In the burgeoning era of Connected TV (CTV) advertising, a pressing question looms over content creators and linear TV broadcasters: How many intermediaries does it take to fill the advertising slots that fund our entertainment? The answer, unfortunately, is not as straightforward as one might hope.
A Fragmented Journey from Advertiser to Audience
The path an advertising dollar travels from the advertiser to the screen is a labyrinthine one, fraught with numerous stops along the way—each taking its toll. Demand-Side Platforms (DSPs), Ad Exchanges, and Supply-Side Platforms (SSPs) are the new gatekeepers in this digital domain, and they command a hefty price for their services. Reports suggest that up to half of all ad dollars are siphoned off by these intermediaries. This leaves content owners and linear TV broadcasters with a significantly diminished share of the pie—a share that is often too meager to sustain the traditional trading models they have long relied upon.
The Automated Ad Sales Conundrum
The allure of automated ad sales lies in its promise of efficiency and reach. However, this digitized promise comes at a cost. The number of hands an ad dollar passes through before reaching its destination is not just a matter of logistics; it’s a matter of diminishing returns. Each intermediary, armed with their own revenue-sharing agreements, compounds the erosion of the final payout to content providers. Unlike traditional TV ad sales, where the relationship between buyer and seller is more direct and the costs more contained, the automated CTV ad sales process is a tangle of commitments and clauses that often lack the guarantee of performance or the assurance that all inventory will be sold.
The Impact on Content and Broadcasting
What does this mean for the content we consume and the channels that provide it? For one, it places immense pressure on content owners and broadcasters to find alternative revenue streams or face the possibility of cutting corners in production to make ends meet. It also raises questions about the sustainability of quality content production in an environment where the financial rewards are increasingly unpredictable.
Looking Ahead: A Call for Transparency and Efficiency
The solution may not be simple, but it is clear that a call for greater transparency and efficiency in the CTV advertising ecosystem is necessary. Advertisers, content creators, and broadcasters alike would benefit from a streamlined process that minimizes the number of intermediaries and maximizes the revenue reaching those who actually produce the content we value. Only then can the industry hope to replicate the more straightforward and equitable financial models of traditional TV advertising.
Conclusion – The future of CTV Advertising
In conclusion, the CTV advertising landscape is in need of a paradigm shift—one that recognizes the value of content and the necessity of fair compensation for those who create it. As the industry evolves, so too must the mechanisms that fund it, ensuring that the future of television remains bright for all involved.
Kapang adX has developed a solution to provide an efficient solution to marry advertisers, audiences and content channels is the most effective eco-system. Check it out here – https://fastbroadcaster.com/kapang-adx/
Discover more from FAST Broadcaster
Subscribe to get the latest posts to your email.