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Cost to Produce 30-Second TV Commercials: Insights from Commercial Production Companies

June 17, 2024
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When it is all said and done, television commercials remain a powerful tool for brands to capture the attention of their target audience. Studies have found that the outcomes that marketers seek – attention, connection and repetition – are better achieved when audiences watch long-form TV advertising on TV screens. The cost to produce 30-second TV commercials remain prohibitive for many advertisers, and for brands that are looking for commercial production that are reasonably priced, a lot of them are being priced out of the market.

$5,000: Cost to Produce 30-Second TV Commercials

As one of the commercial production companies Los Angeles committed to serving clients and helping them see a return on their investments, Sinematic is committed to helping marketers that are looking for reasonably cost to produce 30-second TV commercials. Our base price starts at $5,000. This price is fitting for clients that want commercials that are straightforward and elegant.

At this price our clients are able to get beautiful work that showcases their product or service. If you are a small business and are seeing your competitors showcasing their products on local TV and you feel threatened that they are stealing your customers, a TV commercial with beautiful motion graphics, royalty-free music and a well-produced voice over may be just what you need to quieten the competition. It will only set you back about $5,000, and will get traffic into your stores or get the phone ringing off the hook.

This pricing works best for companies that are looking for direct response TV commercials. As such, the campaign is very driven by a direct action that the viewer is supposed to do. For example, a popular call-to-action is “Call Now.” Not only are you able to turn viewers into immediate customers, but you may also be able to gauge the effectiveness of the TV commercial and your return on investment.

If you are looking for cost-effective TV commercial production, email us at production@sinematic.tv to start a discussion.

Are Creative Services Included in Your $5,000 Cost to Produce the 30-Second TV Commercial?

Yes. If you are a small business that is looking for an elegant, well-produced TV commercial that includes motion graphics, royalty-free music and voice over, we will provide you with creative services for the TV commercial. We will write the script, and work with you to make corrections to make sure that the script connects with your audience.

Further, we will be able to make edits and optimize the TV commercial for social media, so you can run your campaign on both TV and social, making sure that your audience sees your campaigns on both screens, and you start building brand memorability.

$10,000: Next Tier of Cost to Produce 30-Second TV Commercials

As a marketer, you may want more than motion graphics, and may want to feature your employees, or perhaps a local influencer etc. Our crew will come to your offices and film in your location. You will be able to create a beautiful 30-second TV commercial. Combining the footage from your location with motion graphics, royalty-free music and professional voice over, we will create a TV commercial that blows your competition out of the water.

At this pricing, you will also want to have a direct response TV commercial approach to your campaign. Have a very clear, strong call-to-action that is measurable, for example, a phone number that viewers can call, or a URL for viewers to visit.

At this tier, we will also provide you with script-writing services. Our crew will include our cinematographer and a lighting technician. We will discuss with you how to prepare your team for their appearance on the TV commercial, including wardrobe, hair, make-up etc.

$15,000+: Third Tier of Cost to Produce 30-Second TV Commercials

For brand advertisers that partner with commercial production companies Los Angeles to elevate their brand marketing efforts, the $15,000+ tier offers expansive possibilities. These commercials go beyond direct response strategies, focusing instead on creating a lasting brand impression. Clients at this tier often opt for multi-location shoots, expansive casts, and the use of popular music to enhance the commercial’s impact. By investing in higher production values, including sophisticated cinematography and elaborate set designs, you and your brand can craft narratives that resonate deeply with their target audience. Additionally, this tier allows for more intricate post-production processes, such as advanced editing techniques and CGI effects, ensuring that your final TV commercial not only captures attention but also reinforces brand identity and values.

What factors influence the cost to produce a 30-second TV commercial?

Production Quality
Higher, broadcast quality TV commercials will demand special cameras, lenses, lighting rigs etc. The cost of this high-end gear will factor into the pricing of your TV commercial.

Complexity
TV commercials with plenty of actors, celebrities, special effects will have a slightly higher cost. For example, the same commercial that cost only a few thousand dollars to create will likely quadruple if a major Hollywood celebrity is involved. How can you keep the costs to produce a 30-second TV commercial low ? Try to see if you are able to get the same results with fewer actors, fewer location set ups, and no special effects. Cutting down on locations will go a long way in keeping your budget low, same with keeping your actors to one or two, max.

Length
Longer commercials take more time to film and edit, and that will affect the cost to produce your TV commercials. Whilst many commercials are in the 30-seconds ranges, there are campaigns in which the commercials are 60, 90 and 120 seconds long. As such, instead of filming for one day, we may need to film for 3 or four days.

Music and Licensing
We always advise clients that are cost conscious to use royalty-free music. Music licensing can be quite costly. Many years ago a client with high-end properties in the Caribbean contacted us for a campaign. The client insisted that they wanted to license Peter Andre’s “Mysterious Girl” for the campaign. The island feel of the song was the perfect accompaniment to the tropical theme of the campaign, and we all agreed that the song would make for a lovely touch. However, we were concerned about the potential cost of the license, and we advised the client to have a back-up plan just in case the fees came up too high. We did receive the quote for music license, and it turned out to be 4x the cost of the TV commercial production!

Optimizing Costs with TV Commercial Production Companies Los Angeles

In a competitive market like Los Angeles, companies that are out to produce TV commercials need to carefully consider how to get the best quality for their dollar. Working with reputable TV commercial production companies Los Angeles offers several advantages, namely :

Access to Talent and Resources:
It is no secret that Los Angeles is home to a vast talent pool, including actors, directors, and creative professionals. Indeed, it is the filmmaking capital of the world. Commercial production companies in Los Angeles with established networks can leverage these resources to create compelling commercials that resonate with your target audience.

Efficiency and Expertise:
Experienced production companies streamline the production process, maximizing efficiency and minimizing costs. We have a deep understanding of industry trends, technical requirements, and best practices, ensuring the project stays on track and within your budget.

Conclusion

Producing a 30-second TV commercial is a multifaceted endeavor that requires careful planning, creativity, and financial investment. From concept development to post-production, every stage demands resources and expertise to deliver a commercial that resonates with the audience and achieves the brand’s objectives. While costs can vary depending on factors such as location and talent involved, partnering with TV commercial production companies in LA offer brands access to top-tier talent, creative excellence, and industry-leading expertise. By investing in high-quality production, brands can create commercials that stand out in a crowded marketplace and drive meaningful engagement with their target audience.

Email us at production@sinematic.tv to start a discussion about the costs of your upcoming TV commercial project, we’d be more than glad to help.