Setting your budget for a Local TV campaign works differently from other advertising channels. Here’s what you need to know when setting 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 from day to day.

Payment Timeline

Your payment method is charged after your creative is approved (typically 2–3 business days after submission), not immediately upon campaign creation.

Note: For more information, read the article about Simulmedia Self-Serve's Billing Process

Minimum Budget Requirements

Local TV campaigns have varying minimum budgets depending on their duration:

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, Simulmedia 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.

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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.

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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)

Quick reference:

Your available market count updates in real time as you adjust your budget and campaign dates during setup.

Campaign Duration