In this age of technology and social media, capturing the attention of consumers for even a second can be challenging, but these innovative TV marketing campaigns are here to showcase how a little creative thinking can go a long way.
Going beyond traditional print ads and commercial campaigns, TV shows are turning to things like over-the-top publicity stunts and online engagements to generate consumer interest. Nowadays it takes more than a mere 30-second ad to capture viewer attention, people need to feel invested and involved in order to dedicate their time to watching a specific series over another. These innovative TV marketing campaigns are showcasing examples of how television shows are going that extra mile to stand out amongst their competitors.
From shows like The Walking Dead using zombie pranks as a promotional tool to TV shows that use platforms like Twitter and Instagram as a base for premieres, these marketing tactics are showcasing how television networks are using unexpected techniques as a means to generate buzz and awareness.
35 Innovative TV Marketing Campaigns
From Superhero Simulation Games to Promotional Zombie Burgers:
Tana Makmanee — Dec 28, 2014 — Marketing
34
Promotional Zombie Burgers
These Fake Human Flesh Burgers Celebrate the Walking Dead Premiere
33
Instagram-Based TV Premieres
Adult Swim's 'Rick and Morty' Was Launched in Full on Instagram
32
Terrifying Digital Billboards
Sky Austria Promotes 'The Walking Dead' with Shocking Zombies
31
TV Script Twitter Campaigns
The TNT Twitter Campaign for Mob City Gives us a Taste of the Show
30
Social Media Inspired Programs
'Hatching Twitter' by Nick Bilton is Being Turned into a TV Series
29
Fictional Tyrant-Toppling Campaigns
Game of Thrones Fans Tweeted to 'Bring Down the King'
28
Social Celebrity Game Campaigns
MTV Started a Virtual Facebook Hide-and-Seek with Steve Angello
27
Terrifying Urban Zombie Pranks
The AMC Walking Dead Hoax Terrorized Unsuspecting New Yorkers
26
Apocalypse-Ready Advertising
The 'In Case of White Walkers' Cases are Located in Sweden
25
Blood Currency Shops
The Blood Store Trades Blood Donations for Walking Dead TV Show Merchandise
24
Cinematic AR Stunts
FOX Spain's Augmented Reality Experience Wows TV Fans
23
Augmented Reality Fantasy Experiences
The Game of Thrones Oculus Rift Experience is Thrilling
22
Friendship-Testing Pranks
This TV Promotion Turns Friends into Accomplices
21
Hashtag Conversation Visuals (UPDATED)
The Second Jimmy Fallon Hashtag Skit Stars Jonah Hill
20
Celebrity Host-Tracking Apps
The Tonight Show Jimmy Fallon App Ensures You’re in the Know
19
Virtual Reality Television Experiments
The Oculus Rift Voice Experience Allows You to Judge
18
Undead Television Pranks
The Thinkmodo Zombie Experiment NYC Video Scared Unsuspecting Residents
17
Facebook-Guided TV Campaigns
The 'Suits Recruits' Social Media Experience is Launching
16
Zombie-Shooting Publicity Stunts
Wacky Promo From Loducca, Brazil for the Walking Dead TV Series
15
Story-Focused Television Ads
The Sky TV Rialto Channel Campaign is Cleverly Entertaining
14
Couch Potato Reward Programs
The Viggle App Rewards You for Watching TV Shows
13
Feline Friend-Finding Television Ads
This Freeview TV Ad will Warm Your Heart
12
Compliant Beer Ads
This Heineken Beer Commercial Stars Neil Patrick Harris Begging to Take a Sip
11
Viral Vampire Television Marketing
The Strain TV Series Entices Viewers with Eerie & Dark Imagery
