In the 1960s, an executive at NBC revolutionized the television industry by creating a new type of advertisement. He suggested using 1-2 minute spots during television breaks (now known as the commercials of present-day). This was a much more cost-effective way of reaching the masses, and many companies like Tide and Crest seized the opportunity. An hour-long program typically had 9 minutes of advertising, with most commercials lasting 30-60 seconds.
The 1970s opened with the banning of cigarette ads on television. Networks opposed the change because the cigarette companies were a major source of ad revenue, but the ban held. To bring in more advertising money, the networks switched to alcohol companies. The 1970s era also brought about some catchy jingles like Dr. Pepper's "I’m a Pepper, You’re a Pepper".
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Advertisements during Saturday morning cartoons were popular, as were shows based on kids' toys (like G.I. Joe and My Little Pony). Commercials also went big budget by hiring major directors to create ads, such as Ridley Scott’s ad for Apple Computers.
By the 1990s there were major changes in television advertising. The typical hour-long program contained up to 19 minutes of advertising space! The development of TiVo caused controversy because of its commercial-skipping capabilities, and advertisers began to vie for viewers' attention by hiring popular actors and characters to star in commercials.
Advertising continues to grow and change. The advent of television on the internet has allowed networks to continue their advertising online. Even though commercials have become shorter and more expensive, they have also become more