As businesses everywhere are looking for newer and more effective ways to reach customers, they’re presented with a choice between two common types of advertising: advertising on streaming TV services and linear TV advertising.
While both boast several benefits, depending on your business goals, one reigns supreme over the other.
Are you curious as to which type might be better suited for your campaign?
In this blog post, we take a closer look at streaming TV vs. linear TV advertising in hopes of providing some clarity about these two approaches – so that way, you can choose the right one for your needs.
What is the Difference Between Linear and Streaming?
Linear and streaming media both deliver content to users, but the delivery methods are very different.
Linear media provides viewers with content based on a predetermined schedule; for example, broadcast television programs air at predetermined times that viewers must tune into in order to access the content.
Streaming media, on the other hand, allows users to view whatever content they choose at their convenience and often requires an internet connection.
Furthermore, streaming media offers more opportunities for customization since it typically allows users to pick and choose which specific content they want to watch.
Ultimately, linear and streaming media offer distinct advantages and disadvantages, making them both popular options depending on the user’s individual needs. Below, we’ll detail some of the pros and cons of each type of advertising for marketers to consider.
What Advantages Does Linear TV Advertising Still Have?
Linear TV advertising has its own unique set of advantages that make it a powerful tool in the marketing and advertising realm.
For example, unlike digital advertising, linear TV ads reach a wider audience of viewers due to their access to cable television, satellite television, and broadcast television.
With millions of households relying on cable TV in the USA alone, according to TV advertising statistics, linear TV commercials have the potential to garner a significant number of views.
It’s also important to note that there is less competition on traditional channels than many digital ones meaning reaching a saturated or oversaturated market is less likely when using linear TV advertising.
What Are the Benefits of Streaming TV Advertising?
Streaming TV advertising is another option for marketers to consider – and for most businesses, it’s going to make more sense.
Streaming TV advertising has revolutionized the modern landscape of marketing and promotion. Compared to traditional linear-style television advertisements, streaming ads can more easily target and reach specific audiences.
With streaming, advertisers can take advantage of a far greater level of detail when it comes to targeting potential customers. For example, they may be able to determine which day a person is most likely to watch a show and begin their campaign around that time frame.
Furthermore, with advances in big data analytics, streaming advertisement is not only able to zero in on customer needs but also decipher how effective their advertisement campaigns have been in increasing sales. This allows marketers to rework their strategies as needed to maximize effectiveness and better augment customer experience.
Ultimately, by taking full advantage of the technology provided by streaming television, advertisers find themselves capable of reaching unprecedented heights for customer engagement.
Which is Better for Your Business – Streaming TV or Linear TV Advertising?
The good news about linear TV advertising is that it feels familiar to most viewers – after all, it’s been around since television was invented!
The bad news is that linear TV advertising can be quite expensive, especially if you want to run ads during prime-time hours on popular channels like ABC or CBS. Plus, there’s no guarantee that your target audience will see your ad – they might be watching something else at the time!
For most marketers, streaming TV advertising will make more sense. It can provide a much wider reach than linear TV – after all, streaming services are available everywhere, from computers and phones to smart TVs and gaming consoles.
Plus, streaming services like Hulu offer highly targeted ads, so you know that your ad is being seen by people who are actually interested in what you have to offer. And because streaming services don’t rely on airtime slots like linear does, you don’t have to worry about competing with other advertisers for viewership share.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, both linear and streaming TV advertising can be effective tools for growing your business – but only if you choose the right option for your needs. As more of us make the switch from traditional linear TV advertising to streaming, the latter may present more opportunities for growth within your business.