As fall programming hits its stride, advertisers are rolling out big creative swings. MarketCast’s Top Breaking Ads for October reveal the brands that captured attention, delivered strong recall, and made the most impact across CTV and Linear TV.
Check out the full lineup of October’s Ads that Break Through here.
This month’s winners brought a mix of humor, smart seasonal timing, and fresh storytelling. From KFC’s darkly funny Honey BBQ comeback to Liberty Mutual’s unlucky (yet memorable) hero, Uber Eats’ football-ready snacks, and Subaru’s credibility-forward messaging, October proved that clarity, wit, and contextual relevance are a powerful combo. Meanwhile, rising stars like Mucinex and Chime showed that newcomers can shine just as bright with the right creative spark.
KFC Serves Up a Saucy Comeback – KFC tied for the #1 Linear TV spot with “A Little Upset,” a darkly funny look at the Colonel hard at work preparing for the return of Honey BBQ sauce. The spot’s clever tone and flavorful visuals helped it score 25% above the Linear norm, delivering a delicious win for the brand.
Liberty Mutual Has the Last Laugh – Sharing the top position for Linear, Liberty Mutual’s “Interruption (Short): Truth Tellers” followed a man navigating a truly terrible day – except for his car insurance savings. The short version hit 25% above the Linear norm, while the long-form spot soared to 42% above the CTV norm, earning the top rank on CTV.
Mucinex Makes a Strong Seasonal Debut – Cold and flu season arrived, and Mucinex leaned all the way in. Their latest ad put a new spin on the brand’s well-known mucus characters, taking viewers on a “cold season vacation” that was equal parts quirky and relatable. The approach propelled Mucinex to a top-three Linear finish; a strong first appearance on the monthly list.
Uber Eats Delivers Game-Day Relevance – Uber Eats’ partnership with ALDI hit the spot for football fans. Their game-day snack delivery ad earned a dominant 40% above the CTV norm, thanks to clear messaging and strong contextual timing that matched the energy of the season.
Subaru Lets the Accolades Speak – Subaru chose a refreshingly simple strategy: highlighting its high Consumer Reports ranking. By letting results take center stage, the brand connected with viewers and landed 31% above the CTV norm, securing a top-three position.
Chime Rings in Festive Humor – Chime made a standout debut with a humorous, holiday-griping ad starring Jason Momoa. With its playful tone and timely theme, the spot delivered 25% above the CTV norm, earning the digital banking brand a strong first entry into the Top Breaking Ads lineup.
Backed by real-time data from MarketCast’s Brand Effect Pro measurement solution, these standout ads earned top marks for breakthrough, brand linkage, and message communication — the core ingredients that separate good ads from great ones.
Learn more about how MarketCast’s Brand Effect Pro enables marketers to understand whether campaigns are breaking through, using proven metrics that predict revenue drivers and guide real-time optimization to maximize ROI. Let’s talk!