OTT (Over-The-Top) is bought on CPM only, averaging $30.80. Meta Ads averages $1.21 CPC and $8.58 CPM. Analysis for Australia in 2026.
Australia punches well above its population in digital ad spend — per-capita digital ad investment ranks among the world's highest, driven by mature ecommerce, strong consumer banking competition, and a heavily concentrated retail sector. Google and Meta hold the lion's share, but YouTube and connected TV (via 7plus, 9Now, 10 Play, and BVOD) have become unusually important channels. CPMs run roughly 10% above US levels for premium inventory. The ACCC's News Media Bargaining Code and active scrutiny of Google and Meta have created a more transparent ad ecosystem than most peer markets. Privacy Act reforms are tightening consent requirements, with significant amendments rolling out through 2025-2026.
Connected TV and streaming platforms (Hulu, Roku, etc.)
Facebook and Instagram advertising - highly targetable social ads
The auction, the creative, the budget floor — the three things you actually need to know before picking a platform.
OTT (Hulu, Peacock, Roku, Samsung TV+, etc.) is bought exclusively on CPM with 15- and 30-second video creative. Rates run $25–40 CPM — the highest of any digital channel — because inventory is finite premium video and the ROAS story is measured against linear TV, not against Facebook.
15s or 30s video, 1920×1080 (16:9), broadcast-quality mastering. No skippable formats. Most platforms require closed captions and mezzanine-file delivery through demand-side platforms.
OTT has a real budget floor: most DSPs require $5K–10K/month minimum, and to reach reliable frequency in a metro DMA you need $15K+/month per platform.
Meta (Facebook + Instagram) runs an auction across Feed, Stories, Reels, Marketplace, and Audience Network. You optimize for a conversion event; Meta's algorithm decides bid and placement. Effective CPM is $6–12, effective CPC $0.80–1.50 depending on optimization goal and vertical.
Feed: 1:1 (1080×1080), 4:5 portrait (1080×1350). Reels/Stories: 9:16 (1080×1920). Video 15–60s. Carousel supports 10 cards. Copy ~125 chars before the truncate. Creative fatigue is the #1 cost driver — refresh every 2–3 weeks.
The algorithm needs ~50 conversion events per week per ad set to exit learning phase. For a $30 CPA that's ~$1,500/week or $6K/month per campaign. Below that, performance is a lottery.