Understand What Television Commercials Really Are

Television Commercials Defined:

Television commercials are fundamental advertisements that are broadcasted through the television. Television commercials are a span of programming paid for and produced by an organization that conveys a message concerning a product or service. Revenue obtained through the release of television commercials provide a significant portion of funding for the majority of privately owned television networks.

In general, the vast majority of television commercials or advertisements consist of brief spots, typically ranging in length from a few seconds to several minutes—longer television commercials, known as infomercials will typically last between 30 minutes to one hour. Television commercials that assume this length are used to promote a wide variety of products or services that are typically marketed to individual consumers.

Television commercials are used to spark interest in a product or service; without advertisement, the majority of companies, products and services would not maximize their ability to reach mass markets. To globalize a product or to demonstrate a strong market presence, companies will pay for advertising space to effectively reveal their products or services to the general public.

Television commercials are regulated by the FCC; television commercials cannot market illegal products, use foul language, or solicit violence in any fashion. Additionally, subliminal messaging or misleading an audience about the characteristics of the underlying product is also deemed illegal. As a result of these restrictions, all television commercials must maintain the integral aspects of advertising in general.

Characteristics Associated with Television Commercials:

The majority of television commercials, to persuade consumers, will incorporate catchy jingles or catch-phrases to generate a sustained idea. Television commercials may also pawn gags that appear in periodicals, television shows, comics, literature, films, or any other forms of media. The goal of all television commercials is to leave a lasting image on a consumer base; television commercials will attempt to achieve this feat by using rhetoric or visuals that “stick” in a consumers mind.

To persuade consumers to purchase or research a particular good or service, television commercials will often use humor as a tool to carry their initiative. Television commercials are typically instituted and created by advertising agencies; these companies will develop television commercials based on the underlying product and the manufacturer who produces the product. To capture the minds of a viewing audience, advertising agencies will often incorporate animated skits or colorful pictures to market a particular product or service.

Television commercials are created in alignment with the underlying product and the mechanisms or characteristics of the particular television commercials are derived off the intended demographic. For instance, if a company is marketing a basketball shoe, the advertising agency in charge of creating the television commercial will incorporate a genre that is appropriate for a younger or basketball-drive demographic. The alignment of characteristics in-tune with a particular demographic is crucial when an advertising agency creates a television commercial.

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