Friday 23 January 2026: PR & Marketing News Round‑Up | Stories That Connect, From Park Benches to Global Stages
Visible PR is back with our Friday PR & Marketing News Round-Up, and this week is a strong line-up of news! In a week of standout creativity and strategic shifts, brands and platforms are earning conversation through emotional storytelling, boundary-pushing cultural moments, immersive experiences and new ad formats that tap into evolving audience behaviour.
See our top picks of the week below…
British Heart Foundation Celebrates Survivors In Powerful Anniversary Campaign
The British Heart Foundation has launched ‘In Living Memory’ to mark its 65th anniversary by celebrating cardiovascular disease survivors with 65 vivid red benches placed in communities across the UK. Each bench bears the name of someone still alive today thanks to advances in research funded by the charity, turning a public, daily-use item into a moving celebration of life and scientific progress.
Why it matters for PR & Marketing: This heartwarming campaign flips expectations by focusing on survival rather than loss. The powerful bench installations create ongoing, locally relevant touchpoints that drive sustained awareness and emotional engagement, anchoring a health charity message in everyday public spaces rather than busy, standalone traditional media.
Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl Halftime Show Teaser Highlights Unity & Culture
Global superstar Bad Bunny has released a new teaser ahead of his Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show, celebrating diverse backgrounds and inviting the world to join his cultural moment. The clip highlights rhythm, unity and inclusivity ahead of the February 8 performance, positioning the event not just as entertainment but as a statement about connection and shared experience.
Why it matters for PR & Marketing: As some of the most watched televised (and streamed) moments of the year, Super Bowl halftime shows are always high-visibility cultural moments. Having ruffled some feathers already taking the coveted spot for 2026, this campaign uses authentic cultural storytelling to broaden appeal and spark conversation, showing how entertainment platforms can position performers as global ambassadors for unity and inclusion beyond the spectacle.
HelloFresh Brings Shared Mealtime To Waterloo Station With Immersive Installation
Dinnertime at Waterloo? You heard us right! HelloFresh UK has launched a large-scale experiential installation at Waterloo Station aimed at encouraging commuters to Bring Back Dinnertime. A life-size delivery box has been transformed into a fully functioning family kitchen where a real family will prepare dinners, inviting passers-by to watch-on, pause, reconnect and rediscover the value of shared meals.
Why it matters for PR & Marketing: Going big to kickstart 2026 is the way to go in an overcrowded market like meal delivery kits. By turning a busy station into an activation that literally serves its purpose embodies its brand values and invites participation, and also leaves commuters wondering what they’ll be making for their dinner!
TikTok Launches New Ad Formats Designed For Streaming & Entertainment
TikTok is rolling out new ad formats that allow streaming platforms and entertainment advertisers to showcase multiple show titles or content clips within a single ad unit. These Streaming Ads and interactive ad features aim to help entertainment brands convert social buzz into subscriptions by engaging users with personalised, video-led experiences.
Why it matters for PR & Marketing: As audiences increasingly discover film and TV content through social platforms, ad formats that blend discovery with direct conversion signals mark an evolution in how entertainment brands reach and convert viewers. TikTok’s approach highlights the growing convergence between social engagement and subscription-driven entertainment marketing.
BBC Strikes Landmark Content Partnership With YouTube
Having reported last week on how YouTube’s viewership overtook the BBC in 2025, it looks like the UK’s home broadcaster is taking things into its own hands going into 2026. In the BBC’s first initiative of its kind, the broadcaster has announced a landmark partnership to produce original programming for YouTube, aimed at reaching younger audiences and adapting to changing media consumption habits. The content is expected to include targeted children’s and youth-focused shows, with plans to integrate news, entertainment and documentary formats on the platform.
Why it matters for PR & Marketing: With more than a third of the global internet population using YouTube each month, this landmark deal highlights how legacy media is evolving its distribution strategy to align with digital consumption trends. By creating bespoke shows for YouTube, the BBC can build new audience communities and extend reach beyond traditional broadcast channels, signalling a broader shift in how institutional brands think about platform partnerships.
Final Thoughts
From heartfelt charity campaigns to headline-grabbing entertainment and hands-on experiences, this week proves that in 2026, there’s no single formula for cut-through for marketers. The real solution is understanding people, context, and timing. If a campaign makes you stop scrolling, pause on your commute, or actually feel something, it’s doing its job - a reminder that the best PR & marketing should always still feel human.
Let’s make your next campaign count. Get in touch today! hello@visiblepr.co.uk