Streaming & OTT

Streaming Surges Past Studios in Ad Spend Role Reversal

Theatrical advertising plummeted 66% from 2019 due to pandemic

streaming-surges-past-studios-CONTENT-2020 — As traditional movie studio advertising dries up on TV, streaming services are increasingly filling the void.iStock, Amazon, Hulu, Apple, Disney

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The ongoing closures of most movie theaters around the country aren’t just having an effect on theatrical release calendars. The lack of theaters is also upending television advertising, which saw movie studio ad spend—one of its most reliable categories—dry up.

Theatrical ad spend, normally a top staple for TV advertisers as studios promote their upcoming and current films, is down by two-thirds this year compared to 2019, according to data from the measurement and analytics firm iSpot.tv.