Verena Vogt
Responsible for the Chabos Media Campaign
ZDF
ZDF
Nostalgia as a cheat code: Mediaplus, together with Serviceplan, sends Millennials on a cross-media journey back to the 2000s - and directly into the ZDF Streaming Portal.
What memories could be reactivated for your next campaign?
more Millennials (29-44 years)
increase in viewing volume
uplift in VTR
Mediaplus and Serviceplan activated Millennials with a cross-media campaign for the ZDF dramedy series "Chabos." Based on the principle of "nostalgia as a cheat code," an emotional journey back to the 2000s was created across social media, online video, audio, and OOH. The campaign reached a hard-to-access streaming audience at precisely the right emotional moment.
The target audience streams elsewhere
Only 24% of Millennials actively use the ZDF Streaming Portal. This was the starting point Mediaplus and Serviceplan faced for the dramedy series "Chabos": a target audience full of nostalgia, but far removed from the goal.
The series itself is bold: the 36-year-old protagonist Peppi reflects on the mistakes of his youth, constantly breaks the fourth wall, and weaves two timelines into an unfiltered, authentic story. The return of the noughties is omnipresent as a trend, yet it often remains on the surface - in fashion and design - without capturing the raw, unvarnished energy of that era.
The task for Mediaplus:
Generate media attention among a target audience that is nostalgic but, in their everyday streaming habits, goes elsewhere. A campaign that does not merely inform, but convinces emotionally and meets Millennials right in the middle of their memories.
Which media touchpoints awaken noughties nostalgia?
We build a cross-media time machine
Mediaplus, together with Serviceplan, developed a cross-media time machine - strategically orchestrated and made tangible through creative experience.
The Principle:
Nostalgia as a cheat code. Every measure serves as a trigger for flashbacks: sounds, images, and formats catapult the target audience directly back to the year 2006. Emotions generate attention, attention creates memories, memories shape brand image.
The Time Machine in Detail:
The Finale:
A walk-through photo love story on OOH surfaces turned waiting situations into a journey through time. Eight scrolling walls in a row, XXL stretch boards, and a classic print feature in a tabloid magazine.
The Results Speak for Themselves:
Through direct traffic from online and social ads alone, we gained 1.9 million new viewers for the ZDF Streaming Portal. And 65% more Millennials accessed the format compared to comparable ZDF formats.
Do you need support for your project? We are happy to provide a no-obligation consultation.
"With this campaign, we didn't simply want to reach Millennials, we wanted to truly connect with them where their strongest memories reside. The media time machine achieved exactly that: it made the series tangible before the first episode ever aired."
Verena Vogt
Responsible for the Chabos Media Campaign
ZDF
#1
Nostalgia as targeting works
#2
Cross-media sensory engagement maximises ad recall
#3
Emotional triggers lead directly to measurable actions
About Mediaplus
Mediaplus is one of the largest independent media agencies in Europe and part of the House of Communication - an integrated communications network headquartered in Munich. Founded in 1983, the agency group brings together approximately 2,300 specialists across more than 20 international locations. Its service portfolio includes Media Strategy & Innovation, Data & AI, Performance Marketing, and Commerce & Retail Media. With its AI framework, House of AI, Mediaplus combines proprietary data models with market expertise to drive measurable brand growth. In 2026, Mediaplus was named Media Agency of the Year for the fifth time at the German Media Awards.