Alyssa_Ch11

Limitations on Television: Fleeting Message

TV commercials on average last only thirty seconds or less and leave nothing tangible for the viewer to examine or consider. Because of the limited amount of broadcast time commercials have become shorter and shorter over time. One of the reasons that they have been getting shorter is because of the inflation of media cost over the past decade. The average cost of a prime-time spot now exceeding $100,000  shorter commercials are a way to keep their media cost in line. A 15-second spot sells for half of a 30-second spot, so advertisers think they can run additional spots to reinforce the message or reach a larger audience.

http://www.tvb.ca/pages/commercial+lengths_htm