Traditional & Digital Media
Media Channel Opportunities

Traditional and Digital Media in BIA’s US Advertising Forecast

Today’s media channels deliver a variety of content to audiences. Media usage has changed dramatically over the last decade and consumer behavior continues to affect a media channel’s adoption and its advertising opportunities.

BIA’s U.S. Local Ad Forecast examines advertising spending across sixteen media, representing traditional and digital media. The forecast captures ongoing developments and analytical assessments within the economy and local business marketplace.

Traditional Media in U.S. Ad Forecast

  • TV Over-the-Air (OTA)
  • Radio Over-the-Air (OTA)
  • Cable
  • Newspaper Print
  • Magazines Print
  • Directories
  • OOH
  • Direct Mail

Digital Media in U.S. Ad Forecast

  • TV Digital
  • Radio Digital
  • CTV/OTT
  • Newspaper Digital
  • Magazine Digital
  • Mobile
  • PC/Laptop
  • Email

Recent Media Ad Spend Estimates

The media forecasts are available for both local markets and nationwide (all TV markets rolled up) and for 96 vertical categories for 2019-2028.

Recent BIA Analysis for 2024

BIA predicts that total media revenues in the U.S. will hit $174 billion in 2024, up 9.4% from 2023. This growth will be fueled by increased spending from local political advertisers and other key local industries, as well as a surge in ads on connected/over-the-top TV (CTV/OTT), over-the-air TV (OTA), and digital TV.

In terms of ad spend breakdown, digital will capture 49.1% ($85.3 billion) and traditional media will get 50.9% ($88.4 billion). However, both digital and traditional media are seeing growth. Over-the-air TV is set to rise 28.1%, and digital TV will increase 25.4%. The top growth channel is Connected TV (CTV)/Over-the-Air (OTT) at +53.9% year-over-year.

Navigating the Shift: Exploring the Surge in CTV Advertising and Its Impact on Local Markets

As the digital landscape evolves rapidly, there’s a significant shift toward Connected TV advertising.

BIA’s local advertising forecast indicates that nearly half of all ad dollars will go to digital. In local markets, CTV/OTT advertising is projected to claim a 9.2% share of local video with a $3.6 billion spend in 2024.

Our comprehensive 2024 Local Advertising Forecast: Local Video provides actionable insights and guidance on how to effectively position yourself in an increasingly competitive space

Accessing BIA’s Media Forecasts

BIA offers numerous, flexible options to access its media forecasts.

BIA ADVantage

16 media forecasts across 96 business verticals for 2019-2027.

MEDIA Access Pro

Television, Radio and Newspaper forecasts and industry data.

U.S. Local Advertising Forecast

PDF Presentation

Investing in Television and Investing in Radio

The most comprehensive books available on the radio, television and newspaper industries

Custom Data Project

Contact us to discuss a custom data pull

U.S. Local Advertising Forecast: Nationwide View

PDF + BIA ADVantage Access

Media Definitions

Traditional Media

CABLE TELEVISION: All revenues generated by local cable systems for sale of time to either national or local advertisers on all of their aired networks. Does not include any advertising sold by national cable networks.

DIRECT MAIL: All revenue spent (including postage and production) by direct mail local and direct mail national advertisers in promoting their products/services through printed mailings and catalogs. The average split of national/local is 90/10.

DIRECTORIES: All revenues generated by local directory companies for their printed and digital/online listings.

MAGAZINES PRINT: All revenues generated by local market magazines from either national or local advertisers from their print editions. Does not include any advertising generated by magazines with a national subscriber base.

NEWSPAPERS PRINT: All revenues generated by local daily and weekly newspapers from national and local advertisers from their print editions. Does not include any revenue generated from subscriptions.

OUT-OF-HOME (OOH): All revenues generated from sale of advertising in locations outside of homes. Includes traditional billboards, digital billboards, digital signage, taxi cabs, and digital cinema.

RADIO OVER-THE-AIR (OTA): All revenues generated by local radio stations for sale of time to either national or local advertisers from their over-the-air broadcasts. Does not include any advertising sold by the national radio networks.

TELEVISION OVER-THE-AIR (OTA): All revenues generated by local television stations for sale of time to either national or local advertisers. Does not include any advertising sold by the over-the-air national networks, nor any retransmission consent revenues generated by these local television stations.

 

Digital Media

CONNECTED TV (CTV)/OVER-THE-TOP MEDIA (OTT): CTV/OTT advertising is local targeted advertising included on streaming video delivered to TV sets via Internet connections and includes both IP set top boxes that receive signals from digital video ad servers (and widgets on them) as well as USB and HDMI multimedia devices.

E-MAIL: All revenues spent by national and local advertisers in e-mail solicitation.

MAGAZINES DIGITAL: All revenues generated by local market magazines from either national or local advertisers from their digital activities. Includes the share retained by local magazines after reselling other online platforms (e.g., Google AdWords). Does not include any advertising generated by magazines with a national subscriber base.

MOBILE: All revenues generated from advertising on mobile devices and targeted devices are Phones, tablets. This includes in-app advertising as well as mobile web and messaging advertising. Formats include display, search, SMS, video and native social advertising (i.e. Facebook news feed ads).

NEWSPAPERS DIGITAL: All revenues generated by local daily and weekly newspapers from national and local advertisers from their online editions. Includes the share retained by local newspapers after reselling other online platforms (e.g., Google AdWords). Does not include revenues generated from subscriptions.

PC/LAPTOP: All revenues generated by online companies selling locally targeted advertisements to be displayed on a PC/laptop. These advertisements could be sold by local pure-play online companies, or national companies selling geo-targeted advertising. Includes search, display and classified/vertical advertising. Search includes dollars spent on online local inquiries with search engine sites (such as Google, Microsoft, Facebook, Yahoo, Ask, AOL).

RADIO DIGITAL: Digital radio advertising includes local advertising sold by local stations (streaming and website advertisements) and pure play streaming services. Includes the share retained by local radio stations after reselling other online platforms (e.g., Google AdWords).

TELEVISION DIGITAL: TV digital advertising includes local advertising sold by local broadcast stations (owned and operated streaming and website advertisements). Includes the share retained by local television stations after reselling other online platforms and products (Not owned and operated e.g., Google AdWords, targeted display, social media advertising).