The billions of dollars invested in quality content by legacy media companies is being rewarded not by increased investments in advertising, but by a drive toward commoditization and a transfer of media buying from marketing management to procurement oversight. The media economy is being weighed down by an explosion of commoditized digital inventory, reflected by the oft-quoted "linear dimes replaced by digital pennies" reference. The new reality for broadcast network television is linear dollars replaced by digital quarters.
New Media Math 2020–2025: Linear Dollars=Digital Quarters
