Big brand marketing was so much easier when individual TV shows could consistently deliver scale, but the ability to achieve the same target reach and frequency objectives today tends to require advertising on more and more TV shows. That’s where digital video comes in. It helps build reach beyond what TV can cost-effectively achieve alone among prized demographic segments.
The Digital Upfronts (aka “NewFronts”) have been dominating my recent conversations revolving around a single --albeit complicated-- question: “How much of my ad spend should be allocated to digital video?” For the uninitiated, NewFronts is an annual event that connects digital marketers and agencies with online publishers. It has its roots in the television “upfronts,” where the television networks showcase their upcoming seasons to ad buyers in an attempt to sell as much premium ad space as possible, as early as possible. To even begin to answer this question, one must grapple with the realities of today’s highly fragmented media landscape, which is enough to make anyone’s head spin. Understanding this new paradigm means being able to quantify audiences and behavior, and in many respects we are still at the early stages of that process. In the face of such uncertainty, it’s no wonder that answering these seemingly simple questions can be so perplexing.
And yet, they are also that much more essential when you consider the state of TV audiences today.
I recently read an amusing history of “fascinating” TV ratings facts that would “blow out your brain,” and while these jarring facts may be packaged with a laugh track, I can assure you it is no laughing matter to marketers.
A few of the more startling points in the article include:
The Platform-Shifting Digital Media Consumer
The first step in understanding premium content digital video is to wrap our heads around how consumers are accessing it today. PC-based online video viewing has been a mainstay for the better part of a decade, but only recently have we seen smartphones and tablets begin carving out their share of the digital video space. According to data from Comscore MMX Multi-Platform®, 28% of all premium TV digital video content is currently being accessed via smartphones and tablets. Desktops account for the balance.
More viewing platforms certainly means more complexity… but it also means greater opportunity. A growing number of consumers today are spending their time watching exactly what they want when they want it, which translates to a higher level of consumer engagement and a better environment for marketers to land their message. The increased availability of digital video also means more overall screen time for consumers, presenting more marketing touchpoints and opportunities.
UbiquiTV Enables Improved Media Allocations, More Opportunities
So while the realities of UbiquiTV are not necessarily bad news for marketers, the question remains as to how much they should invest in digital video. While there is never a one-size-fits-all approach to optimizing media allocations, there are some points worth considering:
The future of TV may be complex, but digital video is clearly going to be a meaningful and growing part of it. More importantly, there is value to be realized with digital video advertising right now. The marketers who most quickly develop the competency to optimize across channels will be at a significant advantage versus the competition.