10
Teaser TV Billboards
A Giant Billboard for 'James M. McGill' Promotes the Breaking Bad Spinoff
9
Online Sitcom Resurrections
Arrested Development is Back with a Full New Season Only on Netflix
8
TV Show Check-In Promos
The GetGlue App and Showtime Network Teams Up for Free Giveaways
7
Social Media Reality Shows
@SummerBreak Will Broadcast Only Through Online Platforms
6
Musical Flash Mobs
This TV Show Ad for a Live Music Show Treats the Public with a Flash Mob
5
Interactive Kill Count Apps
'The Walking Dead Story Sync' Adds More to the Viewing Experience
4
Crowd-Sourced Commercial Concepts
Lincoln's #SteerTheScript Campaign Creates a Romantic Story
3
Superhero Simulation Games
This Interactive TV Promotion Turned People into City Defenders
2
Tweeting TV Shows
Jessica Alba Will Produce a Blog and Twitter-Based Television Program
1
Reverse Psychology TV Ads
Actors Promote The Office with a Very Unusual Method
Related Ideas
Celebrity-Fronted Mobile Game Commercials
Supercell Debuts Squad Busters with an Exciting Campaign
Aggressive Athlete Ads
Nike Launches the Winning Isn’t for Everyone Campaign
Branded AI-Generated Short Films
KFC Philippines Captures Attention with AI-Generated Films
AI-Lead Car Ads
Ford Launched an AI Campaign Dubbed 'Be Surreal, Be Ford'
Halloween-Inspired Pretzel Campaigns
Snyder’s of Hanover Debuts the 'Pretzelface' Campaign
Clear In-Game Billboard Advertisements
SCS Software's Truck Simulator Uses Real-Life Advertising
Ingenious De-Influencing Ads
Cuyana's De-Influencing April Fool's Campaign Highlights Greenwashing
LED Can Concepts
The Pepsi Smart Can Has a Flexible HD Display & Sound System
TV Screen T-Shirts
The T-Shirt TV Has an Integrated 10-Inch HD Screen
Hug-Inspired Olympics Campaigns
Coca-Cola's Summer Olympics Campaign was Inspired by True Events
Athlete-Backed Shoe Campaigns
Nike Released Awaken Your Madness with International Soccer Players
Naturalistic Taco Stand Campaigns
Coca-Cola Launched a Street Photography Campaign in Norway
Distorted Burger Campaigns
Burger King's A.I.LLOWEEN Features Unsettling People Eating Burgers
Purposeful Consumer-Focused Campaigns
IKEA's Sleepfluencers Campaign is a Clever Way to Give Back
Reactive Fan-Based Football Campaigns
Coors Light Launched a New 'Coors Light Coors Light' Spot
Gamer-Centric Fast Food Campaigns
Burger King's Gaming Campaign to Rewards “Burger-to-King” Goals
Engaging Shelf Displays
Netvisual is Elevating In-Store Advertising with its Shelf Edge Displays
Athletic Apparel Interactive Billboards
Gymshark Unveils the Shoplift Campaign Ahead of Sale
Streaming Series Games
Netflix Stories Invites Viewers to Participate in Their Own Adventures
Star-Studded Tech Campaigns
Jewellery Pros and Music Talent Promote the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds
Humorous Payment Campaigns
Paypal's Latest Campaign Features Actor Will Ferrell
Personalized In-Flight Ads
United Airlines Kinective Media Offers Curated Travel
Inspiring Leftover Ads
Hellmann's Mayo Cat Super Bowl Ad Uses Mayonnaise to Fight Food Waste
Creative Play Pop-Ups
The Sharpie Studio Offered Opportunities for Creativity at SXSW
QSR Menu Billboard Campaigns
Burger King Shows Real Burger Sizes with Real Size Campaigns
Youth Metaverse Advertising Initiatives
Roblox Announced an Advertising Partnership with PubMatic
Interactive In-Store Ads
Visibubble Brings Mobile Messaging Capabilities to Store Shelves
