Discover if TV ads are still relevant in 2025, how digital is changing ad spend, and why a hybrid marketing approach wins.

Remember how we used to gather together and watch TV? There used to be ads for “Chocofun”,”Tokla Chiya” and , jingles like “Hamro Mannma WaiWai” these are still in our brain.

The Shift to Digital Platforms

But coming back to the present, we all are busy on desktops, iPads, and mobile phones and no longer gather to watch TVs. Does this make TV ads outdated and irrelevant?

Viewers now have many options like Netflix, YouTube, TikTok, and other OTT platforms, which no longer make television the only thing to be gathered for. And the production cost of TVCs is higher than digital ads, which makes agencies and brands choose digital campaigns over TVC ads any day in 2025.
Gen Z and millennials no longer feel the need to have a TV in their house, as they spend most of their time scrolling social media. Digital platforms provide entertainment, education, information, and everything in between, which makes people increasingly choose digital over traditional TVCs.

Data Supporting Digital Dominance

• Digital advertising is projected to account for 73% of global ad spend in 2025, rising to 77% by 2029 (Investors.com).
• In Nepal, digital video ad spend is expected to reach US$16.5 million in 2025, showing steady growth (Statista.com).

Why TVCs Are Still Relevant

But does this mean there is no more relevancy of TVCs? Not really. Despite digital dominance, TVCs still carry more credibility, deliver trust, reach a mass audience, and leave an emotional impact that social media often cannot replicate.

Let’s think about it how much fun is it to watch the World Cup on TV, or watch Nepal Idol on TV? It reminds you of fun times with family and friends. A single ad on TV can reach millions of audience at once, something even the most targeted digital campaign struggles to achieve.

TV Data Highlights

• Traditional TV advertising still accounts for about 22% of global ad spend in 2025, while connected TV (CTV) grows at 18.4% (Dentsu.com).
• In Nepal, traditional TV ad spend is projected at US$27.13 million in 2025, compared to US$16.52 million for digital video ads (Statista.com).

And when it comes to brand recall, those catchy jingles we still remember are proof that TVCs leave a lasting impression.

The Smart Approach : Hybrid Marketing

So what should a brand do—TV-based or digital-based marketing? If you want to be a smart brand, you should be doing both side by side. Let your brand be recognized through TV while simultaneously running digital ads to engage and convert the audience.

For a brand, it’s not about TV or digital; it’s about meeting the objective and serving the purpose. Because whether it’s a jingle from the ’90s or a viral reel from last night, the real goal is the same: to stay in people’s minds and their hearts.