History of TV Adverts
The very first television ad to be aired was on July 1, 1941 during a baseball game on a New York channel. The adert lasted 10-seconds and advertised a watch brand named Bulova and the advert only cost $4. The advert was very successful and this was where the television advertising revolution began as many other businesses saw the opportunity to advertise in front of a wide audience. Businesses like Gimbel’s Department Store, Pan American World Airways, Firestone Tire, and Botany Worsted Mills advertised on television shortly afterwards after seeing the successful method of TV advertisement. By 1948, many additional advertisers were using television spots to reach the large audience that owned television sets. Television became so popular at this time that movie studios all over the world feared that TV would replace and takeover all other media.
During the 1950's more advertising methods became available for businesses to use. There were opportunities such as sponsoring TV shows and programmes. Some of the first businesses to do this were Colgate, Kraft foods and General Electric. In the 1960's TV adverts then were allocated air time of 1-2 mites during breaks as this was much more cost effective for the companies that were able to reach out to many people. In the 70's, TV adverts were not allowed to show cigarettes and the were not allowed to be advertised at all, they became completely banned form being broadcasted on TV. In order to bring more money in, companies then tried to advertise alcohol. In the 1980's adverts began to target a whole new market, children. they presented new toys during children's cartoon programmes such as G.I. Joe and My Little Pony. In the 1990's the typical hour long programme contain almost 20 minutes of advertising time, the development of TiVo caused controversy because of its commercial-skipping feature, and advertisers began to compete for viewers' attention by using famous actors and characters to star in commercials.
Advertising continues to grow and change. The arrival of television on the internet has allowed networks to continue their advertising online. Even though commercials have become shorter and more expensive, they have also become more interesting.
