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Fewer ads increase radio listening in the US
MUMBAI: This is a piece of news that should interest American radio stations. 47 per cent of American consumers say that they would listen to a radio station “a lot more” if that station had
noticeably fewer commercial breaks.
44 per cent say that they would listen a lot more if that station had shorter commercial breaks.
These findings are contained in a study of the American consumer’s attitudes toward radio commercials conducted by Arbitron and Edison Media Research. The study also reveals that more than eight in 10 Americans say that listening to commercials is a “fair price to pay” for free radio programming. In addition, a majority of listeners say they “never” tune away from radio
commercials while they are listening to the radio at work (63 per cent) or at home (49 per cent).
Even while listening to the radio in a car, where switching stations is usually easier, only one-third of listeners say they “always” or “usually” change stations during a commercial break. Relatively
few radio listeners say that they typically switch the station immediately upon hearing the beginning of a commercial break.
Arbitron senior VP Marketing Bill Rose says, “The overwhelming majority of radio listeners continue to value the time-honoured trade of free radio programming in return for listening to commercial messages. This study reveals that consumers are beginning to notice stations with few spot breaks.”
23 per cent of the respondents were aware of radio stations that played noticeably fewer commercial breaks than they used to and noticeably shorter commercial breaks than those stations used to (23 per cent). While 34 per cent of radio listeners think radio has more commercials than one year ago, that number is down from 41 per cent in a similar study conducted by Arbitron and Edison in 1999.
Fewer listeners today say that they are spending less time with radio because of an increase in commercials. Overall, only 12 per cent indicate they are listening less to radio today due to a perceived increase in the number of commercials. This compares to 19 per cent in 1999.
According to the study, younger listeners (ages 12-24) are bothered more by the quantity of commercials as opposed to how “annoying” they perceive those commercials to be by a 58 to 33 percent margin. People age 25-54 also are more bothered by the quantity (53 per cent) than the quality of commercials (37 per cent). Older listeners (age 55 and older) are slightly more bothered by annoying commercials (44 to 35 per cent) than they are by the number of commercials.
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Lessons from global media markets on building enduring content franchises
Rose Audio Visuals COO and CFO Mitesh Patel.
MUMBAI: The global media landscape has undergone a fundamental shift. Success today is no longer defined by a single hit show. It is defined by the ability to build intellectual property (IP) that travels, evolves, and compounds over time.
At Rose Audio Visuals, this shift is central to how we think about content pitching and creation. We are no longer in the business of just making shows. We are in the business of building IP ecosystems.
From Hits to Franchises
Globally, the most successful content is designed to extend beyond its first outing. It travels across: Seasons, Platforms (TV → OTT → Digital), Formats (series → spin-offs) Shows like Stranger Things and Money Heist are not just successful series they are multi-layered franchises with global recall, fan engagement, and long-term monetisation. The key learning is simple: If content cannot scale beyond one season or one platform, it remains a project not a franchise.
Local Stories, Global Impact
One of the most powerful global trends is the rise of culturally rooted storytelling. Platforms today reward local authenticity combined with universal emotion. Stories that are deeply regional are no longer limited by geography they are amplified by it. Consider the global impact of Squid Game or India’s own Sacred Games. The takeaway is clear: The more authentic the story, the greater its potential to travel if the emotion resonates universally.
Monetisation Begins After the First Window
A critical global learning is that the true value of content is not realised at launch, it is realised over time.
Strong franchises unlock multiple revenue streams: Licensing, International remakes, Brand integrations, Digital extensions , Events and immersive experiences
Global players like The Walt Disney Company have mastered this approach, turning content into long-term ecosystems that extend far beyond the screen.
The first window is just the beginning. The real value lies in what follows.
At Rose Audio Visuals, we increasingly evaluate projects not just on commissioning value, but on their long-term franchise potential.
The Rise of Creator-Led Franchises
An important global shift is the emergence of creator-led IP ecosystems.
Creators today are not just content producers they are building full-scale franchises across platforms, formats, and businesses.
A powerful example is MrBeast. What started as YouTube videos has evolved into: Multiple content formats, Global audience scale , Brand extensions and businesses, High-impact experiential content This is a fundamentally different model digital-first, audience-owned, and infinitely scalable.
This model is still in its early stages in Indian but it represents a massive opportunity.
The next wave of Indian content franchises may not come from traditional studios alone but from creators who think like media companies.
Balancing Data with Creative Instinct
Streaming platforms today are deeply data-driven. Data helps Identify emerging genres, Predict audience behaviour , Inform commissioning decisions However, global experience shows that data alone does not create hits. Data informs scale, but storytelling creates impact.
Talent is the Foundation of Franchises
Enduring franchises are rarely accidental they are built through long-term creative partnerships. Globally, there is a clear focus on nurturing Actors, Writter, Show runner and director. Franchises are not built on scripts alone they are built on creators. This is an area where we continue to invest deeply building long-term relationships with talent rather than project-based collaborations.
Multi-Platform Thinking from Day One
Content consumption today is inherently multi-platform. A successful show must be designed not just for its primary platform, but for: Short-form extensions, Social media amplification, Digital-first engagement. Every show today needs a second life beyond its original format.
India: A Market at an Inflection Point
India today stands at a unique moment in its content journey.
We are seeing significant opportunity in Regional markets (Telugu, Tamil, Marathi and others) Emerging formats such as micro-dramas, Scalable, franchise-driven fiction IP
India does not lack stories. What we have historically lacked is structured franchise thinking something that is now beginning to evolve.
The Way Forward
The biggest lesson from global markets is this: The future belongs to companies that do not chase hits, but systematically build franchises. Because while hits may deliver immediate success, franchises create long-term value, recall, and compounding growth.
At Rose Audio Visuals, this belief shapes how we develop, greenlight, and scale content across platforms.
For content companies today, the question is no longer “Will this show work?” It is: “Can this become a franchise?”
A Personal Note
Having worked across content, business, and strategy, one thing has become increasingly clear to me, the most valuable companies in our industry will not be those that create the most content, but those that create content that endures.
Building a franchise requires patience, conviction, and a long-term lens something that the industry is only now beginning to fully embrace.As we continue this journey at Rose Audio Visuals, our focus remains simple: to move from volume-driven creation to value-driven storytelling. Because in the end, stories may start conversations but franchises build legacies.
