Today, everything has a screen—be it your living room TV or the pump at your local gas station—advertisers have endless options to get in front of their target audience. Two of the most talked-about channels? Digital Out-of-Home (DOOH) and Connected TV (CTV).

Both are booming, but which one gives you the biggest bang for your advertising buck?

What Are We Really Talking About?

DOOH is the tech evolution of traditional billboards. Think small digital screens at transit stations, gas stations, gyms, and bars—pretty much anywhere your target audience might be on the go. Its real-world exposure served with a digital twist and enhanced targeting.

CTV, on the other hand, is what you get when digital advertising meets the comfort of your couch. Ads on CTV appear on smart TVs, streaming services, and devices like Roku or gaming consoles. They’re hyper-targeted, personalized, and ready to interrupt your next binge-watch session.

Both are exciting, both are evolving fast, but how do they stack up in terms of cost, scale, targeting, and ROI?

The Cost Breakdown: DOOH vs. CTV

If we’re talking pure dollars and cents, DOOH takes the win for cost efficiency.

• The average cost per thousand impressions (CPM) for DOOH sits around $6.41, while CTV ranges between $20–$30 CPM (and can go even higher depending on inventory).

• CTV’s higher cost reflects its precise targeting and premium ad space on streaming platforms. You’re paying for that first-party data and high-intent audience.

DOOH, however, delivers mass reach for a fraction of the cost—perfect for awareness campaigns or making a big splash in the real world without draining your budget.

Reach and Scale: Meeting the Audience Where They Are

If you’re aiming to hit consumers throughout their day, DOOH offers unparalleled reach. People are out and about—commuting, grabbing coffee, fueling up—and DOOH can catch them at multiple touchpoints in real time.

For example: - In transit stations → Commuters checking the news on a digital screen. - At a gas station → Grabbing an energy drink after seeing an ad at the pump. - In a sports bar → Ads running during the commercial break of a big game.

On the other hand, CTV’s reach is more contained—it’s all about in-home engagement. CTV is great for campaigns that want to connect on a deeper level, offering immersive, personalized ad experiences that align with specific user behaviors and streaming habits.

Targeting and Measurement: The Good, the Bad, and the Limited

CTV wins the targeting game with precise audience data. You can target users based on demographics, streaming behavior, and even purchase history, making it a dream for marketers obsessed with personalization.

DOOH’s targeting is less granular—you won’t know exactly who’s watching that ad at a gas station—but contextual targeting makes up for it. Showing ads for hiking gear at a transit station near a national park or beer ads during a live sports game at a bar is as contextual (and powerful) as it gets.

When it comes to measurement, CTV has more robust tracking tools, but DOOH is catching up fast, thanks to QR codes, foot traffic analysis, and cross-device retargeting. Some DOOH providers can even retarget users on their CTV devices, creating a seamless omnichannel experience.

So… Which One Delivers More Bang for Your Buck?

It depends on your campaign goals.

• For mass reach and cost efficiency: DOOH is your go-to. It’s perfect for raising brand awareness, engaging consumers throughout their day, and creating those aha! moments at just the right time.

• For precision targeting and personalized experiences: CTV shines. If your goal is to hit specific audience segments with highly targeted messaging, the higher CPM is worth it.

The Sweet Spot: Why Not Both?

Here’s the kicker: DOOH and CTV aren’t rivals—they’re complements. Combining both can give your campaign omnichannel power, allowing you to engage audiences on the go and at home. A DOOH + CTV strategy means you can hit consumers multiple times throughout their day—building brand recognition and boosting conversion rates.

Imagine this: - Your target consumer sees your DOOH ad at a gym in the morning. - Later that evening, they’re served a retargeted CTV ad while streaming their favorite show.

By blending real-world exposure with in-home engagement, you maximize reach, reinforce your message, and get the best of both worlds.

Final Thoughts

While CTV offers precision and immersive experiences, DOOH is redefining what it means to engage consumers in the real world.The best strategy? Be where your audience is—whether that’s at home on the couch or out grabbing a latte.

Use DOOH and CTV strategically, and you’ll not only get more bang for your buck—you’ll dominate the omnichannel game.

AdButler makes it easy to manage both.

With features like programmatic ad buying, advanced geo targeting options, and real-time performance tracking, AdButler helps you optimize campaigns across DOOH and CTV from a single dashboard.