MUMBAI: Television advertising in 2024 wasn’t just background noise—it was prime-time gold, stealing the spotlight from even the most dramatic soap operas. According to TAM AdEx - 2024 Television Advertising Recap, TV ad volumes surged 14 per cent compared to 2020, proving that the battle for consumer eyeballs is still raging.
Globally, television ad spending is expected to touch $177 billion, with India alone seeing a nine per cent rise in TV ad expenditures compared to 2023. The second quarter alone saw a six per cent growth over the first, while the fourth quarter took a six per cent dip—probably because people were too busy binge-watching holiday specials to pay attention to ads.
But who poured in the most cash? Which industries turned up the volume? And which brands refused to be skipped? Buckle up—this one's a wild ride through the world of TV ads.
Who was buying all that airtime?
If you turned on your TV in 2024, you were likely bombarded with ads from the food & beverages sector, which took a massive 21 per cent share of ad volumes, proving that snack cravings and screen time go hand in hand. Not far behind, personal care/personal hygiene lathered up with 16 per cent. The household products sector scrubbed in at 9 per cent, because apparently, nothing pairs better with your TV drama than a cleaner floor.
But who ruled the ad wars? Hindustan Unilever dominated with 16 per cent of all ad volumes, closely followed by Reckitt Benckiser (India), which boasted five out of the top ten most advertised brands. If you feel like every other commercial was selling you a soap or detergent, you weren’t wrong.
If you thought soap operas were dramatic, the real drama happened in the soap advertising department. Toilet Soaps dominated the charts yet again, refusing to be flushed away. Laundry detergents, toothpastes, and floor cleaners scrubbed into the top 10, proving that cleanliness is next to advertising greatness.
Quarterly showdowns
2024 was a tale of peaks and dips. The second quarter flexed its muscles, rising by six per cent over Q1, only for Q4 to slump by six per cent compared to Q3. Maybe by year’s end, consumers had perfected the art of muting commercials.
Despite the dips, 92 per cent of all TV ad volumes came from just five channel genres—dominated, unsurprisingly, by general entertainment channels (GECs) and news. If nothing else, advertisers know exactly where the eyeballs are.
Which brands stole the spotlight? The award for most persistent ad on TV goes to Harpic Power Plus 10x Advanced, which climbed over 60 spots to claim the top brand of the year. It was followed closely by Dettol Toilet Soaps, Dettol Antiseptic Liquid, and Jiocinema App. Because what’s better than watching ads? Watching ads about an app that shows more ads!
Surprisingly, digital brands also made a larger impact, with e-commerce and fintech stepping up their ad spends. The TV ad game isn’t just about FMCG anymore; the tech world wants a piece of your screen time too.
Co-branding went bonkers. Indian cinema blockbusters and brands continued their love affair in 2024, with Pushpa 2 leading the charge, accounting for 21 per cent of co-branded ads. The film with the most brands fighting for screen time? Fighter, which partnered with a record 13 brands—making sure even if the movie didn’t knock out box-office records, it definitely conquered ad slots.
Who surprised us?
While the usual suspects stayed strong, some underdogs made surprising leaps. Paints saw a 51 per cent increase in ad secondages, because who doesn’t love a fresh coat of paint before their favourite reality show? Travel and tourism ads doubled, surging by 100 per cent, as people started daydreaming about vacations rather than just watching them on TV. But the real showstopper? Beauty accessories/products grew a jaw-dropping 303 times, proving that looking good isn’t just for movie stars anymore.
And the exclusive advertisers? Over 4,010+ new advertisers joined the television ad game in 2024. Leading the pack was Velnik India, proving that fresh faces aren’t just for reality TV anymore. From fintech to online shopping platforms, new players saw TV as the ultimate stage to make their mark.
If you thought TV ads were taking a back seat, think again—because brands are still duking it out for your attention like it’s prime-time gladiator combat. As long as there are eyeballs to mesmerise and remotes to misplace, ad makers will be there, squeezing their pitches between your favourite shows. Industry experts predict that 2025 will bring even smarter AI-driven ad placements, hyper-personalised content, and interactive ads that might just talk back if you ignore them.
So, buckle up for more soaps (literally and figuratively), more snacks (because snack ads are never going away), and an avalanche of co-branded spectacles. If 2024 was a preview, 2025 is shaping up to be the full-length feature film of advertising dominance.