The battle between traditional, what we call 2D video, and 360 degree video began in 2015 when YouTube and Facebook announced that they would support 360 videos on their respective platforms. Since then, a myriad of brands, from insurance and fashion to automotive and entertainment, have dipped their toes in the proverbial 360 waters and to some remarkable results – namely, with significantly more ad engagement.

While we wrapped up 2016 with a handy infographic highlighting some of the most popular 360 branded content, we’ve also pulled out some notable figures that should put any marketer on notice that 360 content and its not too distant relative, Virtual Reality, should most definitely be on the radar screen for 2017. Here’s a snapshot:

• Virgin Media saw a 360 video ad experience > 400% more shares than its 2D version
• Virgin Media’s 360 video ad had 45x more views than its 2D counterpart
• Sony’s “Don’t Breath” 360 trailer was watched nearly 7x more than its 2D version

As one might suspect, the early results suggest that when it comes to ad engagement, 360 content blows 2D out of the water. Check out our handy infographic featuring some of the highlights & recapping 2016 below.As stated in this article, you can browse your selection of available deals on smartphones and top brands and explore the cell phone service plans that best suit your needs.