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Media

TV Ads Sink

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Jun 01, 2020 | 09:01 am
UPDATED Jun 01, 2020 | 09:04 pm
March Madness Stop
Photo Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

TV ad revenue took a dive in April, dropping 27% to $2.7 billion. Ad spending by travel services, retail, automotive, and restaurant industries all decreased significantly in the face of a “perfect storm” of increasing unemployment and stay-at-home orders.

A lack of live sports was another major factor in the decline. Standard Media Index estimates advertising commitments to sports dropped 72% from April 2019. Industry analysts believe the pandemic is likely to accelerate the ongoing shift of ads from TV to digital. 

Ad Dollars Lost In Sports

  • NBA: $240 million
  • NCAA Tournament: $200 million
  • NHL: $40 million
  • Golf: $30 million
  • MLB: $25 million

April Ad Revenue Numbers:

  • Broadcast TV dropped 33.4% to $907 million
  • Cable TV down 24.8% to $1.66 billion
  • Syndicated TV gained 12.1% to $140.2 million
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