Is TV Advertising Still Worth The Investment For Brands?

The short answer is yes, TV advertising is very much still worth investing in. However, this comes with the caveat that the landscape has changed thanks to the rise of streaming services, also known as video on demand. 

Let’s look at both why TV advertising is still worth including as part of your strategy, as well as how to make the most of this medium in a world of on-demand viewers and streaming services. 

How effective is TV advertising?

One study by Thinkbox, the marketing body for commercial TV in the UK, found that TV advertising is more effective at sustaining consumer interest in buying a product than advertising on any other channel. 

What’s more, TV advertising alongside adverts on other channels, such as social media, helps to improve the performance of adverts across all platforms. Thinkbox discovered TV had a far greater impact than any other channel.

Finally, and perhaps crucially, the shared experience of watching TV adverts with friends and family also makes it more effective and helps adverts have a greater impact. 

Whatever kind of TV advertising campaign you plan to run, it’s essential that you set out a plan for measuring its return on investment. 

Who should you target with TV advertising?

We all know that viewing habits have transformed in recent years. In the broadest terms, older generations watch more live TV than younger generations of consumers. 

However, to simply say that all TV adverts should be aimed at older demographics would miss a lot of the nuance – not to mention the value of producing adverts that can appear on both traditional TV channels and streaming platforms. 

Although some services offer viewers the option of skipping adverts, in many cases this has become functionality you have to pay extra for. In the current economic climate, many are choosing to stick with adverts.

So, that means adverts can be effective across demographics if they are professionally designed and produced to maximise attention. 

Working with a TV advertising production company is essential if you want to get the most out of your adverts. 

It’s not enough to simply put your advert on TV in a prime slot and hope for the best. You need to work with creative directors, film crews and experienced post-production teams to ensure that your advert hits the spot. 

How much does TV advertising cost?

The cost of TV advertising varies depending on which channels you plan to screen your advert on and during which time slots. 

Peak slots can cost thousands of pounds, whereas less popular time slots can be purchased for as little as a few hundred. But what you need to consider is when your target audience are most likely to be watching TV and act accordingly. 

Another factor that can alter the value of advertising slots is the programme in which your advert plays. Sports events – like the forthcoming football World Cup – often see the price of TV advertising slots increase when they are either side of matches or during half time.

What’s interesting about the 2026 World Cup is that organising body FIFA has announced there will be compulsory three-minute hydration breaks in each half of every match during the tournament. 

This offers yet another set of advertising slots, which experts are expecting to see sell for millions of dollars apiece. 

But the cost of TV advertising doesn’t only come from paying for your media slots. It also comes from the process of producing the advert.

This is where it is worth investing in a professional and experienced TV advertising production company like CHIEF. 

We have over 25 years of experience in TV advertising production, with a team of incredible directors and post-production experts on hand to bring your creative vision to life. 

Why invest in professional TV advert production?

Although the rise of smartphones and AI has made it easier than ever to produce content yourself, TV advertising is a different medium to the likes of social media. 

If you are going to invest in TV advertising, you want to get as much from that investment as possible – and that means the return you’ll receive from working with an experienced creative team is certainly worth the investment. 

What’s more, when you work with a team with demonstrable experience and a solid track record, you will often find the production process is very cost-effective because everyone shows up on set or in post-production knowing precisely what to do. 

For our team, no challenge is too big. We love getting creative briefs and working out how best to put together TV adverts that deliver brand recognition at scale, in a way that works for your business and reaches the right audience.