Isabella Simonetti, a Wall Street Journal reporter, joins Matt to discuss the impact of older TV viewers on advertising. They explore the shift in ad pitches, age gaps between TV consumption, acceptance of older casts, and the potential decline of linear TV. Matt ends with a prediction on the distribution of 'The Apprentice' and its connection to Donald Trump's career.
Advertisers target all age groups, shifting focus from traditional to older TV audiences.
TV executives prioritize reaching diverse buyers, influencing content decisions for older viewers on linear and streaming platforms.
Deep dives
Shift in TV Viewership Demographics
Linear TV viewers are getting older, with networks like TNT and HGTV having median viewer ages of 56 and 66 respectively, indicating an aging audience. Cable news networks also face this trend, with median viewer ages hitting 69, impacting ad target demographics. Advertisers now focus on reaching potential buyers regardless of age, prompting a shift in TV programming catering to older audiences.
Challenges and Business Implications
TV executives at upfronts emphasize overall reach over age demographics, altering ad pitches. The shift towards reaching specific buyers impacts programming, leading to content decisions focusing on older viewers. Challenges arise in capturing diverse demographics across traditional and streaming platforms, prompting a reevaluation of ad strategies.
Media Consumption Trends and Future Outlook
As linear TV viewers age, media companies must adapt to a changing landscape. Younger audiences are vital to advertisers, but as traditional TV declines, streaming gains prominence. The future of linear TV faces uncertainty as demographics shift, posing questions on its long-term viability and relevance.
Matt is joined by Wall Street Journal reporter Isabella Simonetti to discuss an article she wrote that focuses on the older ages of television viewers and how it has affected advertisers (03:35). They go through how the pitches to ad buyers have shifted, the age gap between people who consume traditional linear TV and streaming, whether age demographics are still used, the growing acceptance of older casts on TV, and whether linear TV is beginning to age out. Matt finishes the show with a prediction about the distribution of 'The Apprentice,' which highlights Donald Trump’s rise during his business career (19:50).
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