Your Local TV campaign is running - now it's time to see how it's performing. Local TV reporting works differently than the real-time metrics you might be used to with streaming advertising. Your campaign data becomes available in stages, not all at once. Understanding this timeline will help you know what to expect and when to access your campaign data.

Your Data Arrives in Two Stages

Stage 1: Preliminary Data

When you'll see it: Within 48 hours after your ads begin airing.

Preliminary data gives you early insights into your campaign while it's airing. This includes estimated impressions and reach, planned channel distribution, targeted programs, genre breakdowns, and much more. While this data isn't final, as scheduled spots can be preempted or rescheduled due to programming changes, breaking news, or other factors, it offers valuable benefits. You can review your campaign setup and monitor expected performance before final results are available.

Think of it as: An initial view into your campaign’s delivery, not finalized, but helpful for early insights.

Stage 2: Finalized Data

Finalized data becomes available approximately 7 days after your ads air. It serves as the source of truth for campaign performance, confirming exactly when each spot ran, on which networks and programs, and providing verified impression counts, CPMs, and other key metrics.

Behind the Scenes: Your Campaign's Journey

Here's what actually happens from purchase to reporting:

Before Your Ads Air:

1. Your spots are booked — The TV inventory is purchased and scheduled for specific time slots and shows
2. Networks create the schedule — Plans are created showing when each commercial will air

When Your Campaign Begins:

1. Automated monitoring kicks in — Independent systems track and log your ad impressions in real time, forming your preliminary data.
2. Networks log everything — Stations create their own official records of what aired

After Your Ads Air:

1. Networks verify and finalize — All data is processed, verified, and reconciled into official post-logs (this becomes your finalized data)