The scatter television advertising market -- the
near-term buying of TV media -- is revealing a dramatic national linear TV ad market slowdown in the fourth quarter so far, according to Standard Media Index.
Through October, scatter
advertising has dropped 39% versus the same period a year ago. It is also down 56% from 2020.
Overall, including upfront TV buying made this past summer, SMI says there is a 8% drop in
national TV advertising to around $4.5 billion compared to a year ago so far. Broadcast TV is down 4%, while cable has declined 12%, and syndication is down 19%.
Economic uncertainty in the
U.S. and concerns over a possible recession have caused brand marketers to pull back spending, according to analysts.
Scatter advertising typically totals around 25% to 30% of the $40 billion
national TV marketplace.
Upfront TV advertising spending bought this past summer and placed in the fourth quarter, however, has been virtually flat so far -- slipping 0.3%. Direct response
advertising is down 15%.
The difference between upfront and scatter market TV placed media in the period is “unprecedented”, says SMI.
Brand advertisers with declines in
October include consumer packaged goods, down 4% year-over-year; financial services (off 20%); technology (30%); and entertainment/media (10%).
SMI says the declines in technology and
financial services have amounted to around $100 million in media spend each.
Categories that have seen increases in TV spend include: Pharmaceutical (9% higher); general business (11%); and
travel (33%).
The slowdown in national linear TV is also 5% below the same period in 2020, the initial pre-pandemic year.
Standard Media Index captures actual invoicing data from all
major holding companies and most major independents, representing 95% of national brand ad spend.
