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    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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