Why More DTC Brands Are Going All-In on Streaming TV

Author:  
Joshua Bachrach
May 27, 2026

I’ve spent the last few years helping DTC brands figure out what actually scales.

And recently, I've worked with a handful of brands who have tested – and now scaled – on Universal Ads. I’ve seen first hand how quickly they’ve been able to leverage streaming TV as a real performance channel and not just a branding play.  

Instead of gatekeeping these results, I’m sharing what I’m seeing with these brands who are growing their businesses using Universal Ads. The TLDR? If you're a brand looking for ways to grow sales, Universal Ads is your solution.

My two takeaways:

  • Based on trends I'm seeing, leading DTC brands are allocating 15% or more of their media budgets to streaming TV.  
  • TV fills the pool, ​generating ​​measurable​​ scale,​​ while search and social convert it. ​​Those that still view TV as a “brand” or “top of funnel” only play are falling behind. The channel is a true performance engine, helping advertisers knock down the restrictive wall between brand and direct response – to create a sustainable performance flywheel.

Don’t believe me? Let the data speak for itself. Across the accounts I’ve worked with:

  • ​​​50+​​​% of top-of-funnel impact is driven by CTV
  • Top-of-funnel drives ~​​25-45%​​​​ of total spend
  • New customer CAC ​​improves by ​​20-30%​​​​
  • Revenue ​​increases by ~30-40%​​ vs. trajectory

And one pattern shows up every time: When spend goes up, CAC ​​comes​​​​ down – usually within a 10–14 day lag. Not eventually. Not theoretically. Consistently.

Execution matters more than budget

The brands seeing this kind of impact aren’t just “testing TV.” They’re running it like a ​​core channel​ in their media mix​, meaning:

  • Always-on (not flighted)
  • Optimized weekly
  • Built for iteration, not perfection

CTV platforms like Universal Ads have evolved fast. That means you can actually move at the speed of paid social — on the biggest screen in the house.

The Takeaway

If you’re waiting for TV to feel “safe,” you’re already late. The brands winning right now are:

  • Investing earlier
  • Learning faster
  • Scaling before everyone else piles in

And they’re ​​using TV ​​to fuel ​​scalability to their performance ecosystem​​ — not just ​​for “branding”. ​​​​     ​​

If you’re looking to get started or scale what you already have on Universal Ads, check out how I amplify brands​ through the big screen here: 👉 https://www.joshuabachrach.com/stable-ctv

​​​Get started​​ and create your account here 👉 universalads.com

This post reflects the author's independent experience; individual results may vary.

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