Nintendo's television advertising spend in the United States this year is estimated to be around $46 million. This is less than half the amount spent on PlayStation and Xbox ads and it has still managed to generate a total of 3.07 billion impressions. According to VentureBeat and its partner iSpot.tv (a real-time television ad measurement company), it illustrates how spend and impressions "don't always" go hand-in-hand.
In comparison, PlayStation was the top-spending brand year-over-year, forking out an estimated amount of $108.5 million on television advertising, even though it decreased its budget by nearly half (-45.51%). Xbox's spend was around $100 million, putting it in second place, but it won in terms of ad impressions – with over 4.8 billion (an increase of 186.73%).
All up, the video game industry spent an estimated $319.6 million on television advertising in 2019, which is a decrease of 14.68% compared to 2018 and has resulted in a fall in ad airings (-27.84%) and impressions (-16.10%). Most of the money was spent on sports programming, although Nintendo spent about $7.08 million on advertising during SpongeBob SquarePants.
[source venturebeat.com]
Comments 29
Imagine buying a videogame console because you saw an ad on TV.
Most people stream or watch YouTube instead of actually watching TV, so the drop makes sense.
@Kevember It's probably easier to imagine buying one because your kid saw an ad on TV.
Well actually the launch commercial of the switch is what got my curiosity for the console.
Tbh, I’ve seen way more Xbox adverts than anything since they’re on normal channels the most. Nintendo I’ve seen the most on kids channels and Playstation I rarely see.
I wanted the system before it even was officially called the Switch, but seeing the thing in action when I was in a computer class made me want it even more. Great system, but lots of problems. Joycon disconnection can be solved by making it so the game doesn't stop, and if 1 is still attached, the other one can be detected, just with a warning in the corner that says "The right (or left) JoyCon has been disconnected. It is no longer charging." A software update can fix one of the ultimate problems with the Switch... At least for me. I am one that isn't dealing with drift, but something much worse. It keeps pausing my game, ruining a lot of the fun for me. I can't afford to get new ones.
So what the hell are impressions? I doubt it's people doing Yoda.
@Bermanator It sounds like you have the same problem as me. My right Joy-con kept disconnecting and from looking online and finding others with the same issue, it seems to be caused by one or both of the tiny plastic tabs on the Joy-con rail that helps lock it in place, breaking off.
I came up with my own solution and while not perfect, it definitely helps. I cut 3 small strips of tape and put them inside the rail of the console ,so that the Joy-con had less chance of moving while I played and it's made a big difference. It does still disconnect from time to time, but it's made my Switch enjoyable again in handheld mode. Before, it was happening far too frequently that I gave up playing it in handheld. The Joy-con takes a little extra force to slide off because of the tape but it's a minor inconvenience.
Here is a pic of mine, it's been over a year since I put the tape on, so it's worn down. It was a first attempt too and a bit messy,perhaps with slightly thicker tape and a better job, it would even eliminate those rare disconnects I still get.
Give it a go, I'm sure it'll help improve things for you.
If my anecdotal evidence is anything to go by, the US sales figure for the switch this “holiday season! Is going to be huge! I have a feeling it’s hit that mainstream tipping point. Even my non gamer pals are getting it as a family toy / gadget.
@Kevember Thats how I discovered the GBC.
People are still watching tv, specially parents. Nintendo should spend more.
To sell something you have to show it in action. And that cost money regardless. That's called Future investments.
How wonderful it would have been to skip all the ads and just pass the savings on to consumers instead. If the switch had been $199 instead of $299 it would have sold even better and word of mouth would have taken care of the rest. Before you attack me, note that I am a retired marketing executive for a gigantic corporation.
For the UK I'd guess Nintendo spent the most, I've seen so many Pokemon Sword/Shield ads.
70% of all SpongeBob viewers are over the age of 30, so not surprising that Nintendo focused a lot on that show. They can reach a very wide audience, especially parents who might want one for themselves or their kids.
They’re doing something right as the OG switch has totally sold out in the U.K! Only the lite is in stock...
Only see playstation ads when champions league is on.
@OorWullie nice improvisation. My left JC disconnects occasionally when in grip and I find moving my docked switch away from TV helps. However for the dreaded drift I have no remedy. It’s only happened a few times to me so far and I can see how annoying it must be when persistent.
@nessisonett does the Xbox sell well. I know it does literally nothing in japan.
@Kevember imagine buying anything because you saw an ad on TV
Just goes to show the power of getting your product out there, the Wii U was very badly advertised imho, in fact I very rarely saw a Nintendo advert that was not 3DS related as my daughter watched T.V, the Switch has had masses of exposure and the results are plain to see.
@Kiyata ...Which corporation? 😁
Unsurprising numbers. Sony is buying its success since the PS1.
@SetupDisk This oughta explain things:
Hope that helps.
@Kiyata Well, to be fair to all companies, there's simply no sales without marketing aka ads, so that's kind of a utopian view, to be honest. I'm a sales & marketing professional myself, and still active.
On a side note: the Switch would and could never have been that cheap, looking at what it originated from (the Nvidia Shield) and what they added, so that too is not really an option.
I'll grant that it could have been a little cheaper, but not a full hundred bucks, otherwise they'd never get their ROI out of it. And with "they",
I mean both Nvidia AND Nintendo.
really because l hardly saw any advertising on tv
it worked games are selling really well, maybe not all Astral Chain, Daemon X Machina barley sold but the major key games sold a lot
I am just glad Nintendo started of strong with Switch advertising when it launched in 2017. The Wii U barely had any advertising. Astral Chain has sold pretty well and Daemon X Machina was crushed under the high expectations of many people. Let's just say no one played Armored Core for the story...
It is quite interesting for me to read about the money spent on ads from Nintendo. I see that the company had 10 spots, which aired on national TV for a total of 1,054 times and generated around 2.3 billion impressions resulting in an average national TV ad spend of $23,000 per day. This is the money which is spent by gaming company and there are some others who look loan for funeral but due to hectic process they are unable to get it. Now it has become easy to get such loans with simple steps.
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