Lilly Singh, Big Bird help YouTube Brandcast shine
NEW YORK -- Not even a false fire alarm could stop YouTube from showcasing its might to advertisers.
The platform's annual Brandcast presentation, which took place Thursday night at a packed Javitz Center North, focused on how YouTube can help advertisers reach people that TV can't.
"YouTube enables a level of interaction between the creators and viewers that TV & movies can't match," CEO Susan Wojcicki said to an audience of roughly 2,700 people.
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The YouTube leader went on to cite a recent study that found the platform reaches more 18-to-49-year-olds than any broadcast or cable TV network -- on mobile alone. (Mashable first reported these findings last month.)
"Unlike other platforms, people actually go to YouTube to watch your ads," Wojcicki added.
If the stats weren't enough to wow advertisers, the line-up of guests certainly did the job.
Lilly Singh, the night's host, brought on a variety of big names from various industries to emphasize the value YouTube brings to their companies.
First up: Big Bird, who was there to talk about Sesame Street making a special channel on YouTube Kids. (Later, he also showed off his dance moves.)
To emphasize that YouTube is for more than just teens, the platform also brought up YouTuber Mindy McKnight. She's known for launching multiple successful channels on YouTube, including one for Millennial moms.
"I have found YouTube is a place for everyone," she said. "When you support YouTube you're not just supporting gamers, vloggers...you're mostly supporting families, communities."
Sports have played a large role on the platform as well, which is why NBA Commissioner Adam Silver was happy to make an appearance.
There was a slight hiccup -- a false fire alarm -- that disrupted the presentation as a whole. A few people exited, but most stayed in their seats as the then speaker Nigel Morris, CEO of Dentsu Aegis NA & EMEA, continued his presentation.
Other guests included James Corden (via video) and Jack Hollis, Group Vice President of Marketing at Toyota.
About 100 YouTube creators -- including Tyler Oakley and Joey Graceffa -- were in the crowd as well.
Glitzy presentation aside, Wojcicki did utilize the presentation to make one news announcement: YouTube will expand its Google Preferred advertising offering.
That means the service, which has been around for two years, will now allow brands to purchase ads around the most viral videos on the platform (known as "breakout videos).
Singh perhaps summed up the theme of the night best when she said: "Gone are the days of testing with this platform. That is so 2013."
That's for sure.
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Topics YouTube Advertising
Saba was a Los Angeles-based reporter who covers all things digital entertainment, including YouTube, streaming services and digital influencers. Prior to that, she spent two years at the Los Angeles Times covering entertainment for the Calendar and Company Town sections. Saba grew up in Santa Monica and graduated from Boston University with a B.S. in journalism and B.A. in political science. When not reporting, she is usually binge watching shows online or looking for new coffee shops to frequent.
