Experiences refined for people
Media consumption is fragmented. Viewers enjoy content on their own terms across traditional cable, streaming platforms, and devices.
How can advertisers connect with customers who consume content on so many devices and platforms?
Start with addressable television audiences. Addressable TV advertising customizes ads for different households watching the same linear TV program. Meanwhile, addressable CTV goes a step further by targeting all streaming devices in a household with personalized ads.
Read more about addressable TV, how it works, and how it compares to addressable CTV.
Addressable TV delivers varying ads to different target groups of viewers watching the same linear TV program. Targeting is based on factors like age, interests, or habits.
Although addressable TV has existed since 2012, the recent boom in streaming services and widespread popularity of Connected TV (CTV) have transformed it into another form: addressable CTV.
Addressable TV is a form of linear TV with significantly improved targeting capabilities.
In traditional linear TV advertising, ads are broadcast to a broad audience without the ability to target specific demographics or individuals.
Addressable allows advertisers to deliver ads to specific households or audience segments based on various data points such as demographics, interests, purchase behavior, and viewing habits.
Addressable TV and CTV (Connected TV)/OTT use different platforms and technologies to help companies show their ads to the right people.
Addressable TV delivers TV ads only through cable connections and targets specific households based on basic data like set-top box information and household demographics.
Addressable CTV/OTT advertising extends beyond traditional TV devices to include the full spectrum of cross-device reach, encompassing mobile phones and tablets.
Utilizing a diverse dataset—including location, demographics, and online behavior—CTV/OTT targets ads to individuals or households across multiple devices. With OTT, you can target specific shows, like an HGTV episode, to help reach more relevant viewers.
Addressable TV advertising integrates data analytics, sophisticated software, and digital technology into linear TV broadcasting systems.
Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of how it typically works:
Addressable increases the ads’ relevance and helps reduce advertising costs by targeting only those most likely to be interested in the advertised product or service.
Advertisers can purchase addressable TV advertising directly from TV networks, through media buying agencies, programmatic platforms, or by engaging with addressable TV providers.
Addressable TV advertising campaigns improve the viewer experience, marking a significant shift from traditional advertising methods like linear TV.
Addressable TV advertising’s precision targeting capabilities enable advertisers to deliver specific messages directly to the intended audience segment.
Ads are seen and resonate with viewers, leading to higher engagement rates, improved brand recall, and ultimately, a stronger impact on consumer behavior.
Addressable TV Examples:
☑️ During election seasons, political campaigns often use Addressable TV to target specific voter demographics with tailored messages, maximizing their impact.
🏢 Small businesses can focus on reaching local customers within their vicinity, reducing ad wasted ad spend and improving ROI.
Addressable ad spending (including for addressable CTV) continues to grow in the US, potentially reaching $29.29 billion as strategies shift towards more personalized and data-driven approaches.
80% of advertisers expressed satisfaction with the outcomes of their addressable initiatives. Furthermore, 83% of advertisers say that buying addressable ads has increased their ability to meet campaign objectives.
Such a strong endorsement is a testament to addressable TV’s capability to meet and exceed advertiser expectations.
Addressable advertising enhances campaign performance across various sales funnel stages.
The ability to measure and adjust campaigns in real-time based on viewer responses means campaigns are constantly optimized for performance.
How does addressable TV enhance linear campaign effectiveness?
“TV Addressable advertising continues to build momentum as we evolve towards an impression-based, converged TV landscape. Addressability has helped make television advertising effective at every sales funnel stage.”
Along with the great benefits of addressable TV advertising, CTV (Connected TV) offers additional benefits.
Streaming services continue to surge, leading to a significant increase in CTV viewership.
💡 In 2019, 24.6 million households had cut the cord, projected to hit 46.6 million in 2024.
Addressable CTV advertising, however, enables micro-targeting, allowing advertisers to reach highly specific audience segments for increased engagement.
This broader perspective helps improve targeting effectiveness across various platforms and channels.
An example of an audience persona we built to increase targeting effectiveness.
KORTX Intelligence analyzes thousands of user attributes from diverse sources, including your own First-Party data, to create detailed audience profiles & boost targeting capabilities.
With addressable CTV ads, advertisers can reach consumers across multiple devices within a household, including smart TVs, streaming devices, mobile phones, and tablets.
Cross-device targeting allows marketers to reach users wherever they are, increasing the likelihood of engagement and conversions.
💡 Device Graphs, like KORTX’s, anonymously link individual devices to a single user. This provides a comprehensive view of the devices in a household.
Addressable CTV allows advertisers to track the performance of their campaigns in real-time. Metrics such as impressions, viewability, completion rates, and conversion tracking enable advertisers to optimize their campaigns for maximum ROI and overall success.
💡 Consolidating data into one dashboard, like KORTX’s Kampus, streamlines campaign analysis and decision-making processes in Addressable CTV advertising.
CTV platforms support interactive CTV ad formats, allowing advertisers to deliver viewers engaging and immersive ad experiences.
Interactive overlays, shoppable ads, and personalized content enhance viewer engagement and drive action, leading to higher ad recall and conversion rates.
💡 In the last year, interactive CTV campaigns drove a 5.42% engagement rate, compared to a rate of 0.97% for mobile and PC.
An example of an interactive CTV ad. eCommerce brands could use shoppable Picture-in-Picture (PiP) ads to drive users to their website through a simple QR code phone scan.
How does addressable TV differ from addressable CTV?
“The key difference lies in the technology and data capabilities: Addressable TV is bound by the constraints of linear broadcast infrastructure, while addressable CTV thrives on the flexibility and advanced targeting possibilities offered by digital streaming platforms.”
The choice between Addressable TV and CTV depends on your campaign objectives and target audience.
Addressable TV excels in precision targeting within traditional broadcasting, while CTV offers the versatility of internet-driven, interactive advertising. Consider your goals and the nature of your audience to determine which platform aligns best with your strategy.
Drew Pytel is a Senior Account Strategist at KORTX. He enjoys golf, bourbon, and being active with his wife and 3 kids.
Here’s what we've been up to recently.
From us to your inbox weekly.
