The 2009, the American Time Use Survey Summary conducted by the Bureau of Labor and Statistics stated that Americans, 15 and over, spend an average of 2.8 hours per day watching television. Businesses that use TV as an advertising medium to promote their product or service receive valuable air time that reaches countless viewers. However, many disadvantages exist as well. Larger Audience Pool *
You can reach a larger amount of people in a shorter amount of time through television advertising than you can with print or radio advertising since television viewing accounts for over half of leisure time spent at home for those 15 years of age or older, according to an American Time Use Survey Summary. Different time slots and channels are available that offer advertisers target demographics such as daytime slots on major networks for stay-at-home moms or weekend spots on music channel stations to appeal to teens. The amount of people you reach with a television commercial depends on the programming it's attached to, as well as the time slot. For instance, if you want to target a general audience comprised of working people, you will want to run your commercial during prime time. Expenses *
Filming a TV commercial often requires a script, actors, director and film editors, which can prove expensive. Yet, if you shop around, you can make your own commercial for approximately $2,000 or less, according to gaebler.com. Check out local production companies or thoughtequity.com, which offers stock footage for reasonable prices. Costs for running a commercial on television depend on variables such as the length of the spot, the time of day or night, the TV show it runs with, the size of the viewing audience and whether you choose local or national advertising. Local advertising will typically amount to less expense, but, no matter what market you choose, you have to run your