WTAE Hearst Pittsburgh

Every election year, local businesses face the same temptation: go quiet and wait out the political noise. It feels safe. It usually isn't. With 2026 headed for a record political ad cycle, that money floods the airwaves right as holiday shopping begins. Go dark now, and you hand your best customers to the competition. Our latest post shows how to stay visible through the crush. https://hubs.la/Q04vf9zS0 #HearstPittsburgh #BrandAwareness #LocalAdvertising #WTAE

Most holiday plans in this market are built for the wrong four weeks. Black Friday gets the budget. But there's a shopper in Ross Township with a full cart and a closed list before those spots ever hit the air, and she is not an outlier. The gap between when people decide and when we start spending is the most expensive habit in Q4. It's a timing problem, not a budget problem, which means it's fixable in August. New on the blog: where the holiday dollars are actually landing, and how to structure Q4 so you're in the conversation while it's still being had. https://hubs.la/Q04tJPBD0 #HearstPittsburgh #LocalAdvertising #WTAE #BrandAwareness #DigitalMarketing

Local TV just got a measurement upgrade. Nielsen is cutting its viewing qualifier from five minutes to one, starting August 31. When radio made a similar change, total listening rose 14%, not because audiences grew, but because the old measurement was undercounting real viewers all along. Local TV is about to get the same correction, right as football season kicks off. Good time to talk to your local station rep about what it means for your fall buy. https://hubs.la/Q04sJGyy0 #HearstPittsburgh #LocalAdvertising #WTAE #Nielsen

Every August, thousands of Pittsburgh families reset their routines at nearly the same time — new schedules, new decisions, new brands to consider. Most businesses treat back-to-school as a retail moment. It's bigger than that. It's one of the only times each year an entire community rebuilds its habits at once — and the brands that show up early, consistently, and across the platforms families are already watching don't just win August. They become the default choice for months after. In this week's post, we break down: 🏈 Why attention is concentrated (not just increased) during this window 📺 Why cross-platform consistency builds trust faster than any single channel ⏱️ Why the businesses that win are already in front of families before routines are set — not after Read the full breakdown 👇 https://hubs.la/Q04s63Dz0 #HearstPittsburgh #BrandAwareness #LocalAdvertising #WTAE #DigitalMarketing

Today we celebrated an incredible teammate as Maureen begins her next chapter. 🤍 Maureen DeStefano thank you for your dedication, positivity, and the countless ways you’ve supported the Sales department over the years. Wishing you a retirement filled with relaxation and everything you’ve been looking forward to. Congrats!🎉🎉

Very few customers say "yes" after seeing just one ad. The strongest campaigns aren't built around a single impression, they're built around every interaction that comes after it. In this week's #HearstPittsburgh blog, we explore how TV, streaming, digital, and social each play a role in moving customers from awareness to action. ✅ Every platform serves a different purpose ✅ Familiarity grows with every touchpoint ✅ Consistency creates confidence, and confidence drives decisions Read the full blog here: https://hubs.la/Q04r4t-P0

As audiences split their time across TV, streaming, mobile, and social, simply showing up isn't enough anymore. The real question is: Did your message actually capture their attention? In this week's #HearstPittsburgh blog, we explore why advertisers are looking beyond impressions and focusing on the metrics that reveal real engagement. ✅ Why attention is becoming a stronger measure of success ✅ How context influences campaign performance ✅ The metrics that matter beyond reach Read the full blog here: https://hubs.la/Q04q9_f_0

People have more ways to consume content than ever before. But when it comes to trust, local still stands apart. Whether it's checking the forecast before work, catching breaking news, or staying connected to what's happening in the community, local media remains part of Pittsburgh's daily routine. In this week's #HearstPittsburgh blog, we explore why where your message appears is just as important as what it says. ✅ How trusted environments influence brand perception ✅ Why local connection creates stronger audience relationships ✅ The lasting value of advertising alongside trusted journalism Read the full blog: https://hubs.la/Q04p5ZcN0

How many times does someone need to see your ad before it sticks? 🤔 More isn't always better. The most effective campaigns aren't the ones people see the most, they're the ones people remember. The key is finding the right balance between visibility and repetition. In this week's #HearstPittsburgh blog, we're exploring how to manage frequency across TV, streaming, and digital to build recognition without creating fatigue. ✅ Why recognition takes time ✅ When it's time to refresh your creative ✅ How connected campaigns work across every screen Read the full post: https://hubs.la/Q04nQx2B0

Red, White & Brand: July 4th with Purpose 🎆 Most July 4th campaigns make the same mistake: they acknowledge the holiday instead of becoming part of it. Independence Day isn't built around shopping. It's built around shared moments, family, fireworks, traditions that repeat year after year. That makes the audience already emotionally engaged. So why do most brands still settle for red, white, and blue? We broke down what separates the campaigns people remember from the ones they scroll past 👇 https://hubs.la/Q04n3Tb30