Broadcast TV Ad Spending "Reminiscent Of Prosperous Economic Times"

WHILE newspapers, magazines, radio and local television are all losing advertisers in the recessionary economy, the broadcast networks continue to be an anomaly, with advertisers putting their marketing dollars into national television at levels reminiscent of prosperous economic times.

"The shoe hasn't dropped yet," said Kris Magel, senior vice president and director for national broadcast at Initiative, a media buying agency. The troubled economy "hasn't hit national television yet," he said.

It's not because the four major broadcast networks are delivering more prime-time viewers to advertisers than they did last season; they are not. Cumulatively, they are down 10 percent in actual live viewers, with ABC, NBC and Fox all drawing around a million viewers less each night than they did last season. CBS is the one network that has improved from last season; the network is up 1 percent in viewership.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[wembakoy]

Happy New Year 2009 to all and peace to you where you are.

Please let us work with President Obama to fix this country there is a lot work to do. Let us save the world.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a08L8fcNZLk

Thanks.

[josephXY]

Not yet. There is a little clip on You Tube, 9.59 min:
Peter Schiff Was Right 2006 - 2007
It shows Peter Schiff, investment adviser, predicting (rightly) the financial crisis one time 2006
and twice in 2007 on Fox News and his critics who predict exactly the opposite and recommend
stock, particularly the "financials" at the same time, those that later crashed with all enthusiasm.
It might be the right clip for anyone somehow sceptical with TV economic news in the past. One really
gets a good of the value (or costs) of intormation and opinion making.
It's stuff for a financial thriller and / or comedy writers.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2I0QN-FYkpw

[Carolab]

TV ads are a reflection of a culture that we best leave behind.

[KataVideo]

The economy "hasn't" hit the national TV market yet? I'm not so sure. Strange ads are popping up in national series and news shows. I'm seeing the "Sham-Wow" where automakers used to run spots. Could be the work of national sales offices in local TV stations, but...

[waiguoren]

If we can achieve the death of American Idol and all "Reality Shows" the new Depression will not be a total bust.

[TheBlackCat]

I used to think it was a fad, but them adding a "reality tv" category in the emmys makes me think it's not to bad. I think "reality tv" may be here to stay

[geobushono]

Ad people make their money buying ad generally to increase sales.
When a company needs sales their money goes to advertising.
Just because ad billings haven't tanked, means the companies are still spending to stay out of the black hole.
let's remember that CITI-and all their co-conspiritors were all in our faces until ONE DAY, then they all got on a bus and sent their boy to extort some of our taxes.
Worked for the bankers, worked for Autos..........now let's see, who's next........Hamburger Helper?

[lvdragonlady]

Hope it hits them soon then maybe they will take off those flippin reality shows and all of those so called ' talent' shows. What a waste of air space!

[chris1942]

I agree, the commercials are getting longer. I thought I was the only one that noticed that.

[JScott]

Yeah it's probably because the shows are getting shorter and the commercial breaks are getting longer. More clutter on the public airwaves. Oh and let's not forget all those infomercials.