The Power of Video Ads: 150 Million Viewers Tuned in to YouTube on TV Screens in the US

Netflix's advertisement titled "Wednesday" has taken the lead on Cannes Ads Leaderboard of 2023 of with an impressive 39 M views. This leaderboard showcases the most successful video ads from around the world since the previous festival from a year ago, emphasizing the effectiveness of video content in captivating and engaging audiences. YouTube has identified four key trends observed in the most popular video commercials: the use of music, authenticity, appeal across different age groups, and evoking emotions. These trends have been instrumental in propelling the top video ads to a cumulative total of over 214 M views.


The widespread popularity of the streaming service, YouTube around the U.S on television screens is undeniable, reaching up to approximately individual viewers of 150 M. This extensive viewership creates a lucrative opportunity for both content creators and advertisers. Video ads remain a powerful means to attract views and connect with their specific audiences by employing captivating storytelling techniques.

The analysis focuses on the top 10 most popular global video ads on YouTube, covering the period from June 2022 to May 2023. The rankings and corresponding view counts are provided for each ad as of the time of publishing. YouTube employs a combination of metrics, including paid and organic views, audience retention, and watch time, to determine the positions of these ads. This approach ensures a comprehensive assessment of viewer engagement and popularity for each advertisement on the platform.

Burger King's ad titled "Extended Whopper Whopper" secured the tenth spot on the list, accumulating a substantial number of views; nearly 9.3 M. Peacock's video advertisement, named "Kevin Hart's Relentless Banter on 'Old' Celebrities #shorts," closely followed views of 9.1 M. Bulgari's captivating ad, entitled "Unexpected Wonders: A Film by Paolo Sorrentino," also garnered 9.3 M views, showcasing the power of authenticity and genuine storytelling in advertising.

The ad titled "Crazy about Football: Orange Egypt's World Cup 2022 Campaign" attracted a considerable amount of attention from viewers, accumulating a significant 19 M views. Meanwhile, the "Official Introduction Film" of the Qatar Airways and Galaxy S23 Ultra' "C.H.A.M.P.I.O.N.S: Official FIFA World Cup Song featuring Cheb Khaled and DJ Rodge" both achieved an impressive 23 M views, showcasing the broad appeal of these advertisements across different generations.

"The Last of Us" video ad by Max accumulated an impressive 24 M views, highlighting the effectiveness of evoking emotions through storytelling. "Introducing iPhone 14 Pro" by Apple has closely followed with 26 M views, showcasing the high anticipation and intrigue surrounding the release of new products. Telecom Egypt's "WE Summer Campaign 2022 - Akram Hosny" achieved a remarkable 33 M views, indicating the triumph of captivating and immersive marketing campaigns.

Ultimately, "Wednesday Releases Thing In New York" by Netflix secured the top spot on YouTube's leaderboard, amassing a staggering 39 M views. This accomplishment highlights the streaming giant's ability to captivate audiences and generate buzz around its content.



YouTube's position as a leading streaming service underscores its profitability for content creators and advertisers. Brands and marketers can leverage the platform's vast audience reach to connect with their target demographics effectively. Creating compelling video ads that tell engaging stories and resonate with viewers is crucial in a highly competitive landscape.

In conclusion, the success of top-ranking video ads on YouTube's Cannes Ads Leaderboard 2023 highlights the power of captivating content. Brands can leverage video ads on YouTube to engage target audiences by incorporating music, authenticity, cross-generational appeal, and emotion. This underscores the importance of video ads in achieving marketing goals in the digital landscape.

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