Gen Z-Centric Campaigns
Urban Outfitters' Shift Happens Campaign Has Three Phases
Convention-Challenging AC Campaigns
Samsung's WindFree Ad Stars a Savvy Grandma-Fluencer
Heated QSR Anniversary Campaigns
Burger King Brazil Celebrates Milestone with a New Campaign
Iconic Character-Inspired Campaigns
Etsy's Christmas Ad Celebrates Personalized Gifting
Gen Alpha Marketing Campaigns
Claire's is Targeting TikTok Growth for its Latest Ads Spending
Craveable Soda Packaging
Sprite is Reviving Its Obey Your Thirst Campaign for a New Generation
Gen Z-Influenced Marketing Campaigns
Kraft Heinz is Studying Gen Z's Preferences with New Launches
Architecture-Inspired QSR Ads
This New McDonald’s Campaign Encourages Eating at Home
Marketer-Targeted Cereal Ads
Surreal's Out-of-Home Campaign Speaks to Marketers, Not Consumers
Immersive Entertainment Venues
Netflix Houses Feature Eateries, Experiential Activities & More
Soda Logo Rebranding Campaigns
Pepsi's New Logo Goes Across the Globe with a Bright Light Show
Quirky Athlete-Centric Mayo Campaigns
Hellmann's New 'Mayotivations Campaign' Features Will Levis
Active Lifestyle-Supporting Campaigns
Kellogg's® Vector® Launches the Become Your Player Campaign
Creativity Time Capsules
Crayola's Campaign for Creativity Reunites Adults with Childhood Art
Celebrity-Fronted Gardening Campaigns
Miracle-gro Introduces the Gro Like Martha Campaign
Festive Advent Campaigns
Cadbury's 24 Out-of-Home Ads Represent the Countdown to Christmas
Short-Form Soap Operas
Unilever and TikTok Created a Content Series to Target #CleanTok
Shoppable CPG Ads
Instacart-Powered Shoppable Video Ads are Coming to YouTube
Neighborhood-Inspired Campaigns
Kotn's F/W 2024 Collection is Released with a Witty Short-Film
Humorous Automotive Campaigns
Hyundai’s 'Where Have You Been?' Ad Merges Nostalgia and Branding
Transparent Television Screens
Samsung Revealed a Transparent Microled Display at CES 2024
Confetti-Filled Snacking Commercials
Frito-Lay Launches the Taste of Super Bowl Campaign
Supersized Delivery Sweepstakes
DoorDash's Big Game Ad Shares Stuff from All the Ads with a Winner
Epic Rapper-Backed Soda Campaigns
PEPSI Launched its 'Make Your Gameday Epic' Campaign
Provocative Guerrilla Campaigns
Jewelry Brand MWCurated Uses Fake Infidelity Flyers for Marketing
Creative-Backed Footwear Campaigns
G.H. Bass Introduces Its Stepping Out Campaign
Creator-Friendly Initiatives
Patreon Lights Up Times Square with Creator-Centric Billboard
Anthropomorphic Store Campaigns
IKEA's Short Social Films Promote Its Click-and-Collect Service
In-Game Advertising Services
StackAdapt Offers Engaging Game Advertising for its Clients
GenAI TV Ads
ITV's AI-Generated Ad Service Helps New-to-TV Brands Affordably Reach More Audiences
Erectile Dysfunction Medication Ads
Phoenix Wants to Help Canadian Men ‘Rise Again’
Viral Video Databases
Viral Ideas Offers Inspiration for a Content Creator's Next Big Video
Inventive Retail Strategies
H&M is Working to Localize Its Shopping Experience
Whimsical Candle Christmas Campaigns
The Yankee Candle 'Make it More Magical' Campaign is Festive
Immersive Hybrid Billboards
Meta's Halloween Thrillboards Tease Immersive Meta Quest 3 Experiences
Eco-Minded Millennial Ads
Coors Seltzer's 'Call to Inaction' Campaign Aims to Save Water
Connected Beer Jerseys
Miller Lite's Running of the Beer Ads Turns Fans into Walking Billboards
Interactive Beer Giveaways
Dos Equis and Drew Brees Offer Free Beers Tied to Football Strategies
Co-Branded Custom Ads
Lexus and Universal Pictures Partner for the 'Experience OZmazing' Spot
Heritage Brand Boot Ads
Blundstone Launches Global Campaign Celebrating Personal Boot Stories
AI-Powered TVs
Toshiba TV's AI Football Mode Captures More Fast-Paced Action on the Field
Gen Z Breakfast Campaigns
'Start the Day the Totino’s Way' Targets Teens Who Skip Morning Meals
Cheerful Healthy Snack Campaigns
Garden Veggie Snacks' YUMbelievably Delicious is Innovative
In-Store Audience Engagement Solutions
Social Shelf® Has a Novel Approach to Customer Engagement
Playful Gen Z Bubble Tea Campaigns
Krak Boba Launches Innovative PersonaliTEA Campaign
Integrated Influencer Marketing Platforms
SocialTalk Helps Users Discover, Track, and Connect
Collaborative Digital Coffee Campaigns
illy Launches its Digital Content Series 'Coffee Break'
Gen Z-Focused Video Campaigns
Astroyogi is Introducing a New Campaign that Aims to Attract Gen Z
Marketing Idea Generators
Thunderbucket Provides Marketing Ideas and Observations at Speed
Streaming Service Installations
Hulu Returns to Comic-Con San Diego with its Animayhem Activation
Immersive Virtual Television Experiences
Television for Apple Vision Shapes the Future of TV
Scannable Tattoo Campaigns
Burger King Korea's Whopper Tattoo Promoted an Upgraded Whopper
All-Dark Marketing Campaigns
IKEA Introduces its Darkest Campaign Yet with Try Oslo's Help
Visually Appealing Food Campaigns
Celestial Seasonings Launches the Taste Our World Campaign
Chicken-Centered Campaigns
KFC Released a Campaign Called 'Believe in Chicken'
Shoppable Luxury Fashion Films
Tom Ford Allows Consumers to Seamlessly Shop Its Spring 2024 RTW
Peeling Cheese Packaging Billboards
This Babybel Billboard is Inspired by the Product's Packaging
Interactive Influencer Features
YouTube's New 'Hype' Feature Allows Viewers to Share in Success
Global Holiday Campaigns
David Beckham Stars in SharkNinja's 'Ninja the Holidays' Campaign
Travel-inspired Brand Campaigns
Michelin Launches the On the Road and Beyond! Campaign
Streaming Platform Dining Experiences
KTV's U Presents a TV Dinner Pop-Up Event
Social Soda Mixer Campaigns
Level Up With 7UP Inspires Gen Z and Millennial Consumers
Artistic Multi-Beverage Ads
The Coca-Cola Family is Spotlighted in this Unique Ad
Cookie-Twisting Commercials
The OREO Super Bowl 2024 Spot Revisits Pivotal Moments in History
Time Capsule-Style Branding Campigns
Coors Light & Patrick Mahomes Present a Unique Project
Diamond Jewelry Holiday Campaigns
Ritani Has Launched a National Television Campaign
Swipable Curated Ad Inspiration
Swipify Lets Users Swipe Through the Latest Ad Campaigns
Familial Meal Kit Campaigns
HelloFresh, Hello Dinner Spotlights the Uniqueness of Households
Interactive App-Themed Game Maps
Twitch Unveiled 'The Glitch' Brand Map in Fortnite for Twitchcon
Influencer Snack Bar Campaigns
Nature Valley Launches a Social-Oriented Digital Marketing Campaign
Star-Studded Phone Campaigns
T-Mobile's Ad Features Snoop Dogg, Kai Cenat, and Patrick Mahomes
Food-Themed Holiday Campaigns
Kroger’s 2024 Holiday Campaign Celebrates Food and Connection
Wish-Granting Beer Ads
The 2024 Bud Light Super Bowl Commercial Introduces the Bud Light Genie
Anniversary-Celebrating Storytelling Ads
The Walt Disney Company Mark Marvel's 85th Anniversary
AI-Crafted Banking Ads
The U.S. Bank Debuts 'The Power of Us' Campaign
Next-Generation Mall Campaigns
Simon's Meet Me @themall Targets Gen Z Shoppers
Recycled Ad Campaigns
Mars is Reusing Fan-Favorite Ads to Bring Attention to Climate Change
Empowering Car Ads
CarMax's New Ad Campaign Takes a Witty Approach
Gamified Yogurt Tube Campaigns
The Frubes Freeze ‘Em Campaign Includes a New Online Game
Personalized TV Recommendation Apps
Watchworthy Aims to Assist Audiences in Selecting TV Shows
Reality-Bending Car Ads
CarGurus Ad Features Melting Lego and Gourmet Chef Toddlers
Hard-To-Read Health Campaigns
A Specsavers Campaign Encourages Movie-Goers to Check their Sight
Innovative Digital Signage
Creative Realities Enhances Fan Engagement & Outcomes with New Signage
Hyper-Local Gym Ads
GymBox's Made for London Life Ads Juxtapose City Living and Gym-Going
Influencer-Starring Car Commercials
Toyota's New Short Film Seeks to Resonate with Gen Z Customers
Bizarre Soda Campaigns
Dr Pepper's Try More Weird Disrupts Life's Boredoms with Weirdness
Personalized Retail Media Networks
Thrive Market Collaborates with Instacart on a New Network
Spy-Themed Spirit Campaigns
Lobos 1707 Tequila & Mezcal Taps Lebron James and Victoria Justice
Gut-Friendly Kombucha Campaigns
Health-Ade's Thrill Your Gut Highlights the Benefits of Kombucha
Drone Marketing Initatives
LEGO Takes to the Sky with Drone Show and Aerial Messages
Dynamic Auto Marketing Campaigns
Hyundai Promotes Its Electrical Vehicle Line-up
Skateboarding-Inspired Ads
Vans Launched the ‘Always Pushing’ Ad Highlighting Skating Culture
TV Dinner Restaurants
TV Dinners for U Serves Meals to Enhance the Streaming Service Experience
Free Television Add-On Promotions
Samsung is Offering 4k TVs to Those who Preorder its Laptops
Ice Cream-Inspired Superbowl Campaigns
Häagen-Dazs Aims to Connect with Younger Consumers
Promotional Influencer Videos
Activision Recruits Multiple Creators to Appeal to Gen Z Consumers
Short Film-Inspired Ads
Apple’s New ‘The Underdogs’ Ad Features Various Apple Products
Empowering Consumer-Centric Campaigns
Which? Launches a Festive Campaign to Empower Shoppers
Affordable Tech Campaigns
Hisense Has Launched Its UNLOCK FOR BLACK FRIDAY Campaign
Frozen Pizza-Centered Campaigns
Dr. Oetker Debuts the Frozen Pizza Publicist Campaign
Mango-Scented Newspaper Ads
Swiggy Instamart Launched a Scented Campaign in the Times of India
Advertising Demand-Side Platforms
Yahoo Launched Yahoo Creative to Help Advertisers
Private Label Product Promotions
This Target Game Day Promotion is Shawn Johnson-Approved
Large-Screen Sports Campaigns
Hisense Debuted Its Big Game, Big Screen Initiative
Comedic Groundhog Day Campaigns
Lay's Flavor for Days Campaign Taps into Groundhog Day
Streetstyle Flavor Campaigns
Old El Paso's Turn It Up Entices Gen Z to Try Its Street Vibes Range
Gaming-Inspired Headphone Campaigns
Nazarian Films Aims to Engage a Younger Generations
Classic Ad Campaign Revivals
Seagram's 7 Crown is Reviving Old Ads for Its New Campaign
Grocery Store Ad Spots
Morrisons, the UK Supermarket Chain, Celebrates Its Low Pricing in This Ad
New Year Sandwich Promotions
This Urban Eat On-Pack Promo Offers Hundreds of Prizes Up for Grabs
Celebratory Animation TV Models
Samsung The Frame-Disney100 Edition TV Comes in Three Sizes
TV-Specific Pop Informants
COVER Emerges as the Essential App for TV Show Aficionados
Festive Chip Campaigns
KETTLE Chips' Christmas Campaign Features 24 Days of Prizes