Newspaper and magazine ad buys by auto companies are down 24% this year through July, from $1.8 billion to $1.4 billion at magazines, and from $1.1 billion to $754 million at newspapers. Conversely, total auto spend for online ads is up 51.6%, from $110 million to $159 million.
According to Brandweek, Steve Parr, president of Primedia’s enthusiast media division, which publishes Automobile and Motor Trend, said the publishing industry needs to realize that the situation’s not going to change. “Automakers are realizing that it’s all about targeted media now, and for us that’s good, but for general publications, that’s not so good,” he said. “Almost all of the [automakers] have reduced straight print spend in generalist publications.”