Time Buyer
The broadcast negotiator — purchasing advertising airtime on television and radio for agencies and advertisers.
What it's like to be a Time Buyer
As a Time Buyer, you negotiate and purchase advertising time on broadcast media — primarily television and radio. You might work at an advertising agency, a media buying service, or directly for an advertiser with significant media spend. Your job is getting the best rates, placements, and audience delivery for advertising campaigns.
Your day involves research, negotiation, and coordination. You might analyze ratings data to identify optimal buys, negotiate rates with station sales reps, build media schedules for upcoming campaigns, and track delivered impressions against guarantees. You're managing budgets that might range from thousands to millions of dollars.
The hardest part is the constant negotiation pressure. Every percentage point you save or premium placement you secure matters. Station reps are skilled negotiators working to maximize their side. The people who thrive here enjoy negotiation, have strong analytical skills for evaluating media value, and build relationships that enable better deals.
Where this role sits in the broader career landscape — and where it can take you.
Roles like this one sit within a broader occupational category. The numbers below reflect that full landscape — helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.
How this category is changing
Skills & Requirements
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