How Much Does a TV Commercial Cost? Complete 2025 Pricing Guide
Television advertising costs vary dramatically based on platform, market, and production quality. This comprehensive guide breaks down exactly what you'll pay for TV commercials in 2025, from local spots to Super Bowl ads.
How Much Does a 30-Second TV Ad Cost?
The cost of a 30-second TV commercial ranges from $500 for local spots to $8 million and even more for premium placements like the Super Bowl. The price for advertising varies dramatically based on the popularity and audience size of the network, the location where advertisers want to run ads, and the time of day. Airing an advertisement at 2 am will be much cheaper than at 7 pm prime time. Here's the breakdown by platform:
National TV: 30-Second Commercial Costs
National television advertising on major networks remains the premium option for reaching mass audiences. Prime-time slots during evening hours command the highest rates due to their large viewership, often costing eight times more than daytime slots. The specific network and program selection significantly impacts pricing, with live sports and popular shows commanding top dollar.
Broadcast Networks (ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX)
- Prime time (8-11 PM): $200,000 - $1 million
- Popular shows (NFL Sunday Night Football): ~$882,000
- Daytime: $40,000 - $200,000
- Late night: $50,000 - $250,000
Cable Networks
- National cable average: $1,000 - $50,000³
- Premium networks (ESPN, TNT): $20,000 - $150,000
- Niche channels: $1,000 - $20,000
Special Events
- Super Bowl 2025: $7-8 million
- Academy Awards: $2-3 million
- Major sporting events: $500,000 - $2 million
How Much Does a 30-Second Local TV Ad Cost?
Local TV offers the most affordable entry point for television advertising. The average cost of 30-second local TV ads depends heavily on where advertisers want to run ads. Local TV advertising markets in the U.S. are segmented into small, mid-sized, and large markets based on Designated Market Areas (DMAs). The key factors that influence market size are the population of the area and the prime time audience size. For example, running an ad on a local network in LA will be more expensive than in Montpelier, Vermont.
By Market Size (2025 Rates)
- Small Markets (DMAs 151-210): $200 - $1,500⁷
- Mid-sized Markets (DMAs 51-150): $500 - $3,000
- Large Markets (DMAs 1-50): $2,000 - $10,000
- Top 10 Markets (NYC, LA, Chicago): $5,000 - $50,000+
Time Slot Impact on Local TV Costs
- Early morning (6-9 AM): $500 - $2,500
- Daytime (9 AM-4 PM): $300 - $1,500
- Early fringe (4-7 PM): $800 - $3,500
- Prime time (7-11 PM): $2,000 - $50,000+
- Late night (11 PM-2 AM): $200 - $1,000
How Much Does a 1 Minute TV Commercial Cost?
Sixty-second commercials typically cost 1.5 to 2 times the 30-second rate. These longer format ads allow for more storytelling potential and can deliver more complex messages. While 30-second spots are the industry standard, longer ads offer unique advantages for brands that need additional time to connect with their audience.
60-Second Commercial Pricing
The extended format provides opportunities for deeper brand storytelling, product demonstrations, or multiple product features. Major corporations often use 60-second spots during high-profile events to make a lasting impression:
National TV
- Broadcast prime time: $300,000 - $2 million
- Cable networks: $1,500 - $100,000
- Special events: $10 million - $16 million (Super Bowl)
Local TV
- Small markets: $300 - $3,000
- Mid-sized markets: $750 - $6,000
- Large markets: $3,000 - $20,000
- Prime time slots: $3,000 - $100,000
Why Choose 60-Second Spots?
- More storytelling opportunity
- Better for complex messages
- Higher brand recall
- Often better CPM value than two 30-second spots
How Much Does It Cost to Advertise on TV? Complete Breakdown
Streaming TV (CTV) Advertising Costs
Connected TV represents the fastest-growing segment, with spending reaching $26.6 billion in 2025. Streaming TV advertising allows brands to reach audiences through platforms like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video. As more people are cutting the cord and turning to streaming services for their TV content, streaming TV advertising is becoming an increasingly popular way for brands to reach these audiences. The cost of streaming TV advertising varies depending on the target audience, ad format, and campaign length.
Platform-Specific Rates
- Netflix: $20-30 CPM (programmatic), $45-65 CPM (direct)
- Hulu: $10-30 CPM
- Amazon Prime Video: $25-60 CPM
- YouTube TV: $20-25 CPM
- Disney+: $30-50 CPM
Why CTV Costs More
- 95% completion rates (vs. 65-70% for traditional TV)
- Advanced targeting capabilities
- Measurable results and attribution
- Higher engagement rates
TV Commercial Production Costs
Beyond airtime, you'll need to budget for creating your commercial. Production costs can vary from $0 if created with free AI tools to millions if a famous director shoots it. The beauty of today's advertising landscape lies in its inclusivity - businesses of all sizes, from startups to global corporations, can showcase their brand on television, leveraging a range of budgets to make an impact. Crafting a TV commercial involves several stages, each with its own cost considerations.
Production Cost Ranges
- DIY/AI Tools: $0 - $5,000
- Local Production: $3,000 - $15,000
- Regional Quality: $15,000 - $50,000
- National Standard: $50,000 - $500,000
- Celebrity/Premium: $500,000 - $1 million+
Production Cost Breakdown
Factors like whether you handle production in-house or hire subcontractors, the reputation of those subcontractors, and even the location of the shoot can all influence the final price. The average production costs for a professionally produced 30-second commercial typically fall between $10,000 and $50,000, with more elaborate productions costing significantly more.
Pre-Production
- Concept development: $5,000 - $50,000
- Scriptwriting: $1,000 - $20,000
- Casting: $500 - $50,000+
Production
- Crew (per day): $10,000 - $100,000+
- Equipment rental: $5,000 - $50,000
- Location fees: $1,000 - $100,000+
- Talent fees: $500 - $50,000+ per day
Post-Production
- Editing: $5,000 - $50,000
- Special effects: $10,000 - $100,000+
- Sound/music: $3,000 - $40,000
- Color grading: $2,000 - $10,000
Additional TV Advertising Costs
When calculating your total TV advertising investment, agency fees and usage rights should be included in the calculation. These additional costs can significantly impact your overall budget but often provide valuable expertise and legal protection for your campaign.
Agency Fees
- Creative development: $20,000 - $200,000
- Campaign management: 15-20% of media spend
- Performance tracking: $5,000 - $50,000
Rights and Usage
- Talent usage rights: $5,000 - $100,000+
- Music licensing: $1,000 - $30,000
- Stock footage: $500 - $10,000
Factors That Affect TV Commercial Costs
Multiple factors can impact the price of TV advertising, from targeting and ad length to seasonal demand. Understanding these variables helps advertisers make strategic decisions to maximize their budget efficiency while reaching their target audience effectively.
Time-Based Pricing Factors
The time of day significantly affects advertising costs, with prime-time slots commanding premium prices due to larger audiences. Late peak hours (8 pm – 10:30 pm) command the highest rates, often costing eight times more than daytime slots.
Daypart Multipliers
- Early morning: 0.5x base rate
- Daytime: 0.4x base rate
- Early fringe: 0.7x base rate
- Prime time: 1.0x base rate (highest)
- Late night: 0.3x base rate
Seasonal Cost Variations
Ad costs spike during specific times of the year, particularly during the winter holidays when retail and e-commerce brands drive up demand starting in November. Advertisers should be prepared for higher competition and prices during tentpole events like sports playoffs, award shows, and political debates.
Peak Seasons (Higher Costs)
- Q4 Holiday (Nov-Dec): +30-50%
- Back-to-school (Aug-Sept): +15-25%
- Political seasons: +20-40%
- Major sports events: +25-50%
Off-Peak Opportunities
- January-February: -20-30%
- Summer months: -10-20%
- Post-election periods: -15-25%
Geographic Cost Differences
The location where advertisers want to run ads significantly impacts pricing. Markets are classified based on population and prime-time audience size, with major metropolitan areas commanding premium rates. Competition for both large and niche audiences often drives up costs, though larger audiences generally offer more cost-efficient CPMs.
Top 10 Most Expensive TV Markets
- New York City
- Los Angeles
- Chicago
- Philadelphia
- Dallas-Fort Worth
- San Francisco Bay Area
- Boston
- Atlanta
- Washington, D.C.
- Houston
These markets typically cost 3-5x the national average for local spots.
How to Budget for TV Advertising
Creating a budget-friendly TV advertising strategy requires careful planning and smart allocation of resources. While production costs can vary widely, the key is selecting time slots that align with your target audience. Less expensive dayparts like early-morning news or late-night talk shows can deliver strong results without the premium price tag of prime time.
Small Business TV Advertising ($5,000 - $25,000)
Recommended Approach
- Focus on local TV in smaller markets
- Use off-peak time slots
- Consider remnant inventory
- Leverage AI tools for production
- Test with limited CTV campaigns
Sample Budget Allocation
- Production: $2,000 - $5,000
- Local airtime: $3,000 - $15,000
- Campaign management: $0 - $5,000
Medium Budget TV Campaigns ($25,000 - $100,000)
Recommended Approach
- Regional cable coverage
- Mix of dayparts including prime time
- Professional production
- Targeted CTV campaigns
- A/B testing different markets
Sample Budget Allocation
- Production: $10,000 - $30,000
- Media spend: $15,000 - $60,000
- Agency/management: $0 - $10,000
Enterprise TV Advertising ($100,000+)
Recommended Approach
- National cable presence
- Strategic broadcast placements
- Premium production values
- Comprehensive CTV strategy
- Multi-market testing
Sample Budget Allocation
- Production: $50,000 - $500,000
- Media spend: $50,000 - $5 million+
- Agency fees: 15-20% of media spend
Industry Trends and Future Outlook
2025 TV Advertising Landscape
The television advertising landscape continues to evolve rapidly. While traditional TV still holds significant reach, the shift to streaming is undeniable. Streaming services now offer options such as sponsorship, product placement, and branded content, which can provide more visibility and engagement but also increase the cost of campaigns. Many streaming platforms are shifting towards more advanced metrics such as engagement rate, video completion rate, and click-through rate (CTR) rather than legacy metrics like CPM.
Market Shifts
- Traditional TV spending declining to $56.8 billion
- CTV projected to surpass traditional TV by 2028
- 30% of CTV ads now bought programmatically
- Performance-based pricing models emerging
Emerging Opportunities
- Shoppable TV ads gaining traction
- AI-powered creative optimization
- Cross-platform attribution improving
- Addressable TV expanding reach
Conclusion
Television advertising in 2025 offers unprecedented flexibility and accessibility. Whether you're spending $5,000 on local spots or $5 million on a national campaign, success comes from understanding costs, choosing the right platforms, and creating compelling content.
For data-driven campaign optimization, Simulmedia's TV+ help large advertisers maximize ROI