"AC Ads Surge on Free-to-Air TV Stations Amid Abe Shock"
Following Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's shock resignation last month, free-to-air television stations have seen a surge in "AC ads" - advertisements aired during prime time programming - as companies take advantage of increased viewership and lower costs associated with airing commercials during this period.
Jan. 07, 2023 9:46AM
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A still image from a Japanese television commercial featuring two people laughing together while eating snacks at home.
It's been a tumultuous few weeks for Japan's free-to-air television stations, as they grapple with the fallout of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's shock resignation. The latest development is a surge in "AC ads", or advertisements that air during prime time programming. The number of AC ads airing on each station has risen significantly since Abe stepped down, with some networks seeing an increase of up to 50%. It appears that advertisers are taking advantage of the increased viewership and lower costs associated with airing commercials during prime time. However, there is also speculation that the surge in AC ads could be due to an increase in self-censorship by advertisers. After Abe's resignation, many companies pulled their ads from certain programs due to concerns about public backlash or being seen as insensitive. This led to a drop in ad revenue for those programs, which may have caused some companies to shift their focus towards more general AC advertising instead. Whatever the reason behind the sudden rise in AC ads, it seems clear that it will continue until the political situation stabilizes and advertisers feel more comfortable returning to their original advertising strategies. Until then, viewers can expect to see more commercials than usual during prime time programming on free-to-air TV stations across Japan.