Setting your budget for a Local TV campaign works differently than other advertising channels. Here's what you need to know to set up your campaign budget.
Total Campaign Budget
Unlike streaming campaigns, where you can set daily budgets, Local TV campaigns require an overall budget for the entire campaign duration. This is because Local TV doesn't distribute spending evenly from day to day. Instead, your budget is allocated based on inventory availability and rates, which can vary significantly from day to day.
Payment Timeline
Your budget is charged after creative review approval (2-3 business days after submission), not immediately upon campaign creation.
Note: To get more info read the article about Skybeam's Billing Process
Minimum Budget Requirements
Local TV campaigns have different minimum budgets based on how long they run:
Campaign Length | Minimum Budget |
7-20 days | $5,000 flat rate |
21+ days | $5,000 + $250 for each additional day |
Example: 30-day campaign = $5,000 + ($250 × 10 days) = $7,500
How Budget Determines Your Market Reach
Your campaign budget doesn't just set your spend — it also determines how many TV markets (DMAs) you can select. To ensure your ads run at a meaningful frequency in every market you choose, Skybeam recommends a minimum of $800 per DMA per week.
This protects your campaign: spreading a small budget across too many markets results in only one or two spots per market per week — not enough to make a meaningful impression on viewers.
Recommended for meaningful presence: $800 per DMA per week. This isn't a hard cap — it's a guideline designed to make sure your campaign actually delivers in every market you select.
How Many Markets Can You Select?
The platform calculates your available market count automatically based on your budget and campaign length:
Max markets = Total Budget ÷ ($800 × number of weeks)
But we included a calculator on the platform which helps to determine what budget you need to cover all the market.
Your available market count updates in real time as you adjust your budget and campaign dates during setup.
Campaign Duration
Minimum: 7 days
Maximum: 90 days (3 months)
Your minimum budget automatically adjusts based on campaign length:
When selecting your campaign dates, a pop-up will display the message: 'For the selected campaign duration, the minimum budget will be $X.
Local TV vs. Streaming TV Budget Comparison
Feature | Local TV | Streaming TV |
Minimum spend | $5,000 lifetime | $50/day or $150 lifetime |
Budget type | Total campaign budget | Daily or lifetime options |
When charged | After creative review (2-3 days) | Upon submission |
Overspend risk | None - fixed budget | None - capped at set amount |
Key Points to Remember
✓ No overspending: Your set budget is your maximum spend
✓ Market-wide reach: Budget covers entire TV markets rather than specific zip codes or demographics.
✓ Creative review required: Allow 2-3 business days before campaign launch