When it comes to advertising, bigger screens mean bigger impact. 

That’s a shorthand way of looking at a new report from Comcast Advertising titled TV Makes Memories.

The study, conducted with MediaScience, found that the outcomes advertisers seek — attention, connection and repetition — are better achieved via premium long-form TV advertising on a big screen than through mobile digital advertising. 

The result was true for commercials appearing on both traditional broadcast and cable TV as well as streaming.

The data shows that unaided recall was 2.2 times higher for the same ad viewed in a big-screen TV environment compared to being seen on a smaller device. Purchase intent was 1.3 times higher.

The study also found that when viewers saw a TV ad before seeing a digital ad, recall and purchase intent were higher than when the viewers saw two digital ads.

“Many of us know instinctually that TV ads are memorable. The jingle that gets stuck in your head, the commercials that make you laugh — all of this is the result of TV’s ability to imprint on your memory in a unique way,” Comcast Advertising president James Rooke said. 

“This research validates TV’s memorability, proving ads viewed in the long-form, lean-back TV environment have greater unaided recall and purchase intent versus the same ads shown in a short-form, small-screen digital mobile feed. Engagement is a metric that increasingly matters to our clients, and with this research, we’re showing how powerful TV and streaming are when it comes to building that engagement," Rooke said.

The study also found that ads viewed in the TV environment generated more visual attention as participants watched 71% of the ad, compared to just 30% of digital mobile ads — likely a result of the full-screen viewing experience versus the distractions inherent with the digital experience.

Participants rated the creative message better when an ad seen in the TV environment preceded an ad in the digital mobile environment. 

“Once again we see the power of cross-platform synergy,” MediaScience CEO Duane Varan said. “Here, social media and digital video work best when they activate memory structures built through the kind of brand equity that TV delivers.  It’s a powerful combination.” ■

With more viewers and advertisers wading into the over-the-top video space, a new study finds that brand integrations in OTT programming brings additional consumer attention to products featured in 30-second commercials.

The study was conducted by TripleLift, whose software inserts products into shows post productions, and biometric research firm MediaScience. 

“During the pandemic, streaming to TVs more than doubled with Americans watching 27 billion minutes of content per day, versus 70 billion per week just a year ago," said Michael Shields, general manager of Advanced Advertising, TripleLift. "It’s now clear that, from a business perspective, the next two years will determine the winners and losers of the OTT space for the next two decades. Audiences want compelling experiences, including compelling ads. Our contribution is to launch products that are consumer-friendly and data-driven to ensure we're driving value for marketers.” 

The study had four key results: 

Integrations catch the viewers’ eye and generate 3.6 times more attention to the part of the screen where the placement occurs. There was a 98% lift in attrition for the integrated product when there was also a traditional ad for the same grand.

Integrations drove a 50% increase in brand recall when there was both a product placement and a 30-second spot.

Product integrations create higher ad engagement, even subconsciously, with biometric measurements showing an 11% increase in engagement intensity when an integration is paired with a commercial.

Viewers enjoyment is unaffected when shows include integrations.

“In short, this research proves the value of brand integrations, but the breakthrough was through the use of neurometrics to properly measure this effect," said Dr. Duane Varan, CEO of MediaScience. "You can't simply ask people what they think about an integration - that approach heightens a viewer’s defenses, producing pseudo results. Instead, we carefully controlled the variables and used our best-in-class methods through eye tracking, heart rate, and galvanic skin response to properly quantify the effectiveness of brand integrations.” 

TripleLift sees integrations in the OTT space being bought and places using the kind of technology the company offers.

“We’re seeing strong, early performance for post-production insertions where content creators and media buyers have the flexibility to integrate products into programming when relevant, timely and directed to the right audience,” said Shields. “This is a game-changer for the industry, but we're still in early stages. We're excited to be leading in the development of new consumer-first ad experiences that will define the future of television.”