Bauer Media is proud to announce the finalists in the Most Popular Television Commercial category at the 61st annual TV WEEK Logie Awards, to be held on the Gold Coast  later this year.

Twelve of Australia’s best advertisements are eligible for the new Logie Award. In its inaugural year, the Most Popular TV Commercial category received an overwhelming number of entries from agencies all across Australia.

A panel of leading industry experts were responsible for shortlisting the numerous submissions and undertook a rigorous selection process in order to narrow down the top 12 advertisements to move forward to the public vote.

2019’s judging panel consisted of some of Australia’s most authoritative voices in media and advertising; Pippa Chambers, Editor of Ad News, James Manning, Editor of Mediaweek, Michael Lynch, CEO and Founder of Campaign Brief, David Hovenden, Editor and Publisher of B&T, Thomas Woodgate, Editor of TV WEEK and Jane Waterhouse, General Manager of Bauer Media’s Story54.

Thomas Woodgate, Editor TV WEEK said: “We had an overwhelming response to this campaign in its very first year and we are thrilled to be submitting some of Australia’s finest creative for the consumer vote.

It’s been really pleasing to see how the industry has embraced this award. It was our intention to showcase the creativity within the advertising industry and the level of submissions was superb.

Some of the best creative is being produced right here in Australia and the commercials this year proved that. We were looking for ads that really captured the diverse nature of our country and there were plenty.

Judging was an extremely tough process, so thank you to all that submitted for making our jobs so difficult! It’ll be over to the public to decide the final winner, so I wish all entrants the very best of luck.”

The top 12 commercials shortlisted for 2019 include:

• Australian Santa crashes Christmas – Aldi, created by BMF
• Dundee: Australia’s Tourism Ad in Disguise – Tourism Australia, created by UM and Droga5
• First Dance – Apple, created by TBWA Sydney, MAL Sydney, MA LA and MA Singapore
• Frank – Westpac, created by DDB Sydney
• I am the Captain of my Soul – The Invictus Games, created by Edge
• It’s a Mystery – Budget Direct, created by 303 MullenLowe
• Join the Queendom – Bonds, created by Leo Burnett Melbourne
• Lamb Side Story – Meat Livestock Australia, created by The Monkeys
• Making My Christmas – Myer, created by Clemenger and Ikon Communications
• Naked Wrestling – KFC, created by Ogilvy Australia
• Serena Project: I Touch Myself by Berlei J. Walter Thompson Sydney
• Tastes like Australia – Vegemite, created by Thinkerbell

“From bouncing ball boobs to data-driven baubles, there was a great selection of emotive, weird and wonderful ads,” Pippa Chambers, Editor of Ad News said. “The entries highlight just how many super smart creative minds we have in the innovative advertising world, but for me it’s the ones that go for the feels that win out. Be it humour, nostalgia or simply evoking feelings of wonder, the brands that take risks, break boundaries and inspire emotion are the ones that stay longer in the hearts and minds of the viewer.”

Public voting officially opens today, Monday the 4th of March on the digital home of TV WEEK, Now to Love.