focusing on the athlete’s humble upbringing in Ireland and his dedication to the sport.
Creative agency: Anomaly
6. Samsung Home Appliances – The Domestics
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4Gi4_skb0Q
Creative agency: Iris
7. Clarks – Back in Black
8. Three UK – Go Binge
Creative agency: Wieden+Kennedy
9. Shell – Everyday Experts: The difference between petrol and diesel
Creative agency: Iris