tv advertising. online.

I’ll admit it. I don’t have cable television. To be perfectly honest, I don’t have time for TV and….I’m cheap. However, I do like to keep up with some fav TV shows online. On abc.com each online episode is sponsored by a product or company. For example, HP Touchsmart often appears, as does Comfort Inn and Target.

Throughout the episode, using what ABC refers to as “limited commercial interruption,” the same ad, or variation of that ad, will run. It is typically limited to 30-seconds before you can elect to continue with the program.

I find as I watch these programs, I remember these ads more so than traditional television advertising.

1 – No Distractions. I’ve set aside the time to be at my computer watching the show. I’m in a seperate area of the house with no distractions.  I’m not jumping up every few minutes during a commercial break to put clothes in the dryer, or unload the dishwasher. I’m devoted to the show AND the commercials.

2- Repitition. I see the same ad in its entirity at least four or five times. Seasonal proof of this is the 12 Days of Christmas. It was recently brought to my attention that although we remember the first several items in the song, we don’t recall as quickly days 9-12. Repitition has proven successful time and again.

Online ad spending was expected to grow fiercely in 2009, prior to the recession. The Wall Street Journal reported, “…research firm eMarketer predicted that online video-ad spending by U.S. advertisers would grow 45% to $850 million in 2009.”

Do you think online program advertising is effective? More so than traditional TV program advertising?