You Can Be Anything › All careers › Media, Communication & Journalism
Media Buyer
Purchases advertising space and time across TV, radio, digital, and print platforms to reach target audiences.
Did you know?
A 30-second Super Bowl ad cost about $8 million in 2025, and NBC charged around $10 million in 2026.
How subjects help
- Business Studies: Bargain with TV channels and websites for the best price on advertising space.
- Mathematics: Split a budget across channels and work out the cost of reaching each viewer.
- Psychology: Work out when and where the target audience is watching so ads reach them.
- Economics: Understand why ad prices rise at busy times like big sports finals and holidays.
A famous name
Francis Ayer: His ad agency's 1875 'open contract' bought newspaper space for clients at cost plus a fee.
Try it yourself: Plan a party on a budget
- Pretend you have a set amount of money for a party for ten friends. Pick the amount yourself.
- List what you want (food, decorations, games) and guess a price for each.
- Add it up. Over budget? Decide what to cut or swap for something cheaper.
- Keep a little money spare for surprises. What did you choose to protect, and why?
Accountants, managers and business owners make these choices every day: what matters most, and what can wait.
Also try: Report today's news.
Known for it in
USA, UK, Japan, Australia, Germany