In a column for the 2026 State of the Majors issue, Golan spells out how the growing economic divide in the U.S. is reshaping the market.
Study: TV ads still effective amid digital media
Consulting company MarketShare has found that advertising on television “is still the ‘best giant megaphone’ to convey a message to a large audience of consumers.”

New York--Advertising on television consistently is more effective at impacting sales and new accounts than paid search, print or online ads, according to a recent study by consulting company MarketShare.
The company said its finding show that television “provides a direct and meaningful sales lift,” because it increases awareness and consideration and increases the effectiveness of other marketing vehicles further down the purchase funnel, meaning TV should be a relevant part of a marketing campaign that includes both online and traditional advertising mediums.
The study, “Evaluating TV Effectiveness in a Changed Media Landscape,” identified four major findings that show television advertising is the most effective and efficient way to reach consumers. They are as follows.
1. TV has the highest relative efficiency in achieving key performance indictors (KPIs) at similar spending levels when compared to other media outlets, including print, radio and online ads, both display and social.
This is true across a range of industries, including automotive, financial services, consumer packaged goods and retail, and comes despite the explosion of digital media in the past five years, MarketShare said.
“TV is a major driver of indirect outcomes such as inbound calls, organic search query volumes and website visits, which, in turn, lead to direct outcomes, such as purchases or other significant conversions,” the study states.
2. In spite of changes in consumer habits over the past few years, TV’s effectiveness at driving advertiser KPIs has not diminished.
The study found that, for all media analyzed, there was an 11.5 percent decline when comparing 2009-2011 media effectiveness to 2012-2014, “likely due to the splintering of media channels brought about by the new digital landscape.”
However, TV was the only medium that retained its relative effectiveness when compared to other channels over that time period. TV’s effectiveness dropped only 2 percent while online media’s effectiveness was down about 10 percent and offline media’s effectiveness (sans TV) declined nearly 23 percent (graph shown in gallery.)
“The value of many digital channels has been eroded by such factors as ad-blocking, click fraud and visibility issues,” MarketShare states.
Still, TV spend allocations are not a one-size-fits-all.
“Specific spending recommendations will vary by advertiser, depending, in part, on where a marketer’s media spend lies on the outcomes response curves for each advertising medium, and the interaction effects between media channels.”
3. Marketers can use advanced analytic techniques to optimize TV spend more effectively.
“Because TV advertising drives measurable actions such as inbound calls and online searches, TV advertisers can leverage these interactions as key data points to evaluate TV effectiveness,” the study states. “While online and mobile popularity have grown tremendously, TV is still the ‘best giant megaphone’ to convey a message to a large audience of consumers.”
4. Premium online video from broadcast and cable TV networks is disrupting the digital media mix.
Despite lower impression volumes, premium video content is clearly more effective than user-generated and short-form content, the study states.
“Leading media sellers … seem increasingly aware of the value of high-quality content (and of the fact that brands will always follow the audience.) For instance, in 2014, YouTube launched Google Preferred, which allows advertisers to buy ad space next to only high-quality, professionally produced content, such as The New York Times or Vice Media.”
For the study, New York-based MarketShare evaluated data from thousands of marketing optimization models across a range of industries including financial services, telecommunications, hospitality, consumer packaged goods and retail. It also examined decades of research and applied marketing science, as well as MarketShare Benchmark, the company’s planning and allocation software application.
The Latest

The “Limitless Expansion of Joy and Hope” collection evokes summer through colored gemstones and motifs of butterflies and florals.

The jewel, circa 1890, is from the late Victorian era and was owned by descendants of the last high king of Ireland.

With the trade and customer trust in mind, GIA® developed NextGem™ – on-demand training designed specifically for retail.

This is what the nine recipients plan to do with the funds.


The Western star’s 14-karat gold signet ring sold for six times its low estimate following a bidding war at U.K. auction house Elmwood’s.

The discussion, "Rebuilding the Jewelry Workforce," will take place on Saturday, May 16, in Troy, Michigan.

Gain access to the most exclusive and coveted antique pieces from trusted dealers during Las Vegas Jewelry Week.

The jewelry industry is reassessing its positioning as Gen Z reshapes the retail landscape and lab grown continues to gain market share.

A matching pair of 18.38-carat, D-color diamonds from Botswana’s Jwaneng mine sold for $3.3 million, the top lot of the jewelry auction.

Sponsored by A Diamond Is Forever

The next generation of lapidarists are entrepreneurial, engaged online, and see the craft as a means for artistic expression.

It was the second auction appearance for the fancy vivid blue-green diamond, which sold for $7.8 million at Christie’s Geneva 12 years ago.

Members of the U.S. Marshals Task Force took a 22-year-old man into custody. He was charged with tampering with evidence.

While the overall number of crimes was down, there were more incidences in which robbers pulled out guns, mace, or rammed cars into stores.

Jack Sutton Fine Jewelry is closing its store inside the downtown shopping center after 40 years in business.

Reena Ahluwalia’s painting of the rare red diamond is the first contemporary painting to join the National Gem Collection.

The price of gold has risen, affecting the number of pieces designers make, the materials they use, and how they position themselves.

Peter Smith gives tips on leading meetings, developing marketing, and making trade show appointments in the age of short attention spans.

The 11-piece “Medallions” capsule collection features five motifs: a crying eye, a heart on fire, a spiral, a flower, and a swallow.

From Gen Z’s view of luxury to “doom spending,” these are the six consumer trends to note this year.

The partners have announced the second cycle of the program, which has expanded to include a $25,000 student scholarship.

The owners of Staats Jewelers are heading into retirement.

Jeffrey Gennette, who retired in 2024 after 41 years with Macy’s, is the newest member of the jewelry retailer’s board of directors.

May babies are lucky to have emeralds, a gemstone admired for centuries, as their birthstone, writes Amanda Gizzi.

The new module allows retailers to plan, promote, and measure the success of events from a single dashboard.

NDC said in an open letter that Pandora’s statements about the carbon footprint of lab grown versus natural diamonds are inaccurate.